Dallas ISD Settles $1 Million Over Reporting Failures

The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) has agreed to a $1 million civil settlement to resolve allegations of falsely certifying compliance with state mandatory reporting laws, according to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas. The settlement addresses claims that DISD failed to report educator misconduct while receiving federal special education funds.

Of the $1 million settlement, $145,000 will be paid as a penalty, while $855,000 is allocated for district-wide reforms. These reforms include reporting audits, law-enforcement protocols, and mandatory training. The settlement marks the second civil enforcement action under Project Safe Schools, a federal initiative launched by U.

S. Attorney Ryan Raybould in August 2026 to enhance student safety and accountability in North Texas public schools.

Allegations and Federal Findings

The allegations against DISD stem from incidents between 2022 and 2024, during which the district allegedly failed to report misconduct by former special education teacher Michael Roell. Despite opening four investigations into Roell's conduct, DISD did not report the allegations to the State Board for Educator Certification, as required by Texas law. Instead, the district used its Title IX process, which applied a higher evidentiary standard than state law, to deem the allegations "unfounded."

Roell, who resigned in lieu of termination in April 2024, was placed on an internal "Do Not Hire" list by DISD. However, he later taught in other districts, where he was arrested and charged with multiple child-abuse and child-grooming offenses. A federal grand jury indicted Roell in September 2026 for wire fraud related to misrepresentations made to obtain his teaching position.

The federal investigation revealed systemic failures in DISD's handling of misconduct allegations, including a lack of coordination with law enforcement and improper reliance on Title IX processes.

Settlement Terms and Reforms

Under the settlement agreement, DISD will implement several compliance measures to strengthen student-safety reporting and improve coordination with law enforcement. These measures include:

- Pursuing formal Memoranda of Understanding with local law enforcement and the Texas Rangers. - Adopting districtwide Civil Liability Disclosure Forms for all applicants, contractors, substitutes, and volunteers. - Posting mandatory signage outlining child-abuse reporting duties.

- Implementing detailed Child Abuse Reporting Requirements checklists for administrators. - Providing mandatory annual training for Title IX decision-makers, HR personnel, and investigative staff on SBEC reporting requirements. - Conducting compliance audits and maintaining documentation of all personnel-training requirements.

- Reviewing every sexual misconduct allegation dating back to 2022 and providing results to the Texas Education Agency.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, "If you take federal funds and ignore state reporting laws; If you allow an accused educator to resign quietly instead of alerting the proper authorities; We will discover it and we will act without hesitation."

The civil matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Javan Porter. The settlement aims to enforce accountability and restore transparency in the district's handling of educator misconduct allegations.