Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence in the Arlene Kanter, together with her research assistants, Alyssa Galea and Megan Brooks; students from her Fall 2016 Disability Law class, Cintia Garcia and Alexandra Caraballo; and the law library鈥檚 assistant director of student learning, Christine Demetros; contributed to an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court for the case of Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. Faculty from 黑料不打烊 School of Education Assistant Professor Julia White and Beth Myers,聽Lawrence B. Taishoff Professor of Inclusive Education, also contributed.
Arlene Kanter
The amicus brief was filed by the National Disability Rights Network and 44 other disability rights organizations throughout the country. The Endrew case is the first case since the Supreme Court鈥檚 1982 decision in Board of Education聽of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District聽v.聽Rowley, in which the court will address the substantive content of a state鈥檚 obligation under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) to ensure a 鈥渇ree appropriate public education鈥� for students with disabilities.
The College of Law team provided background research on the legislative history of the IDEIA, showing the changes in Congress鈥� view of people with disabilities since the Rowley decision. These amendments to the IDEIA appear to strengthen the obligation of school districts to provide a free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities that is more in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act鈥檚 commitment to 鈥渁ssure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency鈥� for all disabled people. The brief filed by the amici rejects the view that schools can satisfy the requirement for an 鈥渁ppropriate education鈥� by providing a merely more than 鈥�de minimis鈥欌€� educational benefit to the student, as the Rowley Court held. As the amici brief states, 鈥淸b]cause education prepares children for future adult roles, educational expectations for disabled children now anticipate higher education, employment and independent living, rather than a life of dependence and institutionalization.鈥�
If the Supreme Court rules for the school district or evenly splits its decision on this case, the Tenth Circuit decision will stand in favor of the school district. If, however, the court sides with the parents and the amici, school administrators across the country will be put on notice that an 鈥渁ppropriate education鈥� means one which provides children with disabilities an equal opportunity to meet the educational standards the district applies to all children, including instruction and supports that will prepare the child for success in college and careers.
The arguments in the case is scheduled for Jan. 11. A decision is expected by the end of the court’s term in June.
