When Nette Archangel moved to New Orleans in 2016, she tried to find a school that would meet the needs of her two sons , who have autism. But one after another the schools failed her boys, she said.

One school on multiple occasions logged that it had provided services for her son on days when he was absent, she said. Another school repeatedly called the police on her other son, who was prone to behavioral issues. Administrators at yet another school regularly called her during the day to pick up her son, effectively an off-the-books suspension.

After filing complaints with the state and seeking assistance from attorneys who told her there was little legal recourse unless her sons were expelled, Archangel’s former partner quit her job and moved their children to Maryland in June to be

See Full Page