A Teacher Dragged a 6-Year-Old With Autism by His Ankle. Federal Civil Rights Officials Might Not Do Anything.

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A troubling incident at an Illinois school was captured on video, showing a teacher dragging a 6-year-old boy with autism down a hallway by his ankle. The incident, which occurred at the Garrison School, part of a special education district with a history of high arrest rates, led to the teacher being charged with battery after pressure from the parents.

Following an investigation by ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune in 2022, the U.S. Department of Education directed Garrison to change its response to students with disabilities. However, with the closure of the department’s regional office responsible for Illinois and other states under the Trump administration, oversight at Four Rivers Special Education District, which operates Garrison, is now uncertain.

In response to the incident involving Xander Reed, a student with autism, a substitute teacher was charged with misdemeanor battery for dragging him to the gym. The teacher, Rhea Drake, has pleaded not guilty. The district’s director stated that Drake will not be returning to the district and emphasized the school’s commitment to ensuring the safety of students and staff.

Despite efforts to address past issues of police involvement and controversial disciplinary methods at Garrison, recent incidents indicate ongoing challenges. Police have been called to the school multiple times this school year, with several student arrests reported for various offenses.

The future of oversight at Four Rivers remains uncertain, with questions raised about the effectiveness of the changes implemented following previous investigations. The lack of communication between the Education Department and the district, coupled with recent incidents, underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Garrison School and the broader special education district.