Opinion ID: 4541297
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Physical restraints

Text: The district court and the hearing officer found the use of physical restraints violated the IEP’s framework for behavioral interventions, which required that staff use a calm style, minimize verbal interactions, avoid power struggles, and provide access to a cooling off period. The School District argues it was entitled under Texas law to use physical restraints and it was not required to include such use in the IEP. There is no question the use of physical restraints is neither positive reinforcement nor consistent with avoiding confrontations or power struggles. However, Texas law expressly authorizes a local education agency (LEA) to use 17 In arguing O.W.’s grades improved under the IEP, the School District compares O.W.’s scores from the first term (when he started at Nottingham) to his fourth term (when he was mostly at Ridgecrest). When compared in this fashion, the School District is correct that all but one of O.W.’s grades improved. However, when compared to the third term, which ended approximately two weeks before O.W. began at Ridgecrest, the grades dropped in most subjects. 23 Case: 18-20274 Document: 00515451413 Page: 24 Date Filed: 06/12/2020 No. 18-20274 physical restraints in an “Emergency” situation, which is defined as a “situation in which a student’s behavior poses a threat of . . . imminent, serious physical harm to the student or others; or . . . imminent, serious property destruction.” 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 89.1053(b), (c). Unlike the use of time-outs, the law contains no provision requiring that the use of physical restraints be expressly authorized by a student’s IEP. O.W.’s IEP listed positive reinforcement and avoidance of power struggles as two of seven “Specific strategies/supports to prevent or decrease . . . problem behavior.” In addition, the IEP listed five “Strategies/interventions to use when [physical aggression] behavior is occurring:” (1) “Us[ing] a calm interaction style and minimize[ing] verbal interactions;” (2) “Remind[ing O.W.] to use taught coping strategies;” (3) “Direct[ing O.W.] to the cool-down area;” (4) “Provid[ing] more physical space;” and (5) “Remov[ing] extraneous objects so [O.W.] is not tempted to throw them.” Nothing in the IEP suggests the LEA was required to follow every strategy in every instance. More important, nothing in the listed strategies suggests the techniques were intended to apply in the specific situation governed by the emergency restraint provision—when there is an imminent threat of serious harm. Therefore, so long as the School District’s use of physical restraints complied with state law, the use of restraints did not violate the IEP. O.W.’s disciplinary records show that he was physically restrained eight times and that each instance of restraint was preceded by violent behavior by O.W. and attempts by district staff to utilize at least some of the strategies enumerated in the IEP. In each instance, the school determined the restraint was necessary to prevent serious physical harm to O.W. or to another. O.W. does not dispute the uses of restraints were necessary to prevent harm and were thus appropriate under Texas law. Accordingly, the district court erred in concluding these eight instances of physical restraints violated O.W.’s IEP. 24 Case: 18-20274 Document: 00515451413 Page: 25 Date Filed: 06/12/2020 No. 18-20274