Special education reminders: child find and initial evaluation procedures

It’s the beginning of a new school year, and it’s a busy time for all district personnel, but it tends to be a particularly active time for special education personnel. The end of summer and the beginning of a new school year brings new students to your buildings, and current students are always growing and changing. It is thus critical for your district personnel to be ready to identify students who may need special education.

Settlement in special education class action granted preliminary approval

Last week, the US District Court granted preliminary approval to a settlement agreement in Doe v. State of Ohio, S.D.Ohio No. 2:91-cv-00464, a class action lawsuit filed in 1993. The lawsuit, filed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Sec.

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Special education ratings available to districts, appeals window open

On Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) emailed d

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District Court rules against U.S. Department of Education over delay of regulations

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled last week that the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) unreasonably delayed implementing IDEA regulations related to racial, ethnic and gender disproportionality.

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Mental health focus at March 1 Special Education Law Workshop and FERPA FAQs

In December, the Legal Ledger reported that the Federal Commission on School Safety, formed by President Trump after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, had released its report and recommendations.

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U.S. Supreme Court issues ruling in IDEA exhaustion of remedies case

Earlier today, a unanimous United States Supreme Court issued its decision in the case of Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools.  The Court overturned the lower courts’ decisions and remanded the case to the appeals court to determine whether the plaintiffs’ suit is about a denial of a FAPE rather than discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.