MADISON — State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly today called for increasing the special education rate and expanding mental health training programs available to Wisconsin schools as part of the 2025-27 biennial budget. The message comes as the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction published a report on the use of seclusion and physical restraint in schools during the 2023-24 school year, showing an increase in the practices.
The data, reported to the DPI by school districts under 2019 Wisconsin Act 118, shows a 15.3 percent increase in incidents where seclusion was used on students, and an increase of 16.9 percent in incidents where physical restraint was used on students compared to the prior school year (2022-23). Statewide, schools reported 6,222 instances of seclusion and 7,439 instances where physical restraint was used. Data does not indicate whether incidents of seclusion and restraint occurred simultaneously.
“The alarming increase in seclusion and restraint incidents is more than just a number – it is a call to action,” Dr. Underly said. “This trend highlights the critical need for adequate school funding, including prioritizing mental health support and providing comprehensive training for our educators.”
According to the data, Wisconsin’s youngest students – usually those with disabilities – are disproportionately subjected to these practices. Students with individualized education programs (IEPs), comprise 81 percent of all seclusion incidents and 76 percent of all physical restraint incidents reported. In addition, students in elementary schools were involved in a higher percentage of instances of seclusion and/or physical restraint than middle and high schools.
“These troubling incidents reflect a system that needs more than just reactive measures; it needs proactive solutions,” Dr. Underly said. “Wisconsin students deserve more support than what our state legislature allocates to special education and what the school funding formula provides. Our staffing systems are overwhelmed, and we need real solutions to support our educators in these very sensitive and challenging situations. Our schools, families and children deserve better.”
In her 2025-27 biennial budget request, Dr. Underly called for increasing the special education reimbursement rate, which hovers around 30 percent. Building off her recommendation, Gov. Tony Evers proposed increasing the rate to 60 percent, which allows schools to invest more in hiring specialized staff, create more inclusive learning environments, and offer more professional development for staff.
Dr. Underly also requested $760,000 over the biennium to increase and improve support for existing mental health training programs available to schools, including the Trauma Sensitive Schools Initiative, and to make it available for staff working in out-of-school time programs. The proposal seeks to expand the types of trainings offered beyond the three specific program strategies authorized under current law. Gov. Evers also incorporated the provision into his 2025-27 Executive Budget.
Beginning in 2024-25, any school that reports one or more incidents of seclusion or restraint receives a notification and is offered assistance by the DPI. Three levels of support are available to school teams based on the data, and the support level is assigned based on the rate of incidents per 1,000 students. More information on this support and other resources available can be found in the report and on the DPI’s website.
Wisconsin schools are required to submit a report containing information on the use of seclusion and restraint in schools to the DPI annually by Dec. 1. The 2023-24 school year is the fifth year this information is required to be submitted. Seclusion and restraint data for 2023-24 and corresponding analysis can be found on the DPI’s website.
