Andrea Jones, a mother from Anacostia, struggled for years to get proper support for her son, who has autism spectrum disorder.
She told 7News, “It was a lot of him just not being able to obtain the academics that he was entitled to.” Jones had to hire an outside psychologist and lawyer after her son’s Individualized Education Program (IEP)—a document outlining his special education services—was removed. Today, her nine-year-old is doing well at a charter school.
Jones is not surprised by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigation into D.C. Public Schools (DCPS). The investigation is looking into whether the school district is failing to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
Jones expressed concern about the timing of the investigation, especially with reports that the Trump administration may try to defund the Department of Education. “What does that mean if they’re looking into this now? Is it really going to help our students, or is this just political?” she asked.
LaJoy Johnson-Law, a Congress Heights mother and member of the State Board of Education for Ward 8, shares similar worries. Johnson-Law spoke to 7News as a parent, not in her official capacity. She recalled that when she tried to send her daughter to a district school, she was told the school could not accommodate her daughter’s multiple disabilities.
“It’s not the school’s fault,” Johnson-Law said. “It’s a systemic issue that the district has been dealing with for years.”
The investigation began after a December report from the District of Columbia Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The report found that DCPS received more complaints per 10,000 students about special education than any other state or territory. It also highlighted issues like transportation delays, poor oversight, and chronic underfunding of special education services, which create barriers for students and their families. The report also noted that the district’s dispute resolution system places the burden on students and families to access services.
In response, DCPS issued a statement saying it would cooperate fully with the OCR review and continues to focus on improving special education programs. The district emphasized its efforts to enhance inclusive learning opportunities and engage families in their children’s success.
“We are committed to providing high-quality education and support to all students, including those receiving special education services,” the statement read. “We have made significant investments to strengthen our special education programs and expand inclusive learning opportunities.”
The statement also assured that DCPS would work with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to address transportation issues in compliance with the law. However, neither DCPS nor OSSE answered questions from 7News about whether they had implemented any recommendations from the December report.
Jones expressed a desire for more than just reviews and investigations. “I want to see them put money to policy and actually ensure and collect data on it, to ensure that students are getting what they deserve,” she said.
