Louisiana school threatens to boot first-grader from school over autistic behaviors

A Louisiana school district is threatening to suspend a child diagnosed with autism for being disruptive, though the district has refused to take steps necessary to classify the boy as autistic, local KATC reports.

Xavier Gresham, who just started the first grade at the Acadia Parish School System, has been sent home even though he's barely into his first week for talking out of turn and disruptive behavior. School officials told his mother, LaKesha Peters, that if he didn't "get control" he could be suspended for the rest of the school year.

"They then went on to tell us that after being sent home they would try again Monday, but if he spoke out of turn, or if he didn't get control of, as she said, 'his behaviors,' that he would go into ISS, which is in school suspension," Peters told KATC. "If that didn't work they were suspending him for the year."

Peters told the station her son struggles socially because of autism, and though she has asked the school system to evaluate him, her request has been denied because Xavier is "too smart."

Peters is considering home schooling her son because of the problems he's having, but doesn't want to because, she said, "He's not getting the social interaction he needs there. He's not going to develop right."

Xavier doesn't have a learning disability, in fact he is ahead academically. Peters wants the district to provide resources to fit his needs.

"If you give them a chance they will surpass everyone in their grade if not higher than them," she told KATC. "I just want my son to be able to have an education in a group environment and not get discriminated against because of his autism."

Watch the report from KATC here: