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Public Act 102-0339

  • The Student Care Department and The Center for Intensive Behavioral Supports are hosting Regional RTO Summits in June.  Please register using the QR code found on the informational flyer​PDF Document. 

  • Physical Restraint, Time Out and Isolated Time Out Reduction Plans ​​Due by July 1, 2023​

    In accordance with the requirements set forth in 105 ILCS 5/2-3.130 and Public Act 102-0339​,​PDF Document each school district board must create an oversight team that consists of, but is not limited to, teachers, paraprofessionals, school service personnel, and administrators to develop district-specific plans that include procedures to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of physical restraint, time out, and isolated time out (RTO).  Plans shall be submitted to rtoreductionplan@isbe.net​.​​​​​​​​​

    In accordance with 105 ILCS 5/2-3.130 (f), a school is exempt from the requirement to submit an RTO Reduction Plan, if they are able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the State Board that (i) within the previous three years, the district has never engaged in the use of physical restraint, time out, or isolated time out, and (ii) the school district has a written policy that prohibits the use of physical restraint, time out, or isolated time out, and (iii) the school district is able to demonstrate enforcement of that policy.

    In order for a school district to be considered for an exemption, a district must meet the indicators from above, complete and submit ISBE Form 99-33(5/22): RTO Reduction Plan Exemption, and provide the specific URL for the district board policy prohibiting the use of all physical restraint, isolated time out and time out practices on students the district serves in the district. Districts should be advised that the current 7.190 PRESS Policy does not meet the requirement for this exemption. Districts may wish to consult with their local legal counsel on a policy to meet the requirement.​

    Upon receipt of the exemption plan , ISBE will review the form, verify the URL for the policy, and verify no RTO data has been received through the SIS reporting system or via the complaint process. Districts will be notified via email of approval, disapproval, or any need for additional information.

  • FREE ONLINE RESTRAINT AND TIME OUT TRAINING AVAILABLE

    ISBE and the Center for Intensive Behavioral Supports​ at Illinois State University are excited to announce the availability of free online professional training to support a reduction in the need to use physical restraint, time out, and/or isolated time out (RTO).

    Illinois Administrative Code 1.285 requires that any adult who is supervising a student in time out or isolated time out, or who is involved in a physical restraint, shall receive at least eight hours of developmentally appropriate training annually. Online training may be utilized for all the following required training areas: A) crisis de-escalation, B) restorative practices, C) identifying signs of distress during physical restraint and time out, D) trauma-informed practices, and E) behavior management practices. Online training may not be used for training pertaining to physical restraint. 

    All Illinois teachers are eligible to register for the free online training series that fulfills this requirement. Any teacher who teaches an Illinois student, regardless of location of educational entity, is eligible to register for a free account. Additional training topics will be added over time.

  • RTO Parent Bill of Rights​PDF Document​

    As required per 105 ILCS 5/10-20-33, following each incident of restraint, time out, and isolated time out (RTO), schools must provide the following items to parents and guardians: a written summary of the incident; a copy of the RTO standards; information about the rights of parents, guardians, and students;, and information on the right to file a complaint.

    The RTO Bill of Rights was created as a resource for parents/guardians. The document includes:

    1. Overview of the allowability of RTO and rights
    2. Common terminology
    3. RTO standards for use (or when it should be stopped or not used)
    4. Rights of students/families (during/after use)
    5. The right to file a State RTO Complaint

    Additional Translations​​

  • Permanent Regulations for the Use of Time Out, Isolated Time Out, and Physical Restraint: Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions (Updated 5/9/2022)​PDF Document ​​

As required by 23 IAC Section 1.285 of the School Code, the Illinois State Board of Education collects data from public school districts, special education cooperatives, and nonpublic special education entities regarding the use of isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint. The State Superintendent reserves the authority to require districts to submit the information required under subsection (f)(1) for previous school years.  The historical data included in this summary report​PDF Document was collected from the 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20 school years.

Incident Type School Year 2018-19 Total School Year 2019-20 Total
 School Year 2020-21 Total
Students with Incidents 3403 4447 2610
Incidents
 35847 28092 19006
Timeouts
 17393
 11772 4274
Timeout Minutes 469978.3
 323453.9 154562
Average Minutes Per Timeout 29
 29 36
Restraints 20757 17693 14732
Restraint Minutes 193206.8 151029.9 209396
Average Minutes Per Restraint 10 9 14
Danger To Self 12515 11361 9428
Danger To Staff
 24217 20644 15746
Danger to Students 10952 10176 4432
No Danger Identified 4347 2327 89

*The three-year historical data does not include information on the individual student, such as name, age, race, gender, IDEA and/or EL eligibility. On August 4, 2020, all school districts, special education cooperatives, and nonpublic special educational entities have two days to submit incidences of isolated time out, time out and physical restraint into the Student Information System (SIS) using the Physical Restraint and Time Out formPDF Document.

Prepared by the Data Analysis and Progress Reporting Division, Illinois State Board of Education, November 2020.

Disclaimer: The Illinois State Board of Education (hereinafter referred to as ISBE) is committed to providing all stakeholders with the most accurate information regarding the use of time out, isolated time out, and physical restraint across Illinois. ISBE began collecting reports of incidents of time out and restraint within two school days of each occurrence on November 20, 2019, pursuant to Illinois Administrative Code 23 IAC 1.28. ISBE further strengthened the quality of this reporting by moving the collection into the Student Information System on Aug. 4, 2020. Prior to ISBE instituting this reporting, local school districts, special education cooperatives and nonpublic facilities did not have a uniform system to report these occurrences to ISBE nor did they have a collective understanding of the definitions for the use of time out, isolated time out and physical restraint; therefore, ISBE cannot attest to the accuracy of the data collected from these entities before August 4, 2020. Additionally, there are a number of local school districts, special education cooperatives, and nonpublic facilities that are not included in this release of data as the release would interfere with active administrative enforcement proceedings conducted by ISBE.

Restraint, time out, isolated time out (RTO) complaint process

The State RTO complaint and investigation process is a procedure where a person submits a signed, written complaint alleging that the school district has violated one or more of the restraint and/or time out regulations found in 23 IAC 1.285.

Any parent or guardian, individual, organization, or advocate may file a signed written complaint with the State Superintendent alleging that a school district or other entity serving the child has violated 23 IAC 1.285. The complaint shall only be considered for review if it alleges a violation not more than one (1) year prior to the date in which the complaint is received.

PLEASE CLICK HERE IF YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE WITH FILING A STATE RTO COMPLAINT.​​​​​​​

 File a RTO State Complaint

 Correspondence that will NOT be investigated through RTO Complaint process
  • ​​​​Allegations of RTO misuse that the person refuses to put in writing or sign, despite offers of assistance in preparing the complaint.
  • Inquiries that seek advice and clarification regarding parental rights but which make it clear that no official action is to be taken.
  • Anonymous correspondence.
  • Courtesy copies of correspondence directed to another entity.
  • Allegations that are not violations of the restraint/time out regulations (i.e. personnel issues, Section 504 issues, special education issues, harassment, etc.)

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