Restraint and Seclusion Laws in Oklahoma
What are the restraint and seclusion rules in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has detailed restraint and seclusion regulations under OAC § 210:15-13-9. Chemical restraint and mechanical restraint are PROHIBITED in Oklahoma public schools. Prone (facedown) restraint is explicitly prohibited. Physical restraint is permitted only in emergency circumstances involving imminent danger of serious physical harm — not for discipline, punishment, forcing compliance, or staff convenience. Seclusion rooms must meet specific physical criteria. Parents must be notified within 24 hours. Each incident must be documented on the OSDE Report of Physical Restraint form and placed in the student file. LEAs must submit an annual end-of-year report to OSDE-SES by June 30th.
What Oklahoma Requires
Chemical restraint and mechanical restraint are PROHIBITED in Oklahoma public schools (OAC § 210:15-13-9(c))
Prone (facedown) restraint is explicitly PROHIBITED; no maneuver may place pressure or weight on the chest, sternum, lungs, diaphragm, neck, throat, or back (OAC § 210:15-13-9(c)(2))
Physical restraint permitted ONLY when: (1) student poses imminent danger of serious physical harm to self or others (not merely property threat); (2) less restrictive evidenced-based interventions have been implemented but not effectively de-escalated the threat; (3) applied by trained staff; and (4) lasts only as long as necessary (OAC § 210:15-13-9(c)(1))
Physical restraint must be continuously witnessed by at least one school employee who is NOT involved in the restraint; school personnel must remove safety hazards and non-essential personnel from the environment (OAC § 210:15-13-9(c)(2))
Staff may only use physical restraint if trained in: conflict de-escalation, crisis cycle and interventions, possible effects of physical restraint, CPR/First Aid/BLS (current certification required), and monitoring student wellbeing (Oklahoma Special Education Policies & Procedures 2024, Ch. 12, Sec. 6.B)
Seclusion room must meet criteria: continuous visual and aural monitoring, adequate space to sit or lie down, adequate heating/cooling/ventilation/lighting, free of objects posing harm risk, and automatic door disengagement in emergency (OAC § 210:15-13-9(b)(3))
Corporal punishment prohibited for students with disabilities entitled to IDEA services; OSDE strongly encourages all LEAs to prohibit corporal punishment for all students (70 O.S. § 13-116; OAC § 210:15-13-9(d))
Parents must be notified immediately but no later than within 24 hours after each physical restraint incident; each incident documented on required OSDE Report of Physical Restraint form (Oklahoma Special Education Policies & Procedures 2024, Ch. 12, Sec. 6.B)
LEAs must submit annual end-of-year report to OSDE-SES by June 30th reporting all incidents of seclusion, restraint, or corporal punishment of students with disabilities (OAC § 210:15-13-9(f))
Key Timelines
Parent notification: immediately but no later than within 24 hours of physical restraint incident
Annual reporting: by June 30th each year to OSDE-SES (OAC § 210:15-13-9(f))