Seclusion and restraint incidents increase in Madison schools
Incidents of seclusion and restraint in Madison School District schools increased last school year, and most students impacted have disabilities, according to new data from the District.
During the 2025-26 school year, the District recorded 774 incidents of seclusion, restraint or both, up from 506 incidents during 2024-25, according to data shared in an Oct. 1 Madison School Board update. Elementary school incidents increased the most, at 673 compared to 430 the year before.
During the 2025-26 school year, the district recorded 63 incidents of seclusion and restraint in middle schools, up from 53 during 2024-25. In high schools, 38 incidents took place, compared with 23 the year before.
Seclusion and restraint, a controversial practice, are used in Madison schools when “a student’s behavior presents a clear, present, and imminent risk to the physical safety of the student or others, and it is the least restrictive intervention feasible,” according to the District’s seclusion and restraint policy.
Seclusion is the “involuntary confinement of a student” separate from the rest of the class in another room or area that the student can’t leave, the policy says, but the room cannot be locked.
Restraint “immobilizes or reduces the ability of a student to freely move” and does not include briefly touching a student’s hand, shoulder, arm or back to calm them.
