School districts across the state are being accused of retaliating against parents who fight for expensive special education services by reporting the parents for child abuse or neglect, a Kane In Your Corner investigation finds.

No precise figures are available because child abuse complaints with the state’s Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) are confidential. But education advocates say the problem is becoming more widespread as school budgets get tighter.

In every case I’ve been involved in, and there have been many, the DYFS case is closed (and) there’s been no evidence of abuse or neglect”

– Renay Zamloot,
Education Advocate

Zamloot says she is convinced the retaliation is intentional and says that in some cases, it’s effective. “The parents stop advocating because they don’t want to be retaliated against again.”

Read the full story and view NEWS12’s “Kane in Your Corner” Segment here.