Over the past two months, Colorado legislators entertained a bill to end student seclusion in schools. On Feb. 10, Colorado Springs representative Dr. Regina English introduced bill 25-1178 to the Colorado House, aiming to ban seclusion as a behavioral mitigation tactic. English introduced a similar bill in 2024, which was suspended when it became clear it would not gain approval. HB 25-1178 was discussed in the legislature from late March through mid-April.
Seclusion has been a controversial form of behavior management in schools. Some, like English, cite its association with long-term emotional trauma and inequitable application to disabled or otherwise marginalized students. Other educators source the tactic as a last resort that is sometimes necessary in cases where students are being extremely disruptive, as their schools may not have the resources to manage a class and de-escalate behavior with a particularly problematic student.
The provisions laid out in HB 25-1178 proposed prohibiting the use of seclusion in all Colorado schools, including in off-campus or extracurricular activities. It aimed to mandate the State Board of Education to amend existing rules around the method to a ban and expand reporting requirements. The latter have been strengthened in recent years; documentation and accountability around disciplinary seclusion incidents has increased over the past few decades. The bill did outline “lawful emergency actions” per a press release, with thorough requirements for documentation and reporting.
In English’s press release last month, it was asserted that “seclusion, the practice of isolating students in confined spaces, has been shown to cause severe emotional trauma and reinforce the school-to-prison pipeline, disproportionately affecting students with disabilities and marginalized communities.” Based on that, the bill intended to protect students from potential trauma from isolation, encourage more de-escalation techniques and other proactive positive behavior interventions, reduce inequitable disciplinary practices and mitigate legal risks.
When she introduced the bill, English said, “As an elected representative, I am committed to ensuring the safety and dignity of all students. Seclusion is a harmful and outdated practice that has no place in our schools. By passing HB 25-1178, we are sending a clear message that student mental health and well-being come first, and we are fostering an environment where every child has the opportunity to thrive. We ended the physical abuse of corporal punishment, it is time to end the mental abuse.”
Last week, other legislators rejected HB 25-1178 in a 2-11 vote, saying that while misuse of seclusion must be addressed, it is a complicated method that remains preferable to physical restraint in extreme behavioral cases. There was bipartisan opposition to the bill, with lawmakers citing a variety of extreme cases where other disciplinary tactics are impractical. One representative shared an anecdote about an elementary school student having a violent tabletop tantrum. Another, Rep. Jacque Phillips, works as an attorney representing students with disabilities, and listed a variety of anti-social, sexual or violent behaviors for which seclusion can preserve dignity for the student acting out.
Parents who supported English’s bill testified with stories about the process of seclusion being intimidating and frightening. They described their children as being traumatized by being shut into seclusion rooms for indefinite amounts of time.
Given that HB 25-1178 failed in the State House, Roaring Fork Valley schools declined to comment on the bill or seclusion practices. A representative for the Roaring Fork School District said, “Since it isn’t moving forward toward approval, we aren’t monitoring it any longer.” The Aspen School District indicated interest in providing comments prior to the bill stalling.
The bill remains available for constituents to read on the Colorado Legislature website. Additional information about the bill can be found on the Fast Democracy tracking site. Readers who wish to weigh in on future legislation around educational discipline can submit comments to state assembly members. Garfield County is represented by State Senator Mark Catlin, District 5, and State Representative Elizabeth Velasco, District 57.