Ann Hinkson-Herrmann, PDE Director Bureau of Special Education, has announced that  the 2018-19 school year Restraint Information System Collection (RISC) is open for data entry.  The system has been enhanced to give local educational agencies (LEAs) greater opportunity to provide more detail about restraints, as well as analyze trends in reducing the use of physical restraints on students. The second quarter window runs from 10/1/18 to 12/31/18. The last day to report is 1/15/19. The zero window opens on 1/1/19. The zero window closes on 1/15/19.

The Bureau of Special Education (BSE) will continue to require LEAs to report the restraints that occurred in each quarter.  This reporting process encourages LEAs to report their restraints in a more timely manner, and, in turn, will help LEAs monitor patterns of episodic behaviors and address them accordingly. Further, BSE’s “Guidelines for De-escalation and the Use of/and Reporting of Restraints in Education Entities” document is available for review. Questions regarding the RISC should be directed to either of the following special education advisers:  Keith Focht at 717.783.6921 or [email protected] /Pat Haglund at 814.662.2662 or [email protected].