by Common Ground | Feb 4, 2026 | Courts, Current-Issue, February 2026
A federal judge has overturned a state administrative order that forced a Gloucester County school district to cover the costs of independent evaluations obtained by the parent of a former student with a disability. The decision marks a significant development in a...
by Common Ground | Aug 28, 2025 | Courts, September 2025
A recent court settlement is expected to improve how disputes and disagreements between New Jersey schools and families of students receiving special education services are managed. The case involves three New Jersey families of students with disabilities who brought...
by Common Ground | Jun 16, 2025 | Courts, June-July 2025
Court decisions have played an important role in shaping how related services are provided in special education. Over the years, several important court decisions have helped clarify how related services should be provided and what students are entitled to. One of the...
by Common Ground | May 25, 2025 | Courts, May 2025
A high-stakes lawsuit, Texas v. Becerra, now making its way through the courts, could dismantle Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by entities that receive federal funding. The law requires...
by Common Ground | May 25, 2025 | Courts, May 2025
In April, U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools. The case centers on what standard students must meet in order to bring claims of disability discrimination at school. At issue is whether students with disabilities must show that schools...
by Common Ground | Feb 13, 2025 | Courts, February 2025
Paraprofessionals are vital members of many special education teams, providing direct support to students with disabilities. These educational aides assist with a variety of tasks, including helping students complete assignments, supporting behavior management, and...
by Common Ground | Jan 17, 2025 | Courts, January 2025 Special Policy Edition, Uncategorized
On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court made a big decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, striking down the “Chevron doctrine.” This decision ends a forty-year-old practice that allowed courts to defer to federal agencies when interpreting unclear or...
by Common Ground | Oct 3, 2024 | Courts, October 2024
In October, the U.S. Supreme Court began its new term. There are two significant special education cases before it that have the potential to impact the future of disability rights in public schools. A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, Independent School District No. 279...
by Common Ground | Sep 27, 2024 | Courts, September 2024
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined arguments in a case (Pitta v. Medeiros) looking at whether parents have the right to video recordings of meetings with their child’s school district about special education services. The case involves the Massachusetts father of a...
by Common Ground | Sep 27, 2024 | Courts, September 2024
The New Jersey State Supreme Court has ruled that students with disabilities are entitled to a free public education even after they earn a General Education Development (GED). The case involves a teen with disabilities who was denied a request to re-enroll in a...
by Common Ground | Jun 12, 2024 | Courts, June 2024
The courts have said a local school district is responsible and accountable for a safe ride. In 2002, a landmark Pennsylvania case (Susavage v. Bucks County Schools, Intermediate Unit No. 22, et al.) defined the responsibility of school districts and Individualized...
by Common Ground | Apr 5, 2024 | April 2024, Courts
A U.S. District Court has upheld the ruling of a New Jersey Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) that transportation to and from the corner bus stop, rather than to and from the child’s front door, did not result in denial of a free appropriate public education and did not...
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