School districts with high concentrations of poverty and high numbers of black and Latino students have lower incidences of restraint and seclusion than their wealthier and less-diverse counterparts, according to an analysis of nationwide civil rights data from the U.S. Department of Education.
The new analysis came from the Carsey Institute, a research center that studies vulnerable youth and families at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.
According to the report, poor, high-diversity districts in the 90th percentile for incidences of restraint and seclusion reported an average of 2.7 events per 100 students. In contrast, high-income, low-diversity districts that fell in the same percentile reported 6.7 events per 100 students.
Regardless of demographics, students with disabilities were far more likely to be restrained or secluded than nondisabled students.