Project Safe Schools investigation uncovers reporting failures at Dallas ISD, leading to $1 million settlement
Settlement mandates sweeping compliance reforms after district’s internal processes allowed known predator to quietly move on to other ISDs
DALLAS / Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould today announced that Dallas Independent School District has agreed to a $1 million civil settlement to resolve allegations it falsely certified compliance with state mandatory reporting laws while receiving federal special education funds. Of that amount, $145,000 is a penalty and $855,000 is additional funding for district-wide reforms, including reporting audits, law-enforcement protocols and mandatory training.
The settlement is the second civil enforcement action announced under Project Safe Schools, the federal initiative launched by U.S. Attorney Raybould in August 2026 to protect students, enforce accountability and restore transparency in North Texas public schools.
Under the terms of the agreement, Dallas ISD will implement sweeping, multi‑year compliance measures intended to strengthen student‑safety reporting, improve coordination with law enforcement and ensure adherence to Texas Education Code Chapter 22A.
“Let this be a warning to every district in the Northern District of Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “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. Under Project Safe Schools, we are making sure no district can hide behind bureaucracy or internal procedures while a dangerous educator slips through the cracks. This agreement forces fundamental change, because student safety must always come before institutional convenience.”
Background and Federal Findings
The United States contends that from 2022 to 2024, Dallas ISD incorrectly certified that it was in full compliance with all applicable state laws governing educator misconduct reporting. During this period, the District opened four separate investigations into allegations that former special education teacher Michael Roell, also known as Johnathan Michael, had engaged in sexual misconduct involving minors.
Notwithstanding these allegations, Dallas ISD did not make the required reports to the State Board for Educator Certification. Instead, the district utilized its Title IX process and a higher Title IX standard to find the allegations “unfounded” and allowed Roell to resign in lieu of termination in April 2024. Dallas ISD then placed Roell on an internal, Dallas-ISD-only “Do Not Hire” list.
The federal investigation revealed systemic failures in Dallas ISD’s handling of allegations, including:
- Failure to Report Evidence of Misconduct: Texas law required reporting upon receiving evidence of covered misconduct. Allegations from an anonymous complainant, a parent, and multiple administrators met that threshold but were never reported.
- Improper Reliance on Title IX Processes: Dallas ISD applied a higher evidentiary standard than state law requires, treating a Title IX “not responsible” finding as a basis not to report to SBEC. State law required reporting regardless of the Title IX outcome.
- Internal “Do Not Hire” Lists: Roell resigned in lieu of termination and was placed only on an internal Dallas‑ISD‑only “Do Not Hire” list, leaving future Texas districts unaware of pending concerns.
- Lack of Coordination with Law Enforcement: Allegations of past abuse were routed internally instead of being referred directly to municipal police, despite the gravity of the conduct described.
After leaving Dallas ISD, Roell later taught in Plano ISD and Forney ISD, where he was ultimately 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.
Settlement Terms
Specifically, under the settlement agreement, Dallas ISD will:
- Pursue formal Memoranda of Understanding with local law enforcement and the Texas Rangers to clarify roles, timelines, and mandatory‑reporting protocols;
- Adopt districtwide Civil Liability Disclosure Forms for all applicants, contractors, substitutes, and volunteers;
- Post mandatory signage outlining child‑abuse reporting duties;
Implement detailed Child Abuse Reporting Requirements checklists for administrators; - Provide mandatory annual training for Title IX decisionmakers, HR personnel, and investigative staff on SBEC reporting requirements and Chapter 22A timelines;
- Conduct compliance audits and maintain documentation of all personnel‑training requirements;
- Review every sexual misconduct allegation dating back to 2022 and provide results to the Texas Education Agency.
The civil matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Javan Porter.
A courtesy copy of the Settlement Agreement is linked below.
Project Safe Schools is a federal initiative aimed at protecting students, enforcing accountability and restoring transparency in public schools across North Texas. Project Safe Schools directly targets failures in mandatory reporting of educator misconduct and combats the practice known as “passing the trash,” where educators with known misconduct issues move between schools without disclosure of their prior wrongdoing. Project Safe Schools’ goals are to:
- Enforce mandatory reporting requirements tied to federal education programs.
- Hold school districts, administrators and teachers accountable through civil and criminal enforcement.
- Increase transparency in educator misconduct investigations.
- Strengthen student safety across schools in North Texas.
The civil claims resolved by the settlement agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
2026.10.20_draft_dallas_isd_settlement_agreement_executed.pdf
us_attorney_raybould_letter_project_safe_schools.pdf
Contact
Public Affairs Division
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Texas
USATXN.Media@usdoj.gov
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas
