Discrimination cases are left in a precarious state due to the tumult within the Department of Education
A Battle for Her Daughter's Right to Education
Megan Booth has been advocating tirelessly for her daughter Brylee's right to a quality education since fifth grade. Despite being entitled to a "free and appropriate public education," Brylee, diagnosed with autism, has faced years of bullying in school, making her educational journey a challenging one.
It all began at Kerrville ISD, where Brylee was already part of the special education program for ADHD. A group of girls started bullying her mercilessly, and the situation escalated to the point where Brylee was hospitalized due to suicidal thoughts.
"Sixth grade was brutal for Brylee," Booth shared, tears brimming in her eyes.
The family tried homeschooling and a new school within the district, but the bullying persisted. Booth, a proactive parent, documented every incident and reached out to the school, yet her efforts seemed futile.
The district remained silent due to federal student privacy rules. However, Brylee's situation worsened as she continued to be bullied, hid in bathrooms, and sought refuge with the school counselor. The delay in Brylee's reassessment, which was necessary due to her autism diagnosis, added to their stress.
In a bid for justice, Booth filed two complaints with the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which handles discrimination cases based on race, gender, and disability. Unfortunately, Trump's administration closed seven OCR hubs, including the one in Dallas, in March. As a result, Booth's case, along with many others, was transferred to Kansas City, causing chaos and uncertainty.
Terri Gonzales, the chief regional attorney for the Dallas OCR, confirmed this move left many Texas clients in limbo. "We were left in the dark, with all communication with external parties cut off," Gonzales expressed.
With fewer OCR offices, the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund lawyer Antonio Ingram fears students seeking justice for racial, gender, or disability discrimination will face difficulties. "They can't restore what was stolen from them by administrators who failed to create safe and affirming environments for their students," Ingram lamented.
A federal judge blocked Trump's executive order to dismantle the education department and fire employees in May, but the administration plans to challenge this ruling.
Desperate for a change, Booth moved Brylee out of Kerrville ISD and into a private micro-school. The school has few students, teachers skilled in handling autism, and a fee that the Booths could afford. Brylee is now thriving in this new environment.
Neal McCluskey, director of the Center for Educational Research at the Cato Institute, supports this approach. "The most effective method is to allocate funds directly to students and allow parents to choose a better school for their children if they feel they are not being catered to," McCluskey suggested.
McCluskey welcomes any moves that reduce bureaucracy, especially in the education sector. This includes the OCR. The state of Texas has recently passed a law that allows Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), enabling families to use public funds for private schooling, a move McCluskey supports.
However, Booth remains skeptical about the OCR's uncertain future. "Delaying measures like the OCR's closure only hinders children like Brylee from receiving the support they legally deserve," Booth stressed.
As the fight for her daughter's right to education continues, Booth awaits a resolution to her OCR complaint. The future of the OCR and its ability to address discrimination cases is hanging in the balance.
- Despite filing complaints with the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Booth, a parent advocating for her daughter's right to education, faces challenges due to Trump's administration closing seven OCR hubs, including the one in Dallas.
- The closure of OCR hubs has left families like Booth in limbo, causing chaos and uncertainty, as confirmed by Terri Gonzales, the chief regional attorney for the Dallas OCR.
- Antonio Ingram, a lawyer from the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund, fears that students seeking justice for racial, gender, or disability discrimination will face difficulties due to the reduced number of OCR offices.
- Neal McCluskey, director of the Center for Educational Research at the Cato Institute, supports the allocation of funds directly to students and the use of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), but remains concerned about the uncertain future of the OCR.
