Starting February 1, 2026, it is required to have cameras in self-contained special education classrooms under the Louisiana Act 479. It is being implemented for safer and more accountable classrooms. Louisiana had a law that allowed cameras to be placed in the classrooms upon parental request.
Here is a link about Law 479 https://www.katc.com/news/cameras-to-be-installed-in-special-education-classrooms-statewide-this-school-year
One set of parents was interviewed, and they are excited because after several attempts on parental request for a camera to be placed in their child’s classroom, they are finally able to have a camera. They say it could help the teacher or the parent to know what happened with the child’s behavior and be able to change it.
I have over 5 years of experience in self-contained special education, where I had mixed categories in the classroom. My students had many issues. For example, I had a student come back from lunch, and he would throw something, mostly at me. This happened multiple times, and I learned that he was mad at lunch because he could not sit with another student he wanted to, so he would be upset. When he came back, he would not be able to handle his anger and lash out because he felt safe in my classroom. So, if there was a camera in the classroom, it would only show what he did not everything that led to the situation. Since he had an emotional and behavioral disorder that his behavior was related to his actions. I could also be held accountable since he threw something in my classroom, but nothing that led to the situation. I think it is going to set up special education for failure. Now everyone will tell the teacher what they need to do in the classroom. I especially think about inexperienced teachers, how this could make them leave the field.
I also have over 10 years of experience working with administrators in districts across the country. Administrators stated to me that they do not understand the needs of special education students. I experienced that as a teacher, when my administrators also did not understand the behaviors of my students. There was an article I just read last week about a survey that many administrators have not had training in understanding special educational needs.
Behaviors are a reaction to something the child experienced in the past or present. A child could act out in the classroom from something that happened to them at home, and many times it is very difficult for the child to communicate, and the teacher will be held responsible for the actions of the child. How is that helping the child or the teacher? How is this showing accountability?
What do you think about cameras in the classroom?
