The U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) reached resolution agreements with schools and colleges in only 1% of pending cases in 2025, the lowest percentage from any OCR in over the last decade, according to a recent report from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
The report also found that OCR failed to reach any resolution agreements for major discrimination cases involving sexual harassment or sexual violence, seclusion and restraint, racial harassment, or discrimination in school discipline — all areas that OCR reaches resolution agreements on in a typical year. This is despite OCR receiving a similar budget in 2025 as in 2024, at around $140 million.
Sen. Sanders said in an April 28 statement that the numbers are proof the layoffs “have been a disaster for students and families across this country.” He also voiced concerns over disabled students not getting the relief necessary to receive a FAPE since the OCR has been “decimated” by cuts made by the Trump administration.
K-12 Dive: By the numbers
23,879: The total number of discrimination complaints received by OCR in fiscal 2025, another record-breaking number after previous highs under the Biden administration.
25: The number of states (plus Puerto Rico) whose OCR regional offices were closed in March 2025.
0: The number of sexual harassment cases and sexual violence cases resolved via resolution agreement; 777 and 334 of those types of cases were pending, respectively.
0: The number of resolution agreements reached in 15 states and Puerto Rico in 2025.
0: The number of racial harassment cases resolved through resolution agreement; 949 cases were pending.
1: The number of cases involving English learners’ access to education resolved through a resolution agreement; 123 were pending.
2: The number of cases resolved out of about 1,180 in Texas, the state with the highest caseload in 2025.
83: The number of disability discrimination resolution agreements reached in 2025, 78.7% fewer than the year before — and none related to restraint and seclusion.
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