District leaders in Carroll ISD have declared an impasse with federal investigators looking into allegations of civil rights violations in the district.
On Monday, the district publicly released a to attorneys with the Department of Education鈥檚 Office for Civil Rights (OCR) claiming the district hasn鈥檛 been provided the necessary information to negotiate a resolution.
鈥淒eclaring an impasse seems entirely counterintuitive and counterproductive to the resolution process,鈥� the letter reads. 鈥淣evertheless, Carroll ISD has no other choice given the factors above.鈥�
Trustees also suggested Supreme Court standards have changed, based on recent rulings, regarding OCR鈥檚 ability to enforce any actions.
For years, the OCR has been investigating allegations against Carroll ISD of civil rights violations based on race, religion and sexual orientation. Parents said their students were bullied and called names, including racial slurs, while teachers and other CISD officials did little or nothing to punish alleged violators.
In May, the victims鈥� parents urged the district to negotiate in good faith to resolve the complaints, which date back to 2021. At the time the complaints came to light, Ledbetter said on social media that if the OCR found the district could take steps it hadn鈥檛 implemented, it would 鈥渁bsolutely comply.鈥�
In , the district said after an 鈥渆xhaustive review鈥� and "extensive legal analyses" of the cases, "we have concluded that our teachers, counselors, principals, and administrators fully complied with the law in each case and protected our students.
"Accordingly, we will not scapegoat our good people in acquiescence to a political agenda.鈥�
The district said OCR presented it with a proposed Resolution Agreement 鈥渋n an attempt to resolve the cases,鈥� but not with written findings of its investigation.
鈥淲e have serious concerns about entering into a multi-year agreement with the federal government without first understanding the rationale for its requirements 鈥� especially when we do not believe we did anything wrong!鈥� the statement reads.
A DOE spokesperson told 四虎影院 in an emailed statement that the OCR had several investigations ongoing in Carroll ISD.
"Consistent with the procedures in our , and prior to the completion of the investigations, OCR contacted the school district to see if it wished to voluntarily resolve the allegations,鈥� the spokesperson said. "If those negotiations are not successful, OCR will move forward with the investigation consistent with its Case Processing Manual and applicable law.鈥�
That means if no resolution is reached, DOE could 鈥渋mpose enforcement action鈥� which could cost the district federal funding because of civil rights violations.
DOE said its investigation will continue.
Bill Zeeble is 四虎影院鈥檚 education reporter. Got a tip? Email Bill at bzeeble@kera.org. You can follow him on X .
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