Abuse in Schools: When Schools Harm, We Demand Accountability

Defending Clients Across Indiana, Ohio, & Michigan

Every child deserves to feel safe at school. But when schools become places of fear, harm, or abuse, families are often left devastated, disoriented, and overwhelmed. At Connell Michael, LLP, we stand with students and their families when the system fails to protect them. Whether your child has been sexually abused by a teacher or coach, harassed by peers, or unlawfully restrained or secluded because of a disability, we are here to help you seek justice.

Abuse in the Education System Is More Common Than You Think

Abuse in schools takes many forms. Most people immediately think of sexual misconduct by teachers or coaches. And yes, that remains a tragic and ongoing reality in far too many schools across the country. But school abuse can also look like this:

• A child with autism being locked alone in a “quiet room” for hours
• A nonverbal student with behavioral needs being physically restrained face-down on the floor
• A young girl being repeatedly harassed by classmates while teachers look the other way
• A student with ADHD being dragged from a classroom, bruised and terrified
• A child reporting sexual abuse by a staff member and being ignored, disbelieved, or punished for speaking up

These are not isolated incidents. They are signs of systemic failure—where oversight, training, compassion, and legal responsibility have all broken down.

At Connell Michael, LLP, we investigate these failures and hold schools accountable.

Types of School Abuse We Handle

1. Sexual Abuse by Teachers, Coaches, or Staff

Educators are in a position of profound trust and authority. When a teacher, coach, school counselor, or any staff member uses that position to exploit a child, the consequences are life-altering. Grooming, inappropriate communication, coercion, and physical sexual abuse are violations not only of the law, but of the child’s emotional and psychological safety.

Our firm handles claims involving:

• Teacher-student sexual relationships or contact
• Staff grooming students through texts, gifts, or inappropriate attention
• Abuse on school trips, in classrooms, locker rooms, or vehicles
• School failure to report or investigate known misconduct
• Retaliation against students or families who report abuse

We don’t just go after the individual abuser—we investigate what the school knew, when they knew it, and how they failed to protect your child.

1. Peer-on-Peer Sexual Abuse and Harassment

When students are sexually assaulted or harassed by other students, schools still have a duty to act. If the school knew or should have known about the risk—and failed to intervene—they may be held legally responsible. This includes:

• Sexual assault on school property
• Repeated sexual harassment or bullying
• Failure to provide adequate supervision
• Ignoring prior complaints or warning signs
• Failing to separate students in dangerous situations

No child should be forced to sit in a classroom with their abuser. No parent should be left in the dark. We help families fight for safe environments and real consequences.

1. Abuse of Children with Disabilities – Restraint and Seclusion

Children with disabilities are among the most vulnerable students in our schools. And they are disproportionately subjected to dangerous and degrading forms of punishment—often under the guise of “behavior management.” But make no mistake: unlawful restraint, seclusion, and exclusion of students with disabilities is a form of abuse.

We handle cases involving:

• Physical restraint, especially prone (face-down) restraint or restraint by untrained staff
• Locking or isolating a child in a seclusion room, closet, or other confinement space
• Use of “calm-down rooms” as punishment or behavioral threats
• Denial of education through repeated removals, suspensions, or “cool-offs”
• Use of police or school resource officers (SROs) to intimidate or arrest students with IEPs
• Punishment for behaviors that are manifestations of a child’s disability

Too often, these practices are not just harmful—they’re illegal. Schools are bound by federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). When they violate those protections, we act.