20 staff at a suburban Philadelphia charter school are facing charges related to student physical abuse using painful, unapproved techniques to control and punish young people with programs that help address emotional issues, authorities announced Monday.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stallstimer said that behavior towards 26 children from kindergarten to fifth grade at Chester Community Charter School is involved. Those charged are accused of physically abusing students or failing to report alleged abuse.
The investigation by Chester Police began after two parents complained to school officials in January that they were afraid of school staff being placed in a “hold.”
“This case is a nightmare for every parent. We send our kids to school and expect adults to keep them safe, rather than physically and emotionally abused,” Stollsteimer says. “Our investigation showed that other (adults) passively sitting and monitoring while some staff are physically abusing their children. All adults accused are equally guilty of failing to protect a young child, five years old.”
The district attorney said the alleged abuse occurred in a program for children who need support in school life, their fellow students and other emotions in dealing with situations.
Police investigation determined that nine of the defendants used techniques to suppress and punish children in the school’s emotional support program, he said.
Stollsteimer said it included painful techniques such as pinching students at pressure points near their necks, restraining them, clutching their arms, placing their arms in front of them, and applying knees to their backs until they took them to the ground.
Many of these abuses were captured on surveillance camera footage obtained and reviewed by investigators, Stollsteimer said.
Those who were charged include several people employed by private companies and peak performers. Stollsteimer said the company founders ensured the school was properly trained, but when investigators sought a record of training for staff using detention and/or crisis prevention techniques, it was found that the company staff had not completed the necessary training.
School officials confirmed with investigators that use of “security reserve” must be reported under state guidelines. However, authorities said that no such retention was reported by the schools in 2024.
The nine face multiple counts including conspiracy, illegal detention, child risk and false imprisonment. The other 11 people have been charged with at least one count of failing to report the risk of a child. All defendants are classified under state law as mandated reporters with suspected child abuse cases.
Some of the people charged had been in custody as of Monday afternoon, but Stallstimer said many others had arranged for the soon-to-be surrender.
It was not returned to the voicemail message left at the school administration office on Monday and the phone numbers listed for staffing of performers. However, the school issued a statement that it was fully cooperating with the police, and that it had terminated its contract with the company after school administrators learned that there could be a violation of the approved disciplinary method.
The school employee accused of participating in the abuse was fired, but those who may be aware of alleged abuse took leave, according to the statement.
“As soon as school administrators learned that there was a possibility of a violation of the approved (disciplinary) method, it took prompt and decisive action to terminate the contractor,” the school’s statement said.
According to the websitethe school was founded in 1998 and now serves more than 4,000 students in the Chester Upland School District in Delaware County, accounting for two-thirds of the district’s public school registration. The service is available from kindergarten to eighth grade on four campuses.
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