In the News

Coverage of DOJ Investigations:

ALASKA

• DOJ finds Anchorage School District used improper restraint and seclusion techniques on students (Alaska's News Source) (Feb. 2023)
• U.S. Justice Department finds Anchorage School District illegally restrained and secluded students (Anchorage Daily News) (Feb. 2023) 

FLORIDA

• Justice Department secures settlement with Okaloosa School District to protect students (Niceville.com) (Jan. 2023)
• U.S. settles with Florida school district to protect students with disabilities (United Press International) (Dec. 2022) 

INDIANA

• Justice Department Settles with School District (Inside Indiana Business) (Jan. 2021)
• District No Longer Secludes Students with Disabilities (US News & World Report) (Dec. 2020) 

IOWA

• Fewer students being restrained in Cedar Rapids schools (Jun. 2023)
• Cedar Rapids Schools gives update on DOJ settlement (KCRG 9 News) (Feb. 2023)
• Cedar Rapids schools coaching special education teachers under Justice Department settlement (The Gazette) (Feb. 2023)

MARYLAND

• Hogan will allow bill banning seclusion to become law | Seclusion and restraint in FCPS (Frederick News Post) (Apr. 2022)
• Maryland bans seclusion four months after US DOJ investigation into Frederick County Public Schools’ seclusion practices (Frederick News Post) (Apr. 2022)
• Trauma lingers for FCPS students who experienced repeated seclusion and restraint | Seclusion and restraint in FCPS (Frederick News Post) (Jan. 2022)
• UPDATE: Justice Department finds FCPS violated federal law in restraining, secluding students with disabilities (Yahoo! News) (Dec. 2021)

MICHIGAN

• Montcalm County Intermediate School District to end student seclusion (Detroit Free Press) (Jul. 2025)
• Montcalm ISD reaches DOJ agreement over disability seclusion, restraints (Mlive.com) (Jul. 2025)
• A Step Forward: Department of Justice Settlement with Montcalm Area ISD Signals Ongoing Commitment to Protecting Students from Seclusion and Restraint - Opening Doors to Safer and More Inclusive Schools (EndSeclusion.org) (Jul. 2025)

MISSOURI

• DOJ says St. Louis Special School District seclusion and restraint practices violate federal law (St. Louis Public Radio) (Feb. 2026)
• SSD of St. Louis violated disability law, DOJ says (Fox 2 STL) (Feb. 2026)

WASHINGTON

• Spokane schools' use of restraints, isolation, violated civil rights of special needs students (The Spokesman-Review) (Apr. 2023)
• U.S. Department of Justice announces settlement with SPS over isolation, restraint against students (KREM 2) (Apr. 2023)