HOUSTON – Tensions boiled over at the Houston Independent School District board meeting Thursday night as dozens of parents, students and community members spoke out against the district’s proposed special education restructuring plan.
At one point during the meeting, two parents were escorted out after going over their allotted speaking time.
The emotional meeting centered around HISD’s proposal to centralize some special education services for roughly 5,000 students with higher needs at designated campuses across the district.
This includes students in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), Skills for Living and Learning (SLL), Structured Learning Classroom–Alternate (SLC‑ALT), Structured Learning Classroom–Standard (SLC‑STD), and Behavior Support Classroom (BSC) for 50% or more of their instructional day.
Deputy Superintendent Kristen Hole said 16,000 other special education students are not impacted by the changes.
District leaders say the changes are designed to provide more specialized support and resources for students in self-contained classrooms.
But many parents say the proposal is moving too fast — and could uproot children who rely heavily on routine, stability and familiar environments.
One of the parents escorted out of the meeting was Cristian Garcia, whose 11-year-old daughter Avril has autism.
Garcia said he got a letter stating Avril would be moved from Meyerland Middle School to Welch Middle School under the school’s new plan.
“I got very upset,” Garcia told KPRC 2 after the meeting. “Because you only have a minute to explain a whole lifetime. They’re not in your shoes.”
Garcia said the potential move has already caused emotional distress for his daughter.
“She’s been crying nonstop,” Garcia said. “She knows something big is coming.”
Garcia said the proposed transfer would significantly change his family’s daily routine.
He says Welch Middle School is much farther from the family’s home than his daughter’s current campus and would require a separate transportation routine from his son, who also attends Meyerland Middle School.
Families say they were blindsided after receiving letters last week informing them their children could be transferred to different schools next year.
Dina Kushaliyeva said her daughter currently attends Sinclair Elementary School in a self-contained learning classroom for students with significant disabilities.
She said district officials have assured parents students’ individualized education plans, or IEPs, would remain in place. But when families contacted schools for details about staffing, training and support services, she says many campuses could not answer their questions.
“What reassurance do we have? We don’t,” Kusaliyeva said. “What clarity do we have? There is no plan.”
She fears transferring to a new campus without proper preparation could create serious setbacks.
“Is she going to be able to go to the bathroom?” Kusaliyeva said. “Is she going to go hungry again?”
Parents say children thrive on routine
Another parent, Noemy Torres, said her autistic son has finally begun thriving at his current school after years of adjustment.
“He’s talking. He’s feeling comfortable,” Torres said. “Now he has to lose that.”
“My son does not react well with changes,” said Torres. “Especially children do not act well with changes.”
Torres said she worries about whether a new campus would understand her son’s medical and behavioral needs, including food restrictions and ADHD medication routines.
“What happens in an emergency?” said Torres. “They don’t think about that.”
Superintendent Mike Miles said during Thursday’s board meeting that most of the community has responded positively to the new plans.
Federal and state investigations underway
The backlash comes as the U.S. Department of Education investigates disability discrimination complaints involving Houston Independent School District.
The Texas Education Agency has also confirmed it is reviewing complaints tied to the district’s proposed changes.