Imagine nearly 400 students, mostly young children with disabilities and a disproportionate number of them Black, being physically restrained or isolated in school. It’s a stark reality that’s harder to ignore than ever, thanks to new data from Wake County Schools. But here’s where it gets controversial: while these practices are meant to manage behavior, critics argue they can cause more harm than good—especially when they disproportionately affect certain groups. And this is the part most people miss: the numbers are rising, not falling.
According to WRAL education reporter Emily Walkenhorst, Wake Schools reported 768 instances of physical restraint and 288 instances of seclusion in the fall of 2025—a significant increase from the previous year. That’s over 1,000 incidents involving 371 students, primarily in elementary schools. These figures are part of a bi-annual disclosure required by a 2023 legal settlement with a family whose disabled daughter was repeatedly locked in a closet. The settlement didn’t just demand transparency—it exposed a system that had previously reported zero incidents to federal officials.
So, what exactly do these terms mean? Physical restraint typically involves restricting a student’s movement of their torso, arms, legs, or head, while seclusion means confining a student in a space they cannot leave, often without physical means of exit. Here’s the kicker: federal and state guidelines on when and how these practices can be used—and when they must be reported—vary widely, leaving room for interpretation and potential misuse.
The settlement now mandates that families be notified of such incidents by the end of the school day, a step toward accountability. But is it enough? Wake Schools is overhauling its approach to serving students with disabilities, including expanded training for staff handling behavioral crises. Yet, the rising numbers suggest there’s still a long way to go. Are these practices a necessary last resort, or do they reflect deeper systemic issues in how we support vulnerable students?
As the school board reviews this data, the question remains: How can we balance safety with dignity, especially for those who are already marginalized? Let’s keep the conversation going—what do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
