LAC 28:XLIII.540. Definitions

Crisis Interventionthe implementation of an action plan for school personnel to use when a student exhibits disruptive behaviors that prevent the student from participating in classroom or daily activities. Information about a school’s use of crisis intervention, including the proper use of seclusion and physical restraint, shall be included in the school’s student handbook and made available to the parent and legal guardian of each student with an IEP or Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP). Crisis intervention may include the following: 1. the use of positive behavioral supports and sensory rooms or other calming spaces intentionally designed to help comfort and stabilize a student in order that the student may return to the classroom or daily activities; 2. in extraordinary cases, the use of seclusion and physical restraint as a means to safely de-escalate a situation in which a student poses a risk of imminent harm to self or others. Imminent Risk of Harman immediate and impending threat of a person causing substantial injury to self or others. Mechanical Restraintthe application of any device or object used to limit a person’s movement, but does not include: 1. a protective or stabilizing device used in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use and which is used in compliance with orders issued by an appropriately licensed health care provider; or 2. any device used by a duly licensed law enforcement officer in the execution of his official duties. Physical Restraintthe use of manual restraint techniques that involve physical force applied to restrict the movement of all or part of a person’s body, but does not include: 1. consensual, solicited, or unintentional contact; 2. momentary blocking of a student’s action if said action is likely to result in harm to the student or any other person; 3. a school employee holding a student for less than three consecutive minutes within any given hour for the protection of the student or others; 4. holding of a student, by one school employee, for the purpose of calming or comforting the student, provided the student’s freedom of movement or normal access to his or her body is not restricted; or 5. minimal physical contact for the purpose of safely escorting a student from one area to another; or 6. minimal physical contact for the purpose of assisting the student in completing a task or response. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supporta systematic approach to embed evidence-based practices and data-driven decision making when addressing student behavior in order to improve school climate. Seclusiona procedure that isolates and confines a student in a designated separate room or area until the student is no longer an imminent risk of harm to self or others. Seclusion Rooma room or other confined area, used on an individual basis, in which a student is removed from the regular classroom setting for a limited time to allow the student the opportunity to regain control in a safe, secure, and supervised setting and from which the student is involuntarily prevented from leaving, until the student is no longer at risk of imminent harm to self or others. A seclusion room shall; 1. be free of any object that poses a danger to the student placed in the room; 2. have an observation window and be of a size that is appropriate for the student’s size, behavior, and chronological and developmental age; and 3. have heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting systems and a ceiling height comparable to operating classrooms in the school. School Employeea teacher, paraprofessional, administrator, support staff member, or a provider of related services. School Health Designeea school employee designated to assess the use of seclusion and physical restraint in the event that a school nurse is not present on a school campus at the time such measure is used. Sensory Rooma room or space that is used for the monitored or timeout space. The appropriate use of sensory rooms shall not be considered seclusion, which shall only be used for the limited purpose of responding to a student posing an imminent risk of harm to self or others. Written Guidelines and Proceduresthe written guidelines and procedures adopted by a public school governing authority regarding appropriate responses to student behavior that may require immediate intervention.