The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will investigate claims that disabled students at the Durham County Youth Home were denied legally required schooling, and were sometimes confined to cells for up to 24 hours a day.
The investigation follows a complaint filed December by the ACLU of North Carolina and the Duke Children’s Law Clinic. The complaint alleges that Durham Public Schools failed to provide special education services beginning in February 2025. During a facility-wide lockdown, students reportedly received no more than 30 minutes of instruction at a time. Advocates say the restrictions continued even after the lockdown was lifted, and students continued to receive only brief periods of instruction.
Youth homes detain young people while their cases move through the juvenile legal system. Many of the residents have identified disabilities that require special education services. Advocates say the combination of confinement and interrupted instruction poses serious developmental and mental health risks.
DPI initially declined to investigate in January, citing insufficient evidence. The complaint was refiled in February with additional documentation, including firsthand accounts from students and a report from Disability Rights North Carolina based on site visits and interviews.
Last week, the agency announced it will examine whether Durham Public Schools complied with federal and state laws governing special education. DPI said it could not comment on an ongoing investigation. The agency expects to complete its investigation and issue a final report by April 25. If violations are found, the state may require corrective action.
Durham Public Schools said while teachers provide up to six hours of daily instruction, facility lockdowns and security decisions often limit student access. The district said that during lockdowns, “direct educational services are prohibited for safety reasons,” but they resume once restrictions are lifted. It added that staffing shortages have also limited teacher access, even when students are not under lockdown.
“Prolonged social isolation poses serious mental health risks for all students, and students with disabilities are particularly harmed when denied the support they need,” said Michele Delgado, staff attorney for the ACLU of North Carolina, in a statement.
“Detention disrupts children’s education and social lives, particularly for students with disabilities,” said Peggy Nicholson, supervising attorney with the Duke Children’s Law Clinic. “We hope DPI’s investigation will strengthen educational supports at the Youth Home.”
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