Image courtesy of Chester Community Charter School
Twenty workers at Chester Community Charter School in Chester, PA, have been charged with either child abuse or failing to report child abuse.
Nine are charged with:
- Conspiracy
- Simple assault
- Unlawful restraint
- False imprisonment
- Endangering the welfare of a child
- Failure to report endangering the welfare of a child
Eleven others are charged with failure to report the endangering of the welfare of a child.
These individuals were not all employees of the school; some were outside contractors from a company called Peak Performers Staffing, LLC.
The investigation into this case first began in January 2025, when two student’s parents reported their children’s fear of attending the school. This fear was caused by workers physically punishing students through forcible restraints. Although these so-called “safety holds”, or restraints, were required to be reported by school employees when utilized, they were not. Furthermore, according to the officials, none of the staff had up-to-date training on required SafetyCare techniques.
Understanding Proper Educational Procedures
Three main requirements appear to have been ignored by the school’s workers, which may have led to the physical abuse of these children.
First, staff appears to have neglected the required training for their roles. Mandatory Safety-Care training, according to Quality Behavioral Solutions®, “provides the skills and competencies necessary to effectively prevent, minimize, and manage behavioral challenges with dignity, safety, and the possibility of change.” Safety-Care “promotes…reducing or eliminating restrictive interventions such as restraint.” Had the staff maintained their training, they might have been more aware of the need to avoid the restrive interventions they ultimately enforced. This underscores the critical role that proper training plays in ensuring a safe and supportive environment for children.
Secondly, the staff appears to have ignored the Department of Education’s policies, which include directions around the use of physical restraints. According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, “Restraints are not to be used for punishment or incidents of non-compliance that do not pose a clear and present threat of harm to the student or others.” The Commonwealth outlines that restraints are a last resort option to be utilized only after less restrictive measures like de-escalation techniques. All of the staff at CCCS neglected these guidelines, which led to the above charges.
See something, say something.
Not only did staff members neglect to report “safety holds” placed on students as required, but 11 staff members were solely charged with failure to report endangering child welfare. The Child Protective Services Law in Pennsylvania requires educators to report on suspected child abuse.
Chester Community Charter School’s Responsibility
It is incumbent on schools to protect their students from harm. Therefore, it is critical that staff members are properly trained and observed and abuse is quickly reported. Unfortunately, there are often corrupt individuals within school systems who disregard the safety of children. It is incumbent that educators and school staff be on high alert for any potential warning signs of abuse.
CCCS claims to be cooperating with local law enforcement and has said that employees who were charged were either terminated, placed on leave, or suspended.
Unresolved questions regarding this case include:
- Before January 2025, did other children complain about being afraid to attend school?
- Why were educators not previously facing consequences for failing to complete their required training?
- What other measures could the school have taken to prevent this abuse from happening?
Can I File A Lawsuit Against Chester Community Charter School?
If you or someone you love has been abused by any of the staff at Chester Community Charter School, please contact us today to discuss your possible legal rights.
At Andreozzi + Foote, our team of trauma-informed Pennsylvania attorneys is here to listen and provide personalized legal guidance. We provide free, confidential case evaluations where you can learn more about your rights and options under your state’s laws.
Contact us 24/7: info@vca.law, (866) 865-1901
