A federal judge has ruled that Washington, D.C. public schools must dramatically change the ways in which they identify and serve preschoolers with disabilities.
A class action lawsuit was filed in 2005 by parents of seven young children with disabilities, claiming the school district delayed or blocked services for their children. The ruling now requires the district to ensure that 8.5% of children between the ages of three and five are enrolled in special education and related services, as required by federal law. It also requires that at least 95% of all preschool children referred for services receive timely evaluations.
Recently, the district had been serving as little as 2.7% of these children. For infants through age three, the school district must ensure that at least 95% percent of children in this age group and older that are found eligible for services receive a smooth and effective transition by their third birthdays.
Although there are no deadlines in the judge’s orders, the ruling will remain in effect until its requirements are met.
