Disruptive compounds affect specific individuals and groups and disproportionately. A recent Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) internal audit found the education system to be inadequate. Did not properly maintain important records, including civil rights or special education complaints, Title IX investigations, and student health care plans.

Why is this important? People with disabilities in the United States are already experiencing cumulative losses. Policies such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) aim to create opportunities and improve access.

CCPS’ indifference is a public assault on IDEA. By maintaining records, necessary individualized education programs (IEPs), and potential misconduct complaints, the school department opens a window to civil rights violations and more.

If CCPS fails to maintain these records, it cannot ensure that the rights of children with disabilities are protected. It also fails to proactively ensure that they are not discriminated against and abused.

We must move with the times. Funding has been appropriated to bring CCPS online, and the time to digitize and organize to protect student rights is overdue. Because this is important to student rights, IDEA funding can be used to help eligible individuals.

Also, we need advocates on the ground – the ones who see when something is wrong and call it out. Before the audit, someone in the county or schools should have known that records were being mishandled.

We must collectively have the courage to be watchdogs and storytellers for children who cannot speak for themselves. These are not the only records. These are human rights.