Parents from Texas shared their experiences during a congressional briefing about how staffing cuts and delays at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights have affected students seeking protection from discrimination. Their stories highlight why timely federal civil rights enforcement remains essential for students and families.

Key Takeaways

  • The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has dramatically reduced its resolution of student discrimination complaints since 2025.
  • Thousands of pending civil rights cases remain unresolved, leaving many students and families waiting for justice.
  • Parents from Texas shared firsthand experiences during a congressional briefing about the consequences of delayed federal civil rights enforcement.
  • The Office for Civil Rights plays a critical role in investigating discrimination complaints and holding schools accountable.
  • Strengthening federal civil rights enforcement is essential to protecting students’ rights and ensuring equal educational opportunity.

Resource from the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), a nonprofit advancing education equity.

The Office for Civil Rights is responsible for protecting students when schools struggle to respond appropriately or even exacerbate the problem. But massive cuts since 2025 at the U.S. Department of Education and its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) have stymied its role.

OCR has reached zero resolution agreements involving sexual harassment, sexual violence, seclusion or restraint, racial harassment or discriminatory school discipline – despite more than 2,700 pending cases. Of the 11,985 pending cases in all categories that were pending in January 2025, OCR has only resolved 112.

This summer, several non-profits hosted a virtual congressional briefing focused on the harmful impacts of weakening OCR. The briefing, “How Weakening the Office for Civil Rights Harms Students and Families,” featured testimony from students and parents. They shared personal experiences of how OCR’s reduced capacity and funding cuts have left them without adequate protection against discrimination in schools.

IDRA works with students and families who have attempted to escalate their discrimination cases to OCR. Tracy Kemp-Martínez and Lisa Youngblood, two parents we work with from Texas, spoke about their experiences.

Tracy’s son was a target of identity-based bullying in his school in Lubbock, Texas. Tracy co-founded Parents Against Racism Texas and worked with other families to demand real change.

In her remarks during the congressional briefing, she said: “Across the country, families are facing discrimination in schools and watching enforcement slow down while protections are weakening. When OCR fails to act, schools receive the message that civil rights violations can be ignored, and that it’s okay. And students receive the message that their pain does not matter.”

Lisa Youngblood’s daughter was severely punished for reporting what she feared was a school safety threat. Lisa pushed back and spoke up for her daughter and others.

In the congressional briefing, she said: “I’m here today because no child should be punished more harshly because of their race. And no family should be ignored when they seek help. I urge Congress to protect and strengthen the Office for Civil Rights and increase the capacity to investigate complaints properly and thoroughly and to ensure that students facing racial discrimination are not left waiting indefinitely for justice.”

We are thankful to Tracy and Lisa for their time and advocacy efforts to restore these critical federal resources that would help thousands of students across the country.

Watch Their Video Testimony

See Article

FAQs

What is the Office for Civil Rights?

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within the U.S. Department of Education investigates complaints of discrimination in schools and helps ensure that educational institutions comply with federal civil rights laws.

What types of complaints does OCR investigate?

OCR investigates complaints involving discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability and age. Cases may involve harassment, school discipline, accessibility, retaliation and unequal educational opportunities.

Why are OCR delays important?

Delays in investigating complaints can leave students without timely protections and may reduce accountability when schools fail to address discrimination appropriately.

How do families file an OCR complaint?

Families may file complaints directly with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights when they believe a school receiving federal funds has violated federal civil rights laws. 

Why does federal civil rights enforcement matter in education?

Federal civil rights enforcement helps ensure that students have equal access to educational opportunities and provides an avenue for addressing discrimination when local responses are inadequate.

 

[© 2026, IDRA. This article originally appeared in the June-July edition of the IDRA Newsletter. Permission to reproduce this article is granted provided the article is reprinted in its entirety and proper credit is given to IDRA and the author.]

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