Education Trends: Brian Calley Moving Fast To Fix Special Ed System

Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley headed the state's special education task force group, which recommended banning special education teachers from isolating and holding back students with special needs. Calley, who as well is a parent of a child with special education needs, deemed the old school practices as "barbaric" and "inhumane."

Calley said effective learning would only take effect if the teachers can provide proper interventions for the students. "When you replace that with the positive behavior interventions and supports, the ability for teachers to teach more effectively and students to learn more goes up," Calley said according to WEMU 89.1.

There is already an existing state policy discouraging educators to restrain and seclude special needs students. However, it is just an advisory and it is not compulsory for the schools, as per Detroit Free Press. Hence, Calley thinks that the state policy is not good enough to provide protection for children with special needs.

Talking to WHTC, Calley said there's a bipartisan effort in the state to reform the outdated legislation. He, along with the state's special education task force, is working double time to improve the quality provided to special education students. "I'm hoping, by this spring, we can get this through the entire process and on the governor's desk," Calley shared.

"There are more protections for prisoners against the use of restraints and sensory deprivation rooms than there are for school kids," Calley pointed out. He then said secluding and restraining should only be applied to emergency situations.

Brian Calley and the committee's effort were sparked by two recorded deaths in 2003. The record revealed that the restraining technique led to the death of the said students from Michigan.

What do you think about Calley's recommendation? Would it ensure safety for all students with special needs? We would like to know your thought, share it with us in the comments!