October 22, 2026 – DALLAS — The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) has agreed to a $1 million settlement following federal civil claims that district officials failed to properly report past allegations of child abuse and misconduct involving a former special education teacher.
The agreement, announced by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould, resolves allegations that DISD falsely certified compliance with state reporting laws in order to receive federal special education grant funds.
Key Terms of the Settlement
Under the agreement, DISD denies civil liability but has committed to financial payments and multi-year systemic reforms:
- Financial Breakdown:DISD will pay a $145,000 penalty directly to the federal government and allocate $855,000 specifically toward district-wide student safety reforms.
- Compliance Overhaul:The district must implement three years of compliance measures, including formal agreements with local law enforcement and the Texas Rangers to clarify reporting timelines and protocols.
- Historical Review:DISD is required to audit and review every sexual misconduct allegation within the district dating back to 2022 and submit those findings to the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
- Mandatory Training & Disclosures:The district will adopt mandatory Civil Liability Disclosure Forms for all employees, contractors, and volunteers, post abuse-reporting signage across schools, and provide annual compliance training for human resources and investigative personnel.
Case Background
Federal authorities highlighted the case of former DISD special education teacher Michael Roell, who faced four separate internal investigations related to misconduct or abuse involving minors while employed by the district.Prosecutors alleged that DISD failed to notify state authorities or create a accessible public record of the investigations, allowing Roell to move to another school district without red flags appearing during hiring checks.
“This agreement forces fundamental change, because student safety must always come before institutional convenience,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould in a statement following the announcement.
In a public response, Dallas ISD noted that while it strongly disagrees with the government’s legal interpretations and could not corroborate allegations against the former educator, it shares the ultimate goal of ensuring student safety and strengthening reporting practices across all campuses.
