Cracker Barrel’s handling of a school outing involving elementary students with autism has now led to a wide-ranging settlement agreement with Maryland civil rights officials after concerns were raised about how the group was treated during their visit.
The agreement, obtained by PEOPLE, was finalized between December 4 and December 12 and resolves a joint investigation by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) and the Civil Rights Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. The company made no admission of wrongdoing. According to the case file, the matter began after students from Dr. James Craik Elementary School visited a Cracker Barrel in Waldorf, Maryland, for a community-based instruction trip. Teachers alleged the group “was subjected to delays and mistreatment because of the students’ disabilities,” according to the document.
State officials noted that both Maryland law and the Americans with Disabilities Act require businesses to provide “full and equal enjoyment of services” to disabled customers. On December 12, 2024, MCCR Chairperson Stephanie Suerth issued a formal complaint alleging the company violated State Government Code § 20-304.
Cracker Barrel’s internal review disputed those claims, stating it “denies that it violated state or federal law and contends that the students were in no way denied service or treated differently because of their disabilities.” The agreement also confirms the company’s participation “shall not be in any way deemed an admission of any violation of law.”
Under the settlement, Cracker Barrel must issue payments totaling up to $75,000, donate $17,500 to school programs, reimburse expenses from the original visit, and contribute $9,000 to Maryland’s Civil Rights Enforcement Fund.
“This settlement underscores a truth we hold as non-negotiable: inclusion is not optional, and dignity is not discretionary,” said MCCR Executive Director Cleveland L. Horton II.
