Houston ISD Proceeds with Special Education Overhaul Amid Federal and State Probes
Houston ISD is moving forward with a major restructuring of its special education program for the 2026-27 school year, despite ongoing federal and state investigations. The district asserts that students will continue to receive services, but the Texas Education Agency has ordered HISD to review student records and meet with families, stating that the district cannot unilaterally change a student's individualized education program. Critics, including special education advocates and some parents, say the plan conflicts with state orders and federal law. A federal civil rights investigation is also underway, and a parent complaint prompted the TEA to find that HISD’s planned changes violate student rights. Families report uncertainty about how their children will be affected.
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Special education parents in Houston ISD searching for answers ahead of changes in services
Special education advocate Karen Mayer Cunningham speaks to concerned Houston ISD parents about the district’s upcoming changes to special education services. A small group of parents gathered ...
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