Aversive behavioral interventions
means an intervention that is intended to induce pain or discomfort to a student for the purpose of eliminating or reducing maladaptive behaviors, including such interventions as application of noxious, painful, and/or intrusive stimuli, including any form of noxious, painful or intrusive spray, inhalant, or taste.
Chemical restraint
means a drug or medication used to control a student's behavior or restrict freedom of movement that is not:
- Prescribed by a licensed physician, or other qualified health professional acting under the scope of the professional's authority under Ohio law, for the standard treatment of a student's medical or psychiatric condition; and
- Administered as prescribed by the licensed physician or other qualified health professional acting under the scope of the professional's authority under Ohio law.
De-escalation techniques
are strategically employed verbal or non-verbal interventions used to reduce the intensity of threatening behavior before a crisis situation occurs.
Functional behavior assessment
("FBA") is a collaborative problem-solving process that is used to describe the "function" or purpose that is served by a student's behavior. Understanding the "function" that an impeding behavior serves for the student assists directly in designing educational programs and developing behavior plans with a high likelihood of success.
Mechanical restraint
means any method of restricting a student's freedom of movement, physical activity, or normal use of the student's body, using an appliance or device manufactured for this purpose. Mechanical restraint does not mean devices used by trained school personnel, or used by a student, for the specific and approved therapeutic or safety purposes for which such devices were designed and, if applicable, prescribed, including:
- restraints for medical immobilization;
- adaptive devices or mechanical supports used to allow greater freedom of mobility than would be possible without the use of such devices or mechanical supports; or
- vehicle safety restraints when used as intended during the transport of a student in a moving vehicle.
Parent
means:
- a biological or adoptive parent;
- a guardian generally authorized to act as the child's parent, or authorized to make decisions for the child (but not the State if the child is a ward of the State);
- an individual acting in the place of a biological or adoptive parent (including a grandparent, stepparent, or other relative) with whom the child lives, or an individual who is legally responsible for the child's welfare;
- a surrogate parent who has been appointed in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code 3301-51-05(E); or
- any person identified in a judicial decree or order as the parent of a child or the person with authority to make educational decisions on behalf of the child.
Physical escort
means the temporary touching or holding of the hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, waist, hip, or back for the purpose of inducing a student to move to a safe location.
Physical restraint
means the use of physical contact that immobilizes or reduces the ability of a student to move his/her arms, legs, body, or head freely. Physical restraint does not include a physical escort, mechanical restraint, or chemical restraint. Physical restraint does not include brief physical contact for the following or similar purposes to:
- break up a fight;
- knock a weapon away from a student's possession;
- calm or comfort;
- assist a student in completing a task/response if the student does not resist the contact; or
- prevent an impulsive behavior that threatens the student's immediate safety (e.g., running in front of a car).
Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports
("PBIS") means a school-wide systematic approach to embed evidence-based practice and data-driven decision making to improve school climate and culture in order to achieve improved academic and social outcomes, and increase learning for all students. PBIS encompasses a range of systemic and individualized positive strategies to reinforce desired behaviors, diminish reoccurrences of challenging behaviors, and teach appropriate behaviors to students.
Positive Behavior Support Plan
means the design, implementation, and evaluation of individual or group instructional and environmental modifications, including programs of behavioral instruction, to produce significant improvements in behavior through skill acquisition and the reduction of problematic behavior.
Prone restraint
means physical or mechanical restraint while the student is in the face-down position for an extended period of time.
Seclusion
means the involuntary isolation of a student in a room, enclosure, or space from which the student is prevented from leaving by physical restraint or by a closed door or other physical barrier.
Student
means a child or adult aged three (3) to twenty-one (21) enrolled in the District.
Student Personnel
means teachers, principals, counselors, social workers, school resource officers, teacher's aides, psychologists, bus drivers, or other District staff who interact directly with students.
Timeout
means a behavioral intervention in which the student, for a limited and specified time, is separated from the class within the classroom or in a non-locked setting for the purpose of self-regulating and controlling his or her own behavior. In a timeout, the student is not physically restrained or prevented from leaving the area by physical barriers.