On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the Garland ISD Board of Trustees voted to agree with a Motion for Unitary Status filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding our desegregation order that officially recognizes the district’s long-standing progress toward equity.

By way of background, in December 2025, the DOJ reached out to GISD as part of a nationwide effort to close decades-old desegregation orders. After reviewing our history, policies, and student data, the DOJ determined that GISD has met all federal equity requirements and is operating fairly and responsibly for all students.

As a result, the DOJ asked the court to grant GISD Unitary Status, which would formally acknowledge this progress and return full local decision-making to our community. GISD is the lone school district in Texas still operating under a federal desegregation order, making this a significant milestone in our history.

This step reflects how far our district has come and allows us to continue focusing on what matters most: providing great schools, strong programs, and meaningful choices for every student and family in GISD.

What does this mean for families?
This does not change our commitment to fairness, student choice, or opportunity. It simply confirms that GISD is doing right by students across the district and allows decisions to continue being made locally by people who know our schools, our families, and our community best.

Regardless of the court’s final decision, GISD will continue to:

• Offer strong academic programs and diverse learning options.
• Provide families with meaningful school choice.
• Partner with community organizations, including the NAACP.
• Stay committed to the belief that “all means all.”
  
   

Garland ISD will continue to hold itself to the highest standards, not because of legal requirements, but because it is the right thing to do.