David F. Bateman, Ph.D., is a Principal Researcher at the American Institutes for Research. He is also a professor emeritus at Shippensburg University in the Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education where he taught courses on special education law, assessment, and facilitating inclusion. He is a former due process hearing officer for Pennsylvania for over 580 hearings. He uses his knowledge of litigation relating to special education to assist school districts in providing appropriate supports for students with disabilities and to prevent and to recover from due process hearings. He has been a classroom teacher of students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, intellectual disability, and hearing impairments. Dr. Bateman earned a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Kansas. He has recently co-authored the following books: A Principal’s Guide to Special Education, A Teacher’s Guide to Special Education, Charting the Course: Special Education in Charter Schools, Special Education Leadership: Building Effective Programming in Schools, and Current Trends and Issues in Special Education. He was also recently co-editor of a special issues of TEACHING Exceptional Children focusing on legally proficient IEPs.
On the seventy-first anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision (May 17, 1954), it is important to recognize that while the ruling did not specifically address disability rights, it was instrumental in laying the legal and constitutional groundwork for Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children […]
Case Summary: A.J.T. v. Osseo Area SchoolsIssue at Stake:The core question in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools is whether students with disabilities must meet a uniquely high standard—proving “bad faith or gross misjudgment”—to prevail in disability discrimination claims under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with […]
President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will assume responsibility for students with disabilities has sparked widespread backlash and confusion among disability advocates, educators, and legal experts. The brief announcement, made during an unrelated event about a fighter jet, offered no specifics on […]
The PBS NewsHour recently interviewed one of the writers of SpedLawBlog about potential cuts to special education and the removal of the U.S. Department of Education. It is worth a watch.
A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools The following is a summary of the request by the parents for the Supreme Court to hear this case. The Court accepted the case with oral arguments expected in April. Summary of the Petitioners Brief The petition for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. […]
We highly recommend you read the attached link from a report written by CADRE. The 2024 Trends in Dispute Resolution report indicates a significant rise in written state complaints and mediation requests under IDEA for the 2022-23 school year, with a notable shift towards early conflict resolution strategies to reduce […]
Using Functional Behavioral Assessments to Create Supportive Learning Environments Civil Rights Commission to Examine Special Education Teacher Shortages How Trump’s Policies Could Affect Special Education How One Woman Became the Scapegoat for America’s Reading Crisis Schools are Scrambling to Find Special Education Teachers: 3 Ways to Address the Shortage School […]
November 2024 Update The U.S. Department of Education (ED) supports schools and colleges affected by natural disasters, offering resources through the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) and specialized centers like the National Center for Homeless Education and the Disaster Recovery Unit. Additionally, mental health resources are available for […]
The following are recommendations for what to do in October to get ready for the December 1 Child Count. The December 1 Child Count is an annual data collection process mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It requires each state to report the number of children receiving […]
Supreme Court Update: Special Education Cases on the Horizon As the U.S. Supreme Court begins its new term on October 7, two significant special education cases may come under review, potentially shaping the future of disability rights in public schools. A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools and Luo v. Owen J. […]
SPED LAW BLOG 