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Wake Schools Accused of Violating Rights of Students with Mental Health Disabilities (NC)

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Wake Schools Accused of Violating Rights of Students with Mental Health Disabilities

"RALEIGH

The Wake County school system “still routinely violates the rights of its students who have mental health disabilities,” according to a new complaint filed with state education officials.

Advocates For Children’s Services, a project of Legal Aid of North Carolina, says Wake schools are failing to provide an adequate education for hundreds of students who have mental health disabilities. In the complaint filed Tuesday, the group wants the state Department of Public Instruction to order Wake to change the way it provides services for these vulnerable students.

“There are lots of kids with mental health disabilities who are falling through the cracks,” said Cari Carson, an attorney with Advocates For Children’s Services, which assists students facing disciplinary action from school systems. “We’d say WCPSS can do all of the things we asked for in the complaint. Not only can they do it, but they are required to do it.”

This is the fourth complaint that Advocates For Children’s Services has filed against Wake since 2009 over how the district educates students with mental health issues. The prior complaints have resulted in either DPI ordering Wake to make changes or the district reaching a settlement agreement with the group.

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