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Searchlight New Mexico

Searchlight New Mexico

Independent Investigative Journalism

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Criminalizing Disability

Throughout 2019, Searchlight New Mexico reporters worked with hundreds of parents—conducting interviews, holding listening sessions, collecting and analyzing student education records—to investigate the state of special education. The overwhelming theme: children are not receiving legally-required disability services in school, and instead face disproportionate discipline, often ending up swept into the criminal justice system.

The following series is a result of that year-long investigation. Each story represents one of the four most common experiences described by parents.

Posted inChild & Family Welfare

Who’s the Threat?

Avatar photo by Ike Swetlitz October 15, 2019February 16, 2023

Hundreds of special ed students ID’d as potential threats

Posted inChild & Family Welfare

Restraint, Seclusion, Deception

Avatar photo by Ed Williams October 8, 2019February 16, 2023

Parents, regulators left in the dark over school behavior management techniques

Posted inChild & Family Welfare

False Alarms

Avatar photo by Ed Williams June 11, 2019February 16, 2023

When schools abuse CYFD hotline, families suffer

Posted inChild & Family Welfare

Criminalizing Disability

Avatar photo by Ed Williams May 7, 2019February 16, 2023

Special-needs kids who don’t get help in school are winding up in jail.

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441 Greg Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87501

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Santa Fe, NM 87594

 

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Searchlight New Mexico is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to investigative and public service journalism in the interest of the people of New Mexico.

Our mission is to deliver high-impact investigative reporting to inspire New Mexicans to demand action on systemic problems that plague our state.

We believe that great reporting can motivate all New Mexicans to confront racial and economic inequities, government corruption and negligence, and abuses of power.

Searchlight New Mexico is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Our tax identification number is 81-3234552. Your contribution is tax deductible.

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