Office for Civil Rights Opens Disability-Discrimination Investigation into New Home Independent School District in Texas
NHISD accused of cutting essential special education program, busing children miles from home without any individualized determination, and denying students equal access to educational programs.
April 15, 2026, U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that it opened a disability‐discrimination investigation into the New Home Independent School District (NHISD) in Texas.
According to the agency’s press release, the district voted to discontinue its Elementary Life Skills program for the 2026‑2027 school year, then reassigned students to classrooms about 30 miles away—without reevaluating the students or notifying families.
OCR said it will examine whether the district’s actions violate Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protect students from discrimination based on disability
“Every child with a disability is entitled to special education and related aids and services that are specifically designed to meet their individual needs, and no parent should be left wondering how or whether a school will deliver on that promise. The allegations described here – cutting an essential special education program and busing young children with disabilities miles from home without any individualized determination, disrupting learning, and denying students equal access to educational programs – are serious and concerning. OCR will fight to ensure every child with a disability receives the education and support the law promises and they rightfully deserve.”
~Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey
For families in NHISD, this investigation signals that federal officials are paying attention and could ultimately require the district to restore services or provide compensatory education. Yet parents should be aware that OCR’s disability‑discrimination investigations often take years to complete. The hope for NHISD students is that the investigation is completed within record time and leads to prompt remedies.