WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 23, 2016 – Caroline J. Heller, litigation shareholder and chair of Greenberg Traurig LLP’s Global Pro Bono Program, submitted an amicus brief, filed Nov. 21, in the case of Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (“Endrew F.”), which asked the United States Supreme Court to answer the question: “What is the level of educational benefit that school districts must confer on children with disabilities to provide them with a free and appropriate public education guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.?”
The amici are the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and the California Association for Parent-Child Advocacy. These amici have an interest in the Endrew F. matter because they are organizations that work to ensure that children with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education, emphasizing special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.
In their amici curiae brief, the amici propose the following standard: “A child ‘benefits from’ instruction when the services target all areas of educational need in order to ensure achievement consistent with non-disabled peers in the general education curriculum so as to enable students to be prepared for post-school activities.”
“The Supreme Court's decision in this case is significant to children with disabilities and their families. A free appropriate public education that confers educational benefits consistent with the standard proposed by the amici will enable children with disabilities to attend college, graduate school or professional school, obtain vocational training, obtain employment, and achieve self-sufficiency,” Heller said. “In other words, it will facilitate their becoming productive members of our society.”
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