Here's a quick update for those interested in the story of Alex Barton, the autistic kindergartener who was "voted out" of his class.
Last week, the TC Palm reported that the case was still under investigation by the district and that teacher Wendy Portillo was still on temporary administrative assignment away from children until the investigation is completed. The district says the investigation has been slowed by the presence of lawyers on both sides. The Barton family has retained a lawyer and filed notice of intent to sue, but no lawsuit is currently in progress. (Presumably, they are awaiting the outcome of the investigation.) One can only hope that Alex is in an educational setting with appropriate supports for him this year, but I suspect that, given the level of scrutiny his treatment has received, he is indeed in a better situation.
On a related note, Alex's treatment has created ripples in the Florida educational system. The state Attorney General's office is currently investigating over 100 new claims of mistreatment since beginning their investigation into the treatment of autistic children in Florida schools. Officials state that they are attempting to arrange a meeting with families, but scheduling has been complicated due to the number of complaints. If you are the parent or guardian of an autistic child in Florida who has experienced abuse or mistreatment in public schools, please call the Attorney General's office at (866) 966-7226.
I also read that the school board elections in St. Lucie County (where Alex resides) were close, with incumbents squeaking out a narrow win. There has been speculation that the uproar of Alex Barton's situation contributed to dissatisfaction with the current members of the board.
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