Ga. school board eyes ban on seclusion in schools

ATLANTA - The Georgia Board of Education is considering banning solitary confinement in schools and limiting the use of restraint to calm misbehaving students.

The controversial practices have been blamed for injuries in both students and teachers, as well as the death of a student who hanged himself while in a seclusion room at his special education school in north Georgia.

The new policy is being considered by the board this week, but it could be another month before it's on the books because state official have to hold public hearings on it.

A committee of the board voted Wednesday to approve the policy. The whole board will take it up Thursday.

Seclusion already is banned at many schools for Georgia's most emotionally disturbed children, but the new policy would prohibit it at all schools.