The US Supreme Court has held that federal law requires schools to provide an IEP that is “appropriately ambitious” for each student’s circumstances. In the case Endrew F. v. Douglas County School Dist RE-1, in a unanimous ruling issued March 22, 2017, the Court rejected the school district’s argument for a more modest standard (“more than de minimis“). At issue was the proper standard required by federal law requiring schools to provide a “Free and Appropriate Education” (FAPE) to children qualifying for special education services.
Court Decisions
US Dept. of Education – 2015 – Dyslexia Guidance
The U.S.Department of Education has issued a new “Dear Colleague” letter clarifying the responsibilities of educators in providing services to children with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This official communication was issued on October 23, 2015, in response to complaints that State and local educational agencies are are reluctant to use these specific terms in the context of developing an IEP.
The purpose of the letter is to clarify that “there is nothing in the IDEA that would prohibit the use of the terms dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia in the IDEA evaluation, eligibility determinations, or IEP documents.”
US Supreme Court: IDEA requires reimbursement for private school
In Forest Grove School Dist. vs. T.A., the US Supreme Court held that parents may be entitled to reimbursement for expenditures for a private school, when the public school has failed to appropriately identify a student as being in need of special education services.
