Disability Rights Group Files Complaint Against Albuquerque Public Schools for Failure to Provide Transportation to Special Needs Students

The Following is from the Disability Rights New Mexico:

Disability Rights New Mexico – DRNM, a non profit disability rights group, has filed a group state complaint with the New Mexico Public Education Department against Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) on behalf of 3 named clients and approximately 2,000 similarly-situated students who have been unable to access special education transportation services this school year.

APS serves an estimated 70,447 students. Approximately 23.3 percent, or 16,414, of APS students receive special education services.  Since the 2023-2024 school year began on August 3, 2023, many of these students have been without transportation to and from school.

On August 30, 2023, an administrator from APS disclosed to DRNM that at Seven Bar Elementary (one of APS’s 143 schools), 31 students were not receiving the transportation services as detailed in their IEPs.

Based upon further information and belief, APS is failing to provide special education transportation services to approximately 2,000 students whose IEPs indicate that they require this service.

Read the full redacted complaint here: https://drnm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/APS-Redacted-Group-Complaint.pdf

Disability Rights New Mexico – DRNM – is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to protect, promote and expand the rights of persons with disabilities.