Restraint and Seclusion Laws in South Carolina
What are the restraint and seclusion rules in South Carolina?
South Carolina does not currently have a specific statute banning physical restraint or seclusion in public schools. Instead, the SCDE has published Guidelines on the Use of Seclusion and Restraint that serve as the governing framework, distributed to all school district superintendents. The guidelines establish that physical restraint is permitted only when a student poses a clear, present, and imminent physical danger to self or others, and only after other de-escalation techniques have failed. Mechanical restraints are prohibited in public school settings (except for appropriate adaptive equipment such as adaptive seating). Seclusion is not recommended as a practice and may only be used when the student poses an imminent threat of serious physical harm, never as punishment, and never in response to property destruction or verbal threats unless the student can carry out the threat. A locked door on a seclusion room is not allowed. Restraint that places pressure or weight on the chest, lungs, sternum, diaphragm, back, neck, or throat is prohibited. Staff must receive annual de-escalation training, and staff using physical restraints must have approved training from professional programs (such as CPI). A debriefing meeting must occur within one school day after any restraint or seclusion incident. Schools must document each incident thoroughly including attempted techniques, staff involved, training credentials, and duration.
What South Carolina Requires
Physical restraint is permitted only when a student poses a clear, present, and imminent physical danger to self or others, and only after other de-escalation techniques have failed (SCDE Guidelines on Seclusion and Restraint).
Mechanical restraints are prohibited in public school settings, except for appropriate adaptive equipment such as adaptive seating products (SCDE Guidelines).
Restraint that places pressure or weight on the chest, lungs, sternum, diaphragm, back, neck, or throat is not allowed (SCDE Guidelines).
Seclusion is not recommended; when used, it may only occur when the student poses an imminent threat of serious physical harm to self or others, never as punishment or in response to property destruction (SCDE Guidelines).
A locked door on a seclusion room is not allowed; the student must be continuously observed and must have access to a bathroom and water upon request (SCDE Guidelines).
All staff using seclusion or restraint must receive annual de-escalation training; staff using physical restraints must complete approved restraint technique training from professional programs such as CPI (SCDE Guidelines).
Schools must thoroughly document each restraint/seclusion incident including behavior preceding the event, techniques attempted, staff involved, training credentials, and total duration (SCDE Guidelines).
Key Timelines
A debriefing meeting must occur within one school day after any restraint or seclusion incident, including involved staff and an administrator (SCDE Guidelines).
Physical restraint may last only as long as necessary to protect the student or other persons (SCDE Guidelines).
Seclusion may last only as long as necessary to resolve the actual risk of harm (SCDE Guidelines).