No Going Back - Keep School Seclusion Banned (Minnesota)

In 2023, Minnesota did the right thing - they joined a dozen other states by instituting a ban on the dangerous, unnecessary practice of using seclusion on students, otherwise known as solitary confinement. The ban applies to the youngest learners - from Birth up through Grade 3.

Now in 2026, with the bill SF 1830, two lawmakers are seeking to undo this important progress that will put young kids at risk.

Where seclusion is legal, use of seclusion is a choice  - there is no requirement to use it, there is no therapeutic benefit, and there known safe alternative ways of supporting kids. The key form of training that alleviates the eventual emergency situations that are used to justify the use of seclusion is proactive training - outside the heat of the moment. Working with the student, solving underlying problems, outside of the crisis moment... makes a difference.

And, as evidenced by the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) ceasing the use of seclusion since 2011, this dangerous practice is simply unnecessary.

Instead of trying to turn back the clock to a time when Minnesota school staff could drag young students into solitary confinement, lawmakers should be looking at the root need: better training.