A DOJ complaint naming four Connecticut districts in connection with alleged discriminatory practices has raised concerns, as the report notes that several students were subjected to such treatment, including five from Waterbury Public Schools.

A complaint filed by the Office of the Child Advocate and Disability Rights Connecticut with the U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Waterbury Public Schools, along with other districts, failed to properly oversee the delivery of special education services through High Road Schools, resulting in discriminatory and substandard educational provisions for students with disabilities, particularly from marginalized communities.

Following a federal investigation into possible civil rights violations at a Waterbury school, the Waterbury mayor vetoed any further contract negotiations with the school superintendent, sending a message of accountability within the Waterbury Public Schools system.

Waterbury Public Schools implemented new protocols in February requiring that school resource officer arrests be reviewed by a supervisor before proceeding. This reform has led to a sharp decline in school-based arrests, addressing concerns over over-policing and racial disparities among students.

A report highlighted that Waterbury Public Schools accounted for over 30% of school-based arrests in Connecticut from August 2021 to June 2022, with 276 student arrests, underscoring how excessive policing in schools contributes to a school-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately affects marginalized students. Advocacy groups are calling for reforms, including redefining school resource officers and shifting focus to student well-being.

Waterbury Public Schools is evaluating a proposal to lease more than a dozen high-tech weapons detection systems that use cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence to screen for concealed weapons. The plan has alarmed social and racial justice advocates, who warn that such technology could intensify surveillance of minority students and replicate overpolicing practices in a setting that already disproportionately impacts students of color.

In 2004, educators at Waterbury Public Schools expressed concerns over a student's well-being and took the step to unenroll him while notifying state child welfare officials. This proactive measure, noted amid a broader case of long-term abuse, indicates an effort to protect vulnerable children.