As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to begin its October 2026 Term, two special education cases are asking the Justices to step in. The cases could hardly be more different. One, D.C. v. Fairfax County School Board, comes directly out of the IDEA’s dispute-resolution system and asks whether families alleging systemic violations must […]
An order from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Texas v. Kennedy (2026) vacates regulations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the community integration mandate of Section 504. Specific regulatory provisions included (a) the definition of most integrated setting, (b) the […]
Parallel Learning would like to invite SPEDLAWBlog.com readers to The Special Education Case Files, a free 3-Part virtual workshop hosted by Julie Weatherly. The series will cover the kinds of legal and operational challenges district leaders face every day and share practical strategies you can put to work immediately. The […]
In a recent blog (June 3rd), we addressed a case out of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, William A. v. Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools System (2005). As a reminder, this case involved William A., a young boy with dyslexia who received language therapy and accommodations. However, William […]
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that established that unnecessary segregation of people with disabilities is a form of disability discrimination under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The case involved two women, Lois Curtis (L.C.) and Elaine Wilson (E.W.), who had […]
As we previously reported, on Tuesday, June 7, the Trump administration announced that the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the US Department of Education would be moved to the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, an office within OSERS, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), […]
Critical Questions Districts and IEP Teams Must Address Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are rapidly finding their way into special education practice. Teachers and administrators, often overwhelmed by documentation demands and growing caseloads, may view AI as a promising way to reduce paperwork and generate present levels of academic achievement and […]
On Tuesday, June 7, the Trump administration announced that the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the US Department of Education would be moved to other federal agencies. OSERS, which administers programs for students with disabilities and provides oversight and guidance to ensure that states follow the […]
School districts should treat devices such as Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and similar wearable AI-enabled glasses the same way they treat cell phones or unauthorized electronic testing aids during state assessments. The issue is no longer just texting or internet access. These devices can: That creates both test security concerns […]
The Fourth Circuit’s decision in D.C. v. Fairfax County School Board, No. 23-1854 (4th Cir. 2026), is a direct and unambiguous reminder of a principle that continues to control special education litigation: if the substance of a claim is the denial of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), the Individuals with […]
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is a nonprofit organization that is the largest legal advocacy for persons with disabilities in the U.S. In January, 2022, NDRN published “Out of the Shadows: Informal removals of children with disabilities.” We believe that this booklet should be required reading for all teachers […]
