Overview

This case study examines a specific challenge and success story in education advocacy: the defense of a critical policy in Minnesota aimed at reducing the use of seclusion in schools. We will explore how EdAllies, a Minnesota-based organization, mobilized a community-led coalition to protect a recently enacted ban on seclusion for young students, highlighting transferable lessons in rapid response, community engagement, and policy change

The Challenge

In Minnesota, students of color and those with disabilities face disproportionate exclusionary discipline. Data shows that Black and Native students are dismissed from school at more than double the national disparity rates, making Minnesota’s students of color some of the most disproportionately affected populations in the country when it comes to exclusionary discipline. Likewise, students with disabilities, who make up only 14% of the population, account for 60% of suspensions and expulsions (EdAllies 2019).

These statistics shine light on the systematic failures and outdated polices, rather than the potential of students. EdAllies aims to disrupt these harmful practices and establish an education system where every student can access a rigorous and engaging learning experience.

The Initiative

One of the most pressing issues in the past year was the use of seclusion rooms, where students—almost always children with disabilities—were locked alone in small spaces, closed from the outside, and without an adult in the room to help keep the child safe. Locking a child alone in a room has often caused serious injury or even death. In the 2022–23 school year alone, Minnesota reported 3,938 seclusions involving 730 students, with 75% of these incidents involving children under the age of 10 (MDOE, 2024).

Recognizing the harm caused by this practice, EdAllies successfully championed legislation in 2023 that banned seclusion for PreK–3 students. This policy shift replaced punitive discipline with restorative practices and trauma-informed strategies, resulting in a significant and measurable impact: an over 60% reduction in seclusion incidents statewide in its first year. (MDOE, 2025)

The Threat and Response

In 2025, the Minnesota Senate proposed a policy that would reverse the ban and allow seclusion to be written into Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) (Minnesota Legislature, 2025). This unexpected move threatened to undo critical protections for all students, but especially the youngest learners.

EdAllies quickly mobilized a coordinated advocacy campaign to defend the ban. This response was not a top-down initiative but a powerful collaboration with a coalition of organizations, including Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Solutions Not Suspensions, Multicultural Autism Action Network, PACER Center, and S.T.A.N.D. Up MN Parents United. The campaign centered community voices and employed a multi-pronged strategy:

 – Community Events: What’s at Stake for Students with Disabilities, convening parents, educators, and policymakers to raise awareness.

 – Media & Storytelling: A widely shared podcast episode unpacked the trauma caused by seclusion and the power dynamics in IEP meetings.

 – Action Alerts: Nearly 100 letters from community members were sent to their local legislators and the Governor.

 – Press Conference: Secured coverage across multiple local outlets, including KARE11, FOX9, The Star Tribune, and MPR, to amplify the issue.

This swift and unified response successfully prevented the policy from becoming law, maintaining the seclusion ban, and helping to protect hundreds of students from this practice.

Impact

 – For Students & Families: Greater trust and sense of safety, affirming the dignity of Minnesota’s youngest learners.

 – For Schools: A catalyst to invest in positive alternatives like restorative practices, mental health supports, and family engagement strategies.

 – For Policy: A model for community-led advocacy defending student rights to safety and a Free Appropriate Public Education.

 – Working with Communities

EdAllies works with communities by conducting listening sessions, focus groups, and school-based programs. Families, students, and stakeholders surface issues from those most impacted by systemic barriers. Initiatives like EdVoices and Community Allies in the Schools empower students and families to lead on policy, shape narratives, and drive reform.

Looking Ahead

Over the next several years, EdAllies will continue to:

 – Defend protections against exclusionary discipline practices.

 – Ensure safe environments for students with disabilities.

 – Advocate for policies that support recruiting and retaining more teachers and help reduce barriers to entering the profession.

 – Push for statewide literacy goals, including full implementation of the READ Act to reach 80% reading proficiency by 2033.

Learn more about EdAllies’ work here.