Amendment ID: S3111-25

Amendment 25

Time‑Out, Student Isolation, and Classroom Redirection Standards

Mr. Tarr moves that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-

"SECTION _.Chapter 69 of the general laws as appearing in the 2024 official edition is hereby amended by inserting after SECTION 39 the following new section:-40. (a) No school district, public school, charter school, collaborative, or approved special education program shall use any form of time‑out or student isolation unless the student’s behavior poses an imminent danger of serious physical harm to themselves or others and less restrictive interventions are ineffective or not feasible and in accordance with 603 CMR 46.

(b) For purposes of this section, “time‑out or student isolation” shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) time‑out rooms;

(2) time‑out chairs;

(3) alcoves, booths, or partitioned areas;

(4) “quiet rooms,” “calm‑down spaces,” “reset stations,” “wellness rooms,” or any renamed or rebranded practice; and

(5) any practice in which a student is separated from peers and placed in a location where they are not free to interact with the classroom environment.

(c) Any room or area used for time‑out or isolation shall:

(1) remain unlocked at all times;

(2) have a door that may not be closed;

(3) allow continuous visual observation; and

(4) be supervised by a trained staff member who is physically present and able to intervene immediately.

(d) Schools shall notify parents or guardians immediately whenever any form of time‑out or isolation is used and shall provide written documentation within 24 hours, including the reason for the intervention, duration, staff involved, and interventions attempted beforehand.

(e) Nothing in this section shall prohibit non‑isolating classroom redirection. If a student is disruptive in a manner that distracts peers but does not pose imminent danger, a teacher may move the student to another part of the classroom as long as the student remains in the same room, under direct supervision, and not placed in any enclosed or solitary space. The student may rejoin peers when the teacher determines it is appropriate.

(f) Each school district shall annually file its full time‑out, isolation, and classroom redirection procedures with the department of elementary and secondary education. The department shall review such policies for compliance with this section and applicable regulations.

(g) Each school district shall distribute its time‑out and isolation policy to all parents and guardians at the beginning of each school year, and parents or guardians shall acknowledge receipt in writing or electronically.

(h) The department of elementary and secondary education shall publish all district policies filed under this section on its website and may issue guidance or corrective action requirements to ensure statewide compliance.".