ProPublica

Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Creating Safer Learning Environments for Students

August 13, 2021

Arlington Heights, Bill Signing, Chicago Tribune, Education, Governor JB Pritzker, HB 219, Illinois General Assembly, ISBE, New Legislation, Northbrook, Physical Restraint, ProPublica, Public Schools, School Restraint, Springfield, State Representative Jonathan Carroll, State Senator Ann Gillespie, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala

The following is from a press release issued by the Office of the Governor on August, 13, 2021. A link to the press release can be found HERE. Photo provided by Zbigniew Bzdak from the Chicago Tribune. A link to the article with this photo can be found HERE. Press Release – Friday, August 13,…

Seclusion and Restraint in Schools to Be Dramatically Limited in Illinois

June 1, 2021

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Chicago Tribune, Council of State Governments, Equip for Equality, Governor JB Pritzker, ISBE, Jace Gill, Jennifer Smith Richards, Jodi S. Cohen, Kyle Hillman, National Association of Social Workers, ProPublica, State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, State Sen. Ann Gillespie, The Keeping All Students Safe Act, Zena Naiditch

Original story written by Jodi S. Cohen and Jennifer Smith Richards for the Chicago Tribune on June 1st, 2021. A link to the original article may be found HERE Illinois lawmakers took sweeping action Sunday to limit the use of seclusion and restraint in schools, following through on promises made after a 2019 Tribune-ProPublica investigation revealed that…

Let’s ban secluded “quiet rooms” in schools nationwide

January 31, 2020

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Original story written by Clarence Page for the Philadelphia Tribune on January 26th. Link to article may be found here. Original article below. Until recently, state Rep. Jonathan Carroll, a Chicagoland Democrat, says he has avoided talking much in public about his childhood experiences with isolation punishment. But he was moved to blog about…

Testimony heard Tuesday after investigation into state ‘time out rooms’ at public schools

January 8, 2020

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Chicago Tribune, ISBE, Isolation Rooms, Physical Restraint, ProPublica, Seclusion Rooms, State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, State Rep. Sue Scherer, Student Safety, WGN 9 News

Original story written by Mike Lowe for WGN 9 Chicago on January 7th, 2020, updated on January 8th, 2020. Video included in the original story. Photo taken from the video. Link to original article may be found HERE CHICAGO — The practice of isolation and restraint in Illinois public schools is controversial and has been…

Illinois School Officials Promise to Stop Use of Solitary Confinement Punish Students

November 21, 2019

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Chicago Tribune, Equip for Equality, Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois State Board of Education, ProPublica, School Isolation Rooms, School Seclusion, State Representative Jonathan Carroll, The Hill, Zack Budryk, Zena Naiditch

Original story written by Zack Budryk for The Hill, and published on 11/21/19. Link to original article may be found HERE. Illinois officials have pledged to end the practice of solitary confinement for schoolchildren after an expose by ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune revealed it was a common punishment that had been used for offenses such…

Illinois Governor’s Order Restricts Timeout Rooms in Schools

November 20, 2019

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Original story written by the Associated Press and published in the Washington Post on 11/20/19. Link to original article may be found HERE. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday ordered the state’s public schools to immediately restrict the use of isolation rooms for students who don’t pose a clear safety risk.…

After Report, Illinois Officials Vow to Stop Punishing Students with Solitary Confinement

November 20, 2019

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Original Story written by the Hannah Knowles for the Washington Post on 11/20/19. Link to original article may be found HERE. Listening from outside, school staff reportedly did not intervene as children cried, injured themselves and begged to leave their small timeout rooms. But they did take meticulous notes. “I’d rather die. You’re torturing…

Thoughts on Quiet Rooms

November 20, 2019

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Jennifer Smith Richards, Jody S. Cohen, Lakeidra Chavis, ProPublica, ProPublica Illinois, Quiet Rooms, Special Education, Special Needs Students, State Representative Jonathan Carroll, US Department of Education

Friends, I’m writing today to discuss my thoughts on some troubling news that has come to my attention recently. On November 19th, ProPublica Illinois wrote a piece on the use of Quiet Rooms as a behavioral intervention (click here for the article). Quiet Rooms are when children are put into isolation rooms to help him/her…