Houston ISD is planning major changes to special education services that could affect thousands of students with disabilities across the district. At a recent meeting with the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), district leaders confirmed they will consolidate special education services into specific "specialty schools." This means many families may need to transfer their children from neighborhood schools to new locations to access services. The changes come as HISD operates under state control since 2023. These shifts affect students with autism, Down syndrome, learning disabilities, and other conditions who rely on individualized education programs. For Houston families, this could mean longer commutes, disrupted support networks, and uncertainty about service quality. The timing is especially challenging for families planning their children's education paths. Parents like Mireille Patman, whose son was preparing to attend Heights High School, now face difficult decisions about their children's futures. To stay informed, families can connect with SEPAC, attend school board meetings, and contact their campus special education coordinators. Parents should also review their child's IEP documents and understand their rights under federal disability laws. The district plans to announce details publicly soon, so families should monitor official HISD communications and advocate for their children's needs during this transition.
Houston ISD leaders held a small, invitation-only meeting this week with the district's Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), according to a parent who attended.
The parent, Mireille Patman, said the nearly two-hour meeting Wednesday at HISD headquarters included a group of six parents, special education parent liaisons and district leaders who discussed imminent districtwide changes to access to special education services.
"I had more questions when I left," Patman said.
Late last week, documents that leaked online and circulated on social media detailed proposed major changes to special education in Texas' largest school district, which has been under state control since 2023. The documents appear to show plans to consolidate special education services to specific schools dubbed "specialty schools" in HISD. The plan as outlined in the documents would require many families to be transferred from their current or zoned school to a new school, where their special education services would be provided.
The district has not responded to requests for comments regarding the documents, the SEPAC meeting or any plans the district may have for changes to special education.
However, Patman said at the meeting, district leaders acknowledged the documents and expressed regret over the leak. Patman said district officials said they were "early editions," “incorrect," and "no longer apply" but that HISD leaders said they were still moving forward with consolidating special education students and services for the upcoming school year with plans to announce the changes publicly as early as next week.
Patman's son, Teddy, has Down syndrome and has utilized special education services for his entire time in HISD. Teddy just turned 15 years old and will be a freshman next year. The family has been planning and preparing for Teddy to attend Heights High School just a few blocks from their home.
Patman says the timing of the proposed changes is a serious concern for her, noting that families with children in special education need time to acclimate and prepare for new environments. She wants her son to attend school in his neighborhood.
"The first thing I really did think about when I saw [the plan proposal] online was, ‘This is straight up segregation, however you want to look at it,' " Patman said. "This is segregating a population of people as you’ve designated, and putting them in a group to not be seen."
Elected trustee Maria Benzon said she's also concerned about the rollout of any major changes suggested in the leaked documents. Benzon said she worries about families having adequate time to adjust and ask questions about transportation or if they would like to change the school they might be assigned.
"I’m really concerned about the lack of communication," Benzon said. "There’s no communication from the district to the family, saying, ‘Hey, the right thing is this, and this is why we’re going to do it right.' Like, there’s not even a justification for these changes that’s being made to families."
Elected trustees in HISD currently have no voting power under the state takeover and say they have been given no details about any proposed large-scale changes to special education.
Patman said she's been an active parent in her son's education and previously participated in SEPAC meetings. Patman said she was told the meetings are monthly, but isn't sure if she will be invited back to participate.
"Yearslong battle"
There are more than 20,000 students in the district utilizing special education services, and for years the department has been a weak area for the district. In 2021, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) dispatched conservators to oversee the department's compliance after a special accreditations probe found "systematic failure in special education" had become "institutionalized" in HISD and that the district had been aware of its deficiencies for "at least a decade." Achieving full compliance with state and federal laws protecting disabled students is one of the requirements for the district to regain local control and exit the takeover by the TEA.
Patman said she had trouble working with the district regarding her son's special education services when Teddy was just 3 years old.
"It’s been a yearslong battle," Patman said.
The lack of communication has fueled concern, confusion and some anxiety among parents. Benzon said families have concerns about some of the logistics of consolidating students and overcrowding.
She said the district needs to be transparent about any plans to restructure special education.
"This document is already circulating. It is out there in the public," Benzon said. "They need to do their due diligence and they need to speak about it, what is happening and inform not just at the school level, but at a district level, what their plan is."
