Kansas Inservice Training System
Virtual Kit: Kansas ESI Statute and Regulations Apply to Preschoolers!
Kit QT
In 2013 the Kansas State Board of Education developed Kansas Emergency Safety Interventions (ESI) regulations defining interventions, commonly referred to as seclusion and restraint, that should only be used in emergency situations. These regulations apply to any learning environment, including any nonprofit institutional day or residential schools and any accredited nonpublic school or preschool that receives public funding or which is subject to the regulatory authority of the state board of education.
In addition, Kansas ESI regulations require districts to develop written policies and disseminate that information, collect and report data on use of ESI with any student (in general or special education) including preschoolers, and notify parents in writing of any use of ESI. Districts are also required to provide training to staff on 1) emergency safety interventions, and 2) positive behavioral interventions strategies. Training must address prevention techniques, de-escalation techniques and positive behavioral intervention strategies and supports (PBIS). The focus is on preventing the need for the use of ESI.
In 2015 the Kansas legislature passed an ESI law that became effective on June 4, 2015. While the ESI regulations remain in effect, the ESI statute creates new requirements. Most notable for practitioners are parameters about when an ESI may be used and changes in how and when parents (defined in statute) must be notified and the information that must be provided the first time an ESI is used with their child and thereafter should an ESI incident reoccur. There is a new requirement for convening a meeting following a third ESI incident with a child in the same school year. Other changes relate to dispute resolution, the compiling and reporting of ESI data at the district and state level, and the establishment of an emergency safety intervention task force. KSDE-TASN has provided updated resources to guide and assist local school boards and district administrators in reviewing and revising their ESI policies, procedures, information, and training to reflect the new 2015 ESI statute available at http://ksdetasn.org/tasn/emergency-safety-interventions-esi-resources. The purpose of this Virtual Kit is to direct early childhood administrators and practitioners to essential KSDE guidance documents on ESI as well as to provide resources supporting ESI training and implementation requirements in early childhood settings.
Show me now! (I need this tomorrow)
- Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI) Law (2015)
- Changes in Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI) Requirements under the ESI Statute (2015)
- Standards for the Use of Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI) (2015)
- Kansas Discipline Incident System (KAN-DIS) and Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI)
What does this look like in practice? (I have a little more time to read about this)
For All Students:
- ESI Flowchart (2015)
- ESI Flyer (2015)
- ESI Sample Documentation Form (2015)
- Template of Information to Provide Parents After First ESI Incident (2015)
- Sample Parent Notification Letter for any ESI Incident Other Than First or Third (2015)
- Sample Parent Notification Letter for Meeting After Third ESI Incident (2015)
- Kansas Families Together, Inc. (2015). A family guide to the use of emergency safety interventions (seclusion and restraint) in Kansas. Topeka, KS.
- Council for Exceptional Children (2009). CEC's policy on physical restraint and seclusion procedures in school settings. Arlington, VA.
- U.S. Department of Education (2012). Restraint and seclusion: Resource document. Washington, D.C.
For Preschoolers:
- KITS (Revised 2015). Questions on Kansas's ESI Statute and Regulations in EC Settings (PDF)
- Pennsylvania Early Intervention (2011). Early intervention teachers' reference guide: Positive behavior supports and interventions--Preventing the use of seclusion and restraint in early intervention. Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Learning. (Note: Although Pennsylvania regulations differ from Kansas regulations on ESI, resources provided are relevant and timely.)
- Dunlap, G., Ostryn, C., and Fox, L. (2011). Preventing the use of restraint and seclusion with young children: The role of effective, positive practices. Issue brief. Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention. Tampa, FL: University of South Florida.
- U.S. Departments of HHS and Education (2014). Policy statement on expulsion and suspension policies in early childhood settings. (Note: Includes recommendations and resources focused on creating positive climates and implementing preventive practices using early childhood mental health consultation and positive behavior intervention and support for early childhood/Pyramid Model, in partnership with parents and families.)
What does the ECRC have on this topic?
How can I find training on this topic?
- KSDE (2015). Emergency Safety Interventions: Requirements.
- KITS (Revised August 2015). Applying Kansas ESI statute and regulations to early childhood settings Kansas EC-ESI
- Administration for Children and Families (2015). Reducing Suspension and Expulsion Practices in Early Childhood Settings. In 2014 the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education issued a joint policy statement and recommendations to assist states and public and private early childhood programs in partnering to prevent and severely limit expulsions and suspensions in early learning settings. The ACF recently hosted a webinar series supporting the Departments of HHS and Education 2014 joint policy statement on reducing suspension and expulsion in early childhood settings. The series featured experts on different aspects of the issue, including policy, research and data, and prevention/intervention. Recordings of the webinars can be accessed from the web page below, along with related resources for early childhood programs, families and caregivers. See especially the third webinar: Program Quality and Professional Development for information on prevention and intervention practices from the Pyramid Model and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation.
- U.S. Department of Education (2015, October). #RethinkDiscipline in Early Childhood. Archived webinar (31 min.) (youtube video)
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Military Family Learning Network are providing a series of free online learning modules on Social Emotional Development in the Early Years for early intervention and preschool providers. Recordings of live presentations are available for later viewing. CEUs are available through KITS. The series includes:
- Social Emotional Development in the Early Years: Understanding Social Emotional Development (View recording from June 18, 2015)
- Social Emotional Development in the Early Years: Promoting Positive Relationships (View recording from Aug. 6, 2015)
- Beyond Mandated Reporting: Building Resiliency with Families (Register for Oct. 22, 2015)
- Social Emotional Development in the Early Years: Creating Supportive and Inclusive Environments (Register for Nov. 12, 2015)
- Social Emotional Development in the Early Years: Enriching Social Emotional Literacy (Register for Dec. 3, 2015)
- KITS (Revised August 2015). Applying Kansas ESI statute and regulations to early childhood settings Kansas EC-ESI
- Visit the following online calendars to find out if there might be additional upcoming training related to this topic:
What if I still need help?
- Contact KSDE Technical Assistance System Network (TASN ) to submit a request
- E-mail Kansas Inservice Training System (KITS) or call 1-800-362-0390 ext. 1638.
If you thought this kit was helpful, you might also like…
- Technical Assistance Packets available for download from KITS
- KITS Webinar Archives (Three to Five)
- A Child Who Can't Behave in Preschool Should Be…Taught!
- Prevent-Teach-Reinforce for Young Children, Part I: Essential Prevention Practices for Reducing Challenging Behaviors in Early Care and Education Settings
- Prevent-Teach-Reinforce for Young Children, Part II: The Team Process
- Prevent-Teach-Reinforce for Young Children, Part III: Support for Implementation
Evaluation
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