In a public announcement last week, the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found that the District of Columbia Public School System (DCPS) has extensively violated Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 by denying students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). The OCR investigation revealed systemic problems, including prolonged delays in evaluations, lack of individualized services, untrained staff making decisions, removal of services without proper justification, and unreliable or unsafe transportation. These issues forced families to fight for legally required special education services. To address the violations, the agency has proposed a resolution requiring the district to create a new Disability Services Division, update its policies, train staff annually, and improve transportation systems. If the district does not agree, federal enforcement action may follow. The findings are based on earlier reports showing high complaint rates and ongoing concerns about how DCPS manages special education services.