HISD moves ahead with special education overhaul for 2026-27

HISD will operate specialized self-contained programs at 150 sites across the district for the 2026-27 school year. Mainstream, inclusion and resource services will remain available at every campus, even as parents and advocates press state and federal officials to examine whether vulnerable students are being harmed.

For students already served in inclusion settings, those placements will continue in 2026-27 unless an individual education plan changes. Self-contained classrooms will be capped at an adult-to-student ratio of 1 to 5, or lower if a student's IEP requires it, and instruction in those settings will be limited to no more than two grade levels. Families of students who may be affected will be contacted by the Special Education Department, and if a campus move is required the district will offer transition meetings, a visit to the new site and transportation when it is required service.

On May 7, HISD confirmed that some students needing specialized programs may have to transfer to one of the 150 campuses designated for specialty services. A day later, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into whether the district was violating the rights of students with disabilities. On May 14, parents, teachers and students turned out at a board meeting to object, saying community input had been lacking and that children should not have to choose between their neighborhood school and the support they need.

A change in school location alone does not automatically require an Admission, Review and Dismissal committee meeting if a student’s IEP and services stay the same. If a review shows an ARD meeting is needed, families would be contacted during the 2026-27 school year. HISD’s self-contained programs will continue to serve students in Early Childhood Special Education, Skills for Living and Learning, Structured Learning Classroom-Alternate, Structured Learning Classroom-Standard and Behavior Support Class programs.

TEA’s complaints process requires a written, signed complaint that names the alleged violations and supporting facts, then sends it to both the agency and the district.