Texas Education Agency orders Houston ISD to fix special education program or risk losing funding

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Texas Education Agency has ordered Houston ISD to fix its special education program or risk losing state funding, according to new reporting by the Houston Chronicle.

The district's special education program has been a point of contention after HISD consolidated students from its regular campuses to a handful of schools earlier this year.

Last week, the Texas Education Agency substantiated, in part, nine complaints against HISD. According to a letter, the agency found the district was wrong to move some students without first meeting with parents and making sure individual learning plans, also known as IEPs, were properly followed.

The Chronicle reported that HISD failed to meet with all parents and was placed on a six-month action plan. Under that plan, the district must review 650 students' records to ensure they receive the right services, fix noncompliant IEPs, host town halls, train teachers, and create a parent advisory group.

According to previous reporting by Eyewitness News, the state ordered HISD in May to meet with families affected by the consolidation. HISD said it did so, but the state found otherwise.

Dina Kushaliyeva, a former HISD parent, said she lost faith that the district could do the right things for her daughter, who is in special education, after the girl was moved between schools without consultation. She pulled her daughter out of public education days before the school year.

"The school was not able to confirm that they... had any knowledge of anything about her IEP, nor were they able to accommodate or have a discussion about what her schedule looked like," Kushaliyeva said.

Alongside several other former HISD special education families, Kushaliyeva said she hired trained staff and started a small private school while continuing to push for better outcomes for students still in the district. She also spoke to the Texas House committee on education and filed complaints with the TEA against HISD.

"There is hope that our children may be able to return to schools and our teachers may be able to teach the way they actually should be," Kushaliyeva said.

While Kushaliyeva called the TEA's findings a victory, she said families are not backing down until the required fixes are made.

"Yes, HISD, you were violating those particular regulations that are specifically applicable to students with disabilities," she said.

HISD did not respond to a request for an interview but said the district is working with the state to meet the requirements of the action plan and that information about town halls would be shared in the coming weeks.

"We continue to fight; we continue to advocate for our children to make sure the system is still allowing them to have the appropriate learning experience and education," Kushaliyeva said.