As of January 1, 2016, the revised regulations on physical restraint in public education programs (603 CMR 46.00) have become effective. Under the revised regulations, school programs are required to collect and report physical restraint data to the DESE on an annual basis.
Initially the DESE had indicated that programs would be required to use its new electronic form for reporting restraint data. As of January 5, 2016, however, the DESE has updated its guidance to indicate that use of the Restraint Reporting Form is optional.
Programs that opt to use their own report/form, are reminded to make sure that such form meets the reporting requirements of the revised regulations.
