Home / Education / District 114 Accused of Discrimination Against Disabled Students
District 114 Accused of Discrimination Against Disabled Students
7 Nov
Summary
- Multiple families allege systemic disability discrimination by Manhattan School District 114.
- A federal judge previously ordered the district to return a student with autism to her school.
- Three new families have joined a federal class-action lawsuit against the district.
Manhattan School District 114 is now embroiled in a federal class-action lawsuit, with three additional families alleging a pattern of disability discrimination. These families contend that the district has systematically failed to provide appropriate accommodations for students with special needs. The lawsuit follows a prior federal judge's order at the beginning of the school year that mandated the district return a 10-year-old girl with autism to her neighborhood school.
Despite the court order, the girl's family reports that her specialized learning plan remains unfinalized, forcing them to remove her from school again, even as she wishes to attend. Another parent, Julia Bartczak, shared her experience of having to homeschool her son, Bryce, who has Down syndrome, due to communication device access issues and unmet accommodation needs. She expressed hope that the district would collaborate with families rather than confront them.
Collectively, nearly 20 families have reportedly come forward with similar grievances since August. The amended lawsuit aims to compel changes within District 114, with parents emphasizing the necessity of their children receiving deserved educational support. The district has previously stated its commitment to working closely with families to determine optimal educational outcomes for each child.
