Licensing | About CDE | State Board | Offices | Staff Directory | Careers at CDE
You are here
Restraint Complaints
Effective December 1, 2017, the Restraint Complaints Office (RCO) was created to provide a process for filing formal complaints about the use of restraints or seclusion involving a Public Education Agency. When restraint and seclusion complaints are filed, the RCO is authorized to review, investigate and provide a written decision. The RCO was established as directed by House Bill 17-1276 and in compliance with administrative rule (1 CCR 201-45).
HB17-1276: Concerning prohibiting the use of certain restraints upon public school students
Summary of the Bill Provisions by Colorado General Assembly (https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb17-1276)
- Prohibits the use of a chemical, mechanical, or prone restraint upon a public school student, with certain exceptions
- Requires school district employees or volunteers who uses any type of restraint on a student to submit a written report of the incident to the administration of the school
- Requires each school district to establish a review process, conduct the review process at least annually, and document the results of each review process in writing.
- Annual reviews must include a review of each incident in which restraint was used on a student during the preceding year.
- Requires each school district and the state charter school institute to include in its conduct and discipline code information concerning the school district's or institute's policies for the use of restraint and seclusion on students, including information concerning the process for filing a complaint regarding the use of restraint or seclusion.
- Required the state board of education to promulgate rules to establish a restraint complaint process. Note: These rules (CCR-301-45) became effective on December 1, 2017.
Statement of Basis and Purpose
Rules for Administration of the Protection of Persons from Restraint
(1 CCR 301-45)
Basis for the Use of Restraint
Duties Related to the Use of Restraint
Documentation and Notification Requirements
Review of the Use of Restraint
Complaint Procedures and Regulations (Statutes)
Contacts, Forms, and Further Information:
Filing a Complaint:
The Complaint, including any attachments, must be mailed, hand-delivered, or delivered by other secure method to the IDEA State Complaints Office. Faxes and e-mails will not be accepted. The address is:
IDEA Part B State Complaints Officer
Colorado Department of Education
Exceptional Student Leadership Unit, Dispute Resolution Office
1560 Broadway, Suite 1175
Denver, Colorado 80202
Colorado Department of Education
Exceptional Student Leadership Unit, Dispute Resolution Office
1560 Broadway, Suite 1175
Denver, Colorado 80202
Additionally, a complete copy of the Complaint, including any attachments, must also be mailed, hand-delivered, or delivered by other secure method to the public education agency (i.e. a school district, BOCES or the Charter School Institute) serving the child.
Contact:
For more information, or to speak with someone about restraint complaints, contact:
Exceptional Student Services Unit, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80202 | Phone: 303-866-6694, Fax: 303-866-6767
303-866-6876
Jennifer Woods
Dispute Resolution Paralegal & Coordinator
Email Jennifer Woods
303-866-6889
Cici Lyman
Program Support
Email Cici Lyman
303-866-4797
303-866-4797
Resources:
Guidance on Holds: Disability Law Colorado, https://disabilitylawco.org/sites/default/files/uploads/Fact%20Sheet_Restraints-2.pdf
State Complaint Office: http://www.cde.state.co.us/spedlaw/statecomplaint
Find what you were looking for?
If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact our web content coordinator Amanda Timmerman at Timmerman_A@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.
Connect With Us
