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005.18.20-20.04. Guidelines for Appropriate Use of a Time-Out Seclusion Room.

AR ADC 005.18.20-20.04Arkansas Administrative Code

West's Arkansas Administrative Code
Title 005. Department of Education
Division 18. Special Education and Related Services
Rule 20. Time-Out Seclusion Room
Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.20-20.04
005.18.20-20.04. Guidelines for Appropriate Use of a Time-Out Seclusion Room.
Currentness
20.04.1 The teacher or behavioral specialist should have documentation that milder forms of time-out or other reduction techniques have proven ineffective in suppressing the inappropriate behavior.
20.04.2 The use of seclusion time-out and the behaviors which will result in its use must be explicitly stated in the student's IEP. Parent consent for the use of a time-out seclusion procedure should be documented.
20.04.3 Time-out must be paired with a behavioral plan to provide positive reinforcement for appropriate behaviors. This must also be included in the student's IEP.
20.04.4 Written procedures must be developed and followed for each student whose IEP includes the use of time-out.
20.04.5 The following guidelines should be adhered to for effective use of the timeout seclusion room.
20.04.5.1 Avoid lengthy verbal explanations. Behaviors resulting in time-out should be clearly explained prior to implementing the time-out program. Explanations provided during use of time-out should be brief, but should adequately inform the student of his/her misbehavior, such as, “Because you __________, you must go to time-out for __________ minutes.” All other verbal interaction should be avoided.
20.04.5.2 To maximize opportunities to exercise self-control, students should be given the opportunity to take their own time-out after receiving instructions from the teacher. However, if students refuse to take their own time-out, or if they fail to respond to the teacher's instructions within a reasonable time interval (5 to 10 seconds), the teacher should physically remove them to the time-out area. (Refer to § 20.03.3 of these regulations regarding physically removing the child to the time-out area.)
20.04.5.3 For high intensity behavior (e.g., kicking, screaming), the student should immediately be escorted to the time-out room.
20.04.6 Time Spent In Time-Out Seclusion Room
20.04.6.1 Length of time spent in the time-out seclusion room must be documented and kept within the specified time limits
A. Preschool -no more than 5 minutes for each exclusion.
B. Lower elementary -no more than 15 minutes for each exclusion.
C. Middle/upper elementary -no more than 20 minutes for each exclusion.
20.04.6.2 At the end of the prescribed time, the student should be offered the opportunity to rejoin the class. If the student chooses to stay in time-out, the door must be left open at this time. When a student consistently chooses to stay in the time-out seclusion room beyond the prescribed time limit, the use of this procedure must be reviewed. The time-out room may be providing more reinforcement than the environment from which the student was removed.
20.04.6.3 Should there be a need for a time-out period to extend past the prescribed time limits, the appropriateness of continuing the time-out procedure should be evaluated immediately by knowledgeable professionals (i.e., principal, counselor, special education staff).
20.04.6.4 Careful consideration must be taken in extending the prescribed length of the time-out seclusion. The effectiveness of the time-out procedure is the result of its consistent use, rather than the length of stay in the timeout seclusion room.
20.04.7 Records Must Be Kept Of Each Occasion When Time-Out Seclusion Is Used. The Records Should Include
20.04.7.1 The student's name;
20.04.7.2 The behavior for which time-out is being used, as specified in the IEP; and
20.04.7.3 The time of day the student was placed in and released from time-out.
20.04.8 When the use of time-out seclusion is included in a student's IEP, it is recommended that the use of time-out to address specific student behaviors be reviewed by a knowledgeable professional(s) twice monthly.
20.04.8.1 The use of the time-out seclusion procedure shall be altered or discontinued as a behavioral management technique if data do not support its effectiveness.
20.04.8.2 The continued and/or frequent need for this type of behavioral intervention could indicate that behavioral objectives, management techniques or other factors affecting the learning environment are not appropriately matched with the student's needs and behaviors.
20.04.9 If A Time-Out Room Is To Be Employed, The Time-Out Room Should
20.04.9.1 Be at least 4′ X 4′ and no larger than 6′ X 6′ in size;
20.04.9.2 Be properly lighted (preferably recessed lighting, with switches outside the room). Lighting should remain on at all times;
20.04.9.3 Be properly ventilated;
20.04.9.4 Be free of objects and fixtures;
20.04.9.5 Provide the means by which an adult can continuously monitor, visually and auditorily, the student's behavior;
20.04.9.6 The door should be such that it cannot be locked; and
20.04.9.7 Meet state and county fire and safety codes.
20.04.10 In addition, it is necessary that all personnel involved in designing and implementing behavioral management procedures, including the use of timeout seclusion, be adequately trained and supervised. It is imperative that these persons have attained levels of skill and competency so that their qualifications correspond to their responsibilities.
Current with amendments received through February 15, 2024. Some sections may be more current, see credit for details.
Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.20-20.04, AR ADC 005.18.20-20.04
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