HOUSTON – The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened a disability discrimination investigation into the over concerns tied to the district’s proposal to centralize certain special education services.
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According to a federal announcement released Friday, investigators will examine whether the district violated Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act by potentially separating students with disabilities from their nondisabled peers.
Federal officials say the investigation centers around allegations that HISD plans to move some students receiving special education services into designated specialty campuses beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
The Office for Civil Rights said parents raised concerns that the proposed changes could isolate students with disabilities from general education classrooms where they benefit socially and academically alongside other students.
Parents also reportedly voiced concerns about longer bus rides and transportation challenges for children with medical or behavioral needs.
“Schools cannot exclude students with disabilities simply because of their disability status. Placement decisions must be made individually, based on each student’s needs, rather than by blanket policies that segregate students by disability category,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement.
“The allegations described here are alarming. The Trump Administration will fully investigate this situation and fight to ensure every child with a disability receives the education and support guaranteed under the law,” Richey added.
Federal law requires public schools to educate students with disabilities alongside nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate and to follow specific procedures when determining student placements.
As of Friday evening, HISD released the following statement:
Houston ISD is aware of the investigation opened by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
Any review will show that all special education updates for the 2026–27 school year focus on increasing access to services in the least restrictive environment, strengthening systems to improve the quality of instruction, and improving student outcomes.
HISD serves over 21,000 students receiving special education services. Over 15,000 students are served in inclusive settings, and there are no changes to their current campus or services. For the ~5,000 students primarily served in self-contained settings, families can expect small class sizes, low adult-to-student ratios to support specialized instruction, and placement with similar-age peers. These programs will be available on more than half of HISD campuses to improve access for families, and transportation will continue to be provided for any student whose IEP requires it.
As always, the district remains committed to ensuring students with disabilities receive the services and supports outlined in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and that placement decisions are made individually through the ARD process in accordance with applicable law.
Because this is an active investigation, the district cannot comment further on specific allegations or matters under review.