In Wake Of 'Scream Room' Controversy, Conn. House Passes Isolation Room Bill

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewyork/AP) -- A bill that would require the state to report on how often special education students are isolated because of emotional outbursts has passed the Connecticut House.

State representatives voted 142-to-0 in favor of an amended version of the measure Tuesday. It now awaits action in the state Senate.

The amended bill would require the State Board of Education to produce an annual report on the use of physical restraint and seclusion on disabled children, but would not include instances of in-school suspension.

The proposal comes after recent incidents in Middletown, where special education students at Farm Hill Elementary School were reportedly isolated in "scream rooms'' during outbursts.

Administrators initially defended the use of what they referred to as "time-out rooms." They had apparently been in use for some time, but many parents said they only recently learned of their existence.

Parents' outrage grew as they learned of nine separate calls to 911 concerning students inside the room.

State officials say isolation rooms can be used as part of a student's Individualized Education Program and are subject to strict regulations.

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