WALDORF, Md. — Three employees, including the general manager, have been dismissed from a Maryland Cracker Barrel after refusing to seat a group of 11 special education students and seven teachers from Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) during a Dec. 3 outing.
The group, visiting the Cracker Barrel on Robert S. Crain Highway, reportedly waited over an hour before receiving their lunches in takeout boxes, which they had to eat outside.
In a statement on Wednesday, Cracker Barrel’s media relations team announced the termination of the employees following an internal investigation. “Senior Cracker Barrel executives met with school leadership, teachers, and parents to address concerns and share actions taken to prevent future issues, including the addition of specialized training at the Waldorf location,” the statement read.
The students were participating in a community-based instruction initiative designed to help special needs students develop social and occupational skills. CCPS Superintendent Maria Navarro called the treatment unacceptable but acknowledged the restaurant’s willingness to collaborate for improvement.
Cracker Barrel admitted to operational failures caused by staffing shortages and miscommunication but denied allegations of discrimination against the students. “We did not refuse service to this student group,” the restaurant stated. “However, breakdowns in communication and protocol led us to fall short of our service standards.”
Navarro clarified that the outing was prearranged, and Cracker Barrel staff had assured CCPS that no reservations were required. Despite this, the group’s experience highlighted significant lapses in service that the company now aims to address.
