DPI finds Durham County Youth Home residents were improperly denied special education access

"Disability Denial Scandal Rocks North Carolina: State Investigators Uncover Shocking Inequity in Special Education Services. A disturbing investigation by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has revealed that residents with disabilities at the Durham County Youth Home were systematically denied access to vital special education services in early 2025. The findings, which have sparked outrage among advocates and families, suggest a disturbing pattern of neglect and disregard for the rights of vulnerable youth. As the state grapples with the implications of this scandal, questions are being raised about the accountability of those responsible and the measures that will be taken to ensure that such injustices never happen again."

Durham County Youth Home residents with disabilities were improperly denied special education services in early 2025, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has found.