Yes, this is unacceptable. Your spouse and perhaps other parents from the class need to meet with the principal, and if unresolved, keep moving on up. Contact school board members. I'm so sorry.

Time to get loud! Your child is being harmed by this other child, and it's not right. It is the school's responsibility to keep all children safe, and they are not doing that.

Every incident needs to be documented in writing and emailed to the teacher, the principal, the superintendent, the school board, and everyone you can think of.

In that email you may want to include that you are going to be reporting to the school to DCF or CPS or whatever your agency is called because they are not keeping your child safe and you want investigation done.

You might also want to mention that you are looking into your legal options, which may include a restraining order against the child or getting your own attorney.

Another thing you might want to talk about is how your child is traumatized by the behavior of this other child and now requires evaluation and therapy, which you are going to expect the school board to pay for since they are the cause of the problem.

Schools and school boards do not like it When DCF And Legal get involved. It may push them to move a little faster in regards to this child. I can guarantee that they know this child is a problem, but they are not looking to move the child probably for many reasons like evaluations go slowly, or parents may not be on board with special needs services. In the meantime, though, your child should not have to suffer.

Also think about what you want to happen as an end result. Do you want your child moved to another class? Do you want the other child moved out of class? It may be easier to move your child than remove the other child, but that's not always fair or the best outcome for your child, depending on what the other classes are like.

It sounds as though that other child is in crisis mode and desperately needs help, as does the rest of the class who is having to suffer with him, so please don't hesitate.

I was you. File a police report. File a report to CPS for neglect. They're aware of it and the kid continues to injure other students. 

The only thing that worked was getting an outside agency involved. I wish that wasn't the answer. But that's the only thing that worked. 

A word of advice: send a confirmation email EVERY SINGLE TIME you talk to administration. Just a quick "I am confirming our conversation on 12/18 at 2pm. I reported that [student] hit 3 other children in the pickup line. You told me to contact the teacher." They lie. That's why they always want to talk and won't email. Confirm every conversation, make them deny it. Be brief and factual. Those confirmation emails saved me. 

Contact the division office and insist on something being done. Tell them this is harassment and abuse and if it is not dealt with then you will be going to the police to see what the best options are to deal with this.

Every kid has a right to an education and as an educator, it is frustrating when the “normal” kids take the brunt of things.

Call the cops and make a police report!! And tell admins you’re contacting an attorney. I’d also post in your local groups and let other parents know what’s going on and I imagine there’s many others just as sick of this as you.

The principal doesn’t get to choose the budget for staffing. You need to escalate to the superintendent who is the only one who can approve an additional employee in the classroom. If the superintendent doesn’t do anything, the school board is the next step. They are elected officials, so they have a duty to their constituents.

I’m so fucking sick of these kids. (And their shitty parents too!) The entire school cowers to them at the risk of all the other kids who don’t hide behind a 504. It’s not fair!

Call CPS. Both children’s (yours and hers) needs and safety are being neglected by the school. There may be something going on at home. Since your child has an IEP, the school is denying your child FAPE which is a legal issue and you should threaten as such. Teachers are begging for support around violent behaviors, but there just aren’t consequences. At my school, teachers were evacuating classrooms once a week. It’s insane. Parents have more weight, especially if your child receives services. Please take my advice or nothing will change.

Sadly, this scenario is becoming more and more common in schools. We can't turn kids away, we are understaffed (for example, my school has a program for children with extreme behavioral challenges and still we never have enough aides to cover all the needs), and teachers are rarely trained in how to best deal with extremely disruptive children.

If the principal isn't listening, take it to the school board. Gather other parents from the class who are equally as frustrated/worried and each one of you speak at a school board meeting or write a letter to them.

The teacher will likely be very grateful!

I’ve seen many good ideas for solving this problem in the comments. Here’s another - how about consolidating documentation about the disruptive child, going to the school board and superintendent, and asking that they begin requiring the child’s parent to attend school with her, every day. Otherwise, legal action will be initiated. It’s amazing how fast things can change if the parent is required to give up most of her day to babysit her disruptive child. The parent may see just how difficult her child is and seek help for her.

My ex-monster in law was a special education teacher she said the WORST thing ever done for special education was the mainstream of 98% of special education students.

It's not good for the special needs students and it's not good for the mainstream classroom.

That said my daughter went through this with a classmate in kindergarten and first grade.

In first grade they decided because my daughter is gifted and finished her class work much faster than the majority of the class that she should be paired with problem student so she could "help" him.

I REALLY hated this and my daughter was not happy either before I could get the school to change anything my daughter flat out CLOCKED this kid on the playground.

Now you have to understand this was a strong little girl she is a farm kid who had been riding since she was a year old and making naughty ponies bend to her will.

My daughter got a write up and recess detention for ONE day but that boy didn't mess with her again, and was a lot more quiet in the classroom. Not perfect but better

Turned out that boy had never faced a real consequence for his actions.

We did move our daughter to a new school at the end of the year, but she did NOT get in trouble for defending her space

Go to your government officials, your local government and state/provincial. School board trustee meetings should be open. Contact the superintendent, or email the principal outlining that you’ve had previous conversations with him and are waiting for him to adequately address it. Then cc the superintendent, government officials, and local news.

Your child’s classmate is being forced into an inadequate educational environment - the same as your kid. It is almost always due to funding and teachers have next to no power to make those changes.

I would consider this assault/battery and act accordingly.

Google AI: “Assault is generally defined as an intentional act that causes another person to reasonably fear imminent harmful or offensive contact, even without physical touching; it's an attempt or threat of violence,” but if your child has actually been touched by unlawful physical contact that is actually battery charges.

Have your child document everything and make sure you are taking photos if marks are left. I don’t know what your State has for their laws about this but I would take action the sooner the better. This child will only get older, stronger and the consequences will only get worse.