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Is this technique to get students under control putting Missouri kids at risk?

Missouri secluded and restrained more than 1,000 students last school year. Justyn Jefferson, an 11-year-old from Belton, is one of them. But because schools don't always report instances of seclusion and restraint, it's difficult to know if they're using the techniques legally.

Schools are allowed to physically restrain students or put them in a separate room if they are putting themselves or others at risk. In Missouri, it’s hard to tell how often that’s happening — or if schools are following the rules. As KCUR’s Jodi Fortino reports, a Belton mom whose son was repeatedly secluded and restrained says schools are using those methods in inappropriate ways.

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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

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As a newscaster and a host of a daily news podcast, I want to deliver the most important and interesting news of the day in an engaging and easily understandable way. No matter where you live in the metro or what you’re interested in, I want you to learn something from each newscast or podcast – and maybe even give you something to talk about at the dinner table.
Paris Norvell is a freelance podcast producer for KCUR Studios,
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
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