On November 29, 2018, Advocates for Children of New York along with co-counsel Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP filed a complaint with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) against Success Academy Charter Schools and the New York City Department of Education (DOE) for failing to comply with civil rights laws protecting students with disabilities who attend Success Academy schools. The complaint alleged that Success Academy changed the placements of students with disabilities through mid year demotions to a lower grade and class changes without following procedures required to protect the rights of students with disabilities and their parents and refused to comply with administrative hearing orders in special education cases.

In February 2019, NYSED issued a decision sustaining each allegation and requiring Success Academy and the DOE to take corrective action to remedy these violations.