Texas Orders Houston ISD to Fix Special Education
The state education agency has placed the district on a six-month action plan after finding violations in how students with disabilities were moved between campuses.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Special Education
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The Texas Education Agency has ordered Houston ISD to repair its special education program or risk losing state funding. The agency substantiated in part nine complaints, finding some students were moved without first meeting with parents or properly following individual learning plans.
Why it matters
The order follows the district's consolidation of students from regular campuses into a handful of schools earlier this year. For Houston families of students with disabilities, the action plan determines whether their children's individualized services are restored and monitored.
The Texas Education Agency substantiated in part nine complaints against Houston ISD, and the six-month action plan requires review of 650 student records. Whether the review will identify widespread noncompliance remains unknown, and the district has not publicly addressed the findings.
The players
Texas Education Agency
The state agency that oversees public school districts in Texas and enforces special education compliance requirements under federal and state law.
Houston Independent School District
The largest school district in Texas, serving the city of Houston, whose special education program is now under state-ordered corrective action.
Dina Kushaliyeva
A Houston parent who withdrew her daughter from public education and joined other former Houston ISD special education families in starting a small private school.
The details
The agency found Houston ISD moved some students without first meeting with parents and without properly following individual learning plans. The action plan requires the district to fix noncompliant IEPs, host town halls, train teachers, and create a parent advisory group, and in May the state ordered meetings with families affected by the consolidation.
Timeline
May 2026: The state ordered Houston ISD to meet with families affected by the consolidation.
Earlier in 2026: Houston ISD consolidated students from regular campuses to a handful of schools.
Days before the school year: Dina Kushaliyeva pulled her daughter out of public education.
Last week: The Texas Education Agency substantiated in part nine complaints against Houston ISD.
Coming weeks: Information about town halls is expected to be shared.
Legal Context
The findings center on whether Houston ISD met the parental-participation requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act before moving students. The six-month action plan sets a measurable test of whether the district can bring its individualized education plans into compliance.
Families of students with disabilities in Houston ISD should check whether their child's individualized education plan has been reviewed under the action plan. Parents can ask the district about upcoming town halls and request a meeting before any placement change.
The takeaway
Parents who believe a child's services were changed without notice can document the change and raise it with the district and the Texas Education Agency. Requesting a written copy of the child's individualized education plan is a practical first step.
What happens next
The six-month Houston ISD action plan sets review milestones, and town hall information is expected in the coming weeks.
Further reading
For more on how districts serve students with disabilities, see Special Education coverage across Houston.
Source note: This article includes information reported by abc13 News.
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