Autistic Students Tied To Chairs, Moms Sue Prince George's Schools: Report

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Two autistic, nonverbal children attending Seat Pleasant Elementary School last fall allegedly were tied to their classroom chairs with bungee cords by their first-grade teacher, media reports say, prompting their mothers to sue Prince George's County Public Schools.

Kelly Young and Demia Roman both received calls from the school principal in October 2024 about a classroom issue. Child Protective Services became involved and told Roman her son had been restrained with bungee cords in a chair. She told FOX 5 that her son has become more challenging behaviorally.

"This is the 21st century, this is Prince George's County is the largest county in the state and I'm shocked that we have this case here today," attorney Jason Kisner, who is representing the families, told FOX DC.

Young's son had been restrained in the same manner.

"You have a child who, God knows what they're going through, what they're feeling. … You're just angry because these people are there to take care of your children," Young told the TV station.

The school district said the teacher reportedly responsible for tying up the students has been placed on administrative leave.

In August, a FOX 45 News investigation found PGCPS appeared to violate federal law regarding assisting students with special needs. Students with an Individualized Education Program are mandated by the federal government to receive services when students meet the requirements.

Schools receive additional tax dollars to deliver services required in the IEPs. The Maryland State Department of Education does not keep detailed records regarding special needs students who require 1:1 aides. So, Project Baltimore collected records from all 24 Maryland public school systems and found one district, Prince George’s County, appeared to be in violation of federal law.

Prince George’s County Public Schools, as of May 31, had 434 students who required a 1:1 aide in their IEP. But only 354 students had a 1:1 aide assigned to them. So 80 students in Prince George’s County are federally required to have a 1:1 staffer but did not have one at the time the investigation was launched.

In a statement, the school system explained to Project Baltimore that hiring 1:1 aides is a “challenge” and the district was looking to increase hourly wages to attract more qualified candidates.

After FOX 45 reported the discrepancy, Prince George's County Public Schools wrote in an email:

"The district presently has 398 students who require a one-on-one aide in their IEP, with 363 currently assigned and 35 dedicated aide vacancies. Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is unwavering in its obligation to provide students with disabilities the services outlined in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). As of August 13, 398 PGCPS students require a one-on-one aide in their IEP, with 363 currently assigned and 35 dedicated aide vacancies.

When a dedicated aide position becomes vacant at a school, the administrative team will ensure the student continues to receive support by temporarily assigning another qualified staff member, such as a paraprofessional or itinerant special education assistant, until the position is filled.

If a student is without a dedicated aide for an extended period, the school will convene the student’s IEP team to review the student’s progress. The IEP team will determine whether the vacancy affected the student’s progress. If it is found that the student did not make meaningful progress as a result of the vacancy, the IEP team will arrange for compensatory education services to help address any gaps in instruction or support the student experienced.
While aide staffing is a national challenge, we are taking aggressive steps to close gaps. Dedicated aides face high-stress conditions and are not benefits-eligible — a structure that undermines recruitment and retention. We are acting to change that.

This year, PGCPS increased the rate of pay for dedicated aides and expanded recruitment and on-site hiring. We are also increasing the number of higher-paid, benefits-eligible Itinerant Special Education Assistants and exploring a state-supported apprenticeship pipeline to bring in new aides more quickly."