In order for an educator to properly restrain or seclude a child, they should be made aware of the statutes, court cases, governmental policies, and terminologies that shape the legality of restraints and seclusions. This paper means to nurture that awareness. The paper is in an order that shows an evolution of the policies and laws about restraints and seclusion. First, relevant cases are identified and described. Second, federal policies and statutes related to student restraint and seclusion are discussed. Lastly, a policy framework is proposed for the legal restraint and seclusion of students in the public school setting.