Three families sue Manhattan district
Parents allege systemic disability discrimination in Manhattan School District 114 after a federal judge ordered one student's return in September.
By Ethan Cooper ·
Three families in Manhattan, Illinois, have joined a federal class-action lawsuit against Manhattan School District 114. The amended filing alleges a systemic pattern of discrimination against students with disabilities. The lawsuit was originally filed in a Chicago federal court. It seeks changes in how the district handles special education needs.
The dispute centers on the treatment of students with autism and other disabilities. At the start of the current school year, a federal judge ordered the district to return a 10-year-old autistic girl, identified as E, to her neighborhood school. The court required the district to implement proper accommodations for her. The Femrite family, which includes E, stated that her specialized learning plan remains unfinalized. Despite a court order, they pulled her from the classroom again because she was eager to return.
Julia Bartczak, mother of 16-year-old Bryce, is another plaintiff. Bryce has Down syndrome. Bartczak said her son now has friends for the first time. This development occurred after the family transferred him to a different school district. While enrolled in the fifth grade in Manhattan, Bartczak reported issues with his learning accommodations. Specifically, the district did not provide regular access to his NovaChat 8 speech-generating device. Bartczak stated that staff members told her his lack of communication was unrelated to his behavior.
Bartczak said the district's refusal to resolve the communication issue forced her to homeschool Bryce for a year and a half. The family could not reach a workable arrangement with school officials. Kelli Femrite, E's mother, described a similar experience. She said the district failed to collaborate with providers and parents to create a workable plan for their child.
Families reported that nearly 20 households in the district have come forward with similar complaints since August. Bartczak said she hopes the district will work with families instead of fighting them. She noted that the families already face enough challenges. The three new families joined the legal action to demand specific changes in district policy.
Manhattan School District 114 did not respond to requests for comment on the amended lawsuit. In a statement issued in August, the district said its staff works closely with each family. The statement emphasized that the goal is to determine the best educational outcome for every child.
