Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District clarifies how schools are to provide Free Appropriate Public Education
Open Access
Author:
Smith, Madeline
Graduate Program:
Educational Theory and Policy
Degree:
Master of Arts
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
April 01, 2018
Committee Members:
David Alexander Gamson, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor Maria M Lewis, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Keywords:
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act IDEA Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District free appropriate public education FAPE amicus curiae briefs analysis
Abstract:
On April 24, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States issued the decision on Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District in which the Court was asked to determine the level of educational benefit that school districts must provide children with disabilities in order to ensure the free appropriate public education (FAPE) guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Thirty-five years prior to Endrew F., the Court was asked the same question in Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District, Westchester County v. Rowley. In those thirty-five years, different interpretations of the standard set in Rowley led to much confusion among courts, school districts, educators, and parents of how to comply with the IDEA and what it means to provide students with disabilities a FAPE. Through legal analysis of circuit court decisions, amicus curiae briefs, and the Endrew F. decision itself, this study hopes to explore whether or not Endrew F. provides enough clarification of the Rowley decision to mitigate the problems in interpreting FAPE.