by Common Ground | Jun 13, 2018 | Courts
A Middlesex County school district has prevailed in due process matter centering on bullying and school safety. The case involves a girl who is blind and, according to the parent’s petition, had been knocked down in the hallway, called names, pushed down steps and...
by Common Ground | Jun 13, 2018 | Courts
A Salem County student with disabilities was allowed to return to his local public school, following inappropriate removal for disciplinary reasons. The 2016 case involves a 15 year-old boy with specific learning disabilities who attends a the local public high...
by Common Ground | May 25, 2018 | Courts
The Office of Administrative Law has denied a parent’s emergent relief request to allow her son, a student with disabilities, to take part in high school commencement ceremonies. The 2017 case involves an 18 year-old Mercer County teen with specific learning...
by Common Ground | May 22, 2018 | Courts
An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) has ordered a Morris County school district to provide compensatory education to a student with disabilities. The case involves a student with behavioral disabilities, including self-injury, who had been placed in a public school...
by Common Ground | Apr 17, 2018 | Courts
An administrative law judge (ALJ) has ordered that a student with disabilities return to his local public high school, and that his suspension through the end of the school year 2017-2018, including the prohibition from being on school premises, participation in...
by Common Ground | Mar 30, 2018 | Courts
Parents and school districts are waiting an average of 10 months to obtain a legal decision in non-emergency special education matters, this is in spite of state and federal laws requiring such decisions be made within 45 days. The findings are part of a report issued...
by Common Ground | Jul 26, 2017 | Courts
Earlier this year, the Justice Department reached a settlement with a south Jersey school district under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The agreement resolves allegations that the district violated the ADA by refusing to allow a student with...
by Common Ground | Feb 26, 2017 | Courts
On January 11, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on whether public schools owe children with disabilities “some” educational benefit — which courts have determined to mean just-above-trivial progress — or whether students legally deserve something more: a...
by Common Ground | Feb 26, 2017 | Courts
In February, The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a unanimous decision in favor of a student with disabilities, and clarified the inter-relationship between the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)...
by Common Ground | Oct 25, 2016 | Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider a case that will set the national standard for the education of students with disabilities. At issue is the level of benefit that school districts are required to provide. The court will consider the question of whether...
by Common Ground | Jul 29, 2016 | Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a special education case involving a 12-year-old Michigan girl with cerebral palsy who sought to bring her service dog – which was prescribed by a physician as a full time support – to school. The dog is certified...
by Common Ground | Apr 15, 2016 | Courts
A new report finds that court decisions related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are more likely to be litigated in some states than others. An analysis published in the Journal of Special Education Leadership reported that 10 states account...
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