Houston Public Media and the Texas Newsroom — a collaboration between NPR and public radio stations across the state — are looking into the shortfalls of the special education system in Texas.
For the first time, we hope to paint a detailed, district-by-district portrait of how special education dollars are spent. Resources are already stretched thin — and many districts allocate large sums for legal representation against families asking for more services, instead of ramping up services.
We're also exploring the impact of the "teacher shortage" on the special education system, as well as the complicated matrix of federal law and court precedents that have stacked the deck in favor of districts over families.
And we want to provide quick, easy-to-read how-to guides for families entering the system for the first time. We'll explain what an ARD meeting is, what your rights are and how to file a complaint when services aren't adequate.
We've already submitted hundreds of open records requests, and now we're looking for sources — parents, students, attorneys and educators. We want to center the voices of those closest to this story.