Judicial decisions have played a critical role in shaping special education service delivery. Discuss four of the influential court cases and the specific contribution to the field of special education that each provided.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas – separate is not equal
Diana v. State Board of Education – testing must be done in student’s primary language
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – state must guarantee FAPE to all children with intellectual disabilities; students must be placed in LRE; provided for “child-find”
Mills v. Board of Education, District of Columbia – extended PARC decision to include all children with disabilities
Larry P. v. Riles – African American students cannot be placed in classes for children with intellectual disability solely on the basis of intellectual assessments
Lau v. Nichols – milestone case in the field of bilingual education; significantly affected the education of culturally and linguistically diverse learners.
Armstrong v. Kline – extended school year
Tatro v. State of Texas – broadened/clarified definition of related services
Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley – defined “appropriate” in FAPE – does not require optimum opportunity
Daniel R. R. v. State Board of Education – refined definition of LRE
Oberti v. Board of Education of the Borough of Clementon School District – strengthened LRE stipulations; decision to exclude a student from the general education environment must be justified and documented
Agostini v. Felton – services may be provided to students enrolled in private schools
Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garret F. – expanded and clarifies the concept of related services