DOJ Finds St. Louis Special School District’s Restraint & Seclusion Practices Violate ADA, Proposes Required Reforms

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has found that the Special School District (SSD) of St. Louis County, Missouri violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) through its use of restraint and seclusion practices. In a letter issued February 23, 2026, the DOJ outlined the violations and proposed a settlement agreement requiring corrective action.

The findings are based on a federal investigation launched on May 8, 2024. Over the 21-month investigation period, SSD secluded more than 300 students nearly 4,000 times and restrained approximately 150 students 777 times. At one SSD school with fewer . . .