Are timeout rooms being phased out in Massachusetts schools?

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education stated that the new guidelines and grants are intended to help schools phase out the practice of using timeout rooms entirely.

What are the concerns regarding school timeout rooms in Massachusetts?

Concerns include that timeout rooms disproportionately affect students with disabilities and that even in unlocked settings, young students may not feel empowered to leave due to power dynamics with adults.

Home / Education / MA Schools' Timeout Rooms Under Fire Amid New Guidelines

MA Schools' Timeout Rooms Under Fire Amid New Guidelines

Q: What is Massachusetts doing about school timeout rooms?

Massachusetts is providing $3.6 million in grants and new guidelines to address concerns about schools secluding students in timeout rooms, aiming to reduce their use.

20 Feb

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Summary

Massachusetts is responding to seclusion claims with $3.6 million in grants.
New guidelines aim to reduce timeout room use, but some parents remain concerned.
Advocates highlight power dynamics and potential for student distress in timeout rooms.

MA Schools' Timeout Rooms Under Fire Amid New Guidelines

Massachusetts is providing $3.6 million in state grants and new guidelines to address concerns about schools secluding students in timeout rooms. These efforts follow claims that students were involuntarily secluded for extended periods. The grants will fund teacher training and therapeutic services to better manage behavioral challenges.

Despite these initiatives, some parents and advocates believe the new rules do not fully resolve issues surrounding seclusion. They highlight that even in unlocked settings, young students, particularly those with disabilities, may not feel empowered to leave. A specific incident involving a 5-year-old boy with autism at West Parish Elementary School in Gloucester has amplified these concerns, with reports of him being placed in a timeout room for 28 minutes.