Students with disabilities will no longer face disciplinary isolation after a federal investigation found they had been physically and verbally abused in Florida's Okaloosa County School District.

At a time when mental health challenges have become a top priority for K-12 schools across the country, the Education Department released new guidance on discriminatory discipline practices for students with disabilities.

With some exceptions, current law grants local school boards discretion in the use of corporal punishment for other students.

Democratic members of Congress have reintroduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act, which would make it illegal for schools receiving federal money to seclude children and would ban certain restraint practices.