Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (2017) and special education law: What teachers and administrators need to know

ABSTRACT

Even though special education law is covered in most teacher and administrative certification programs, it is an area that is continually evolving. The results of the 2017 U.S. Supreme Court case Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District will have a lasting impact on the future of special education guidelines; the outcomes of this case will also have implications on best practice for students with disabilities. The findings of this case, along with other recent court findings, will be used as a framework to help both teachers and administrators prevent similar situations in their own districts. Specific approaches and strategies will be discussed and detailed resources are provided to help readers remain current with future trends in special education law.

KEYWORDS:

• Endrew
• special education law
• teacher preparation

Disclaimer

The information and websites given in this article are intended to provide general information and not advice on special education law and policy. Please consult with your school district attorney for specific legal advice.

Notes

¹ The IDEA includes the following 13 categories of disabilities: Autism (added in 1990), deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairments, other health impaired, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury (added in 1990), and visual impairment including blindness.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael A. Couvillon

Michael A. Couvillon is an associate professor at Drake University. His current research interests include legal issues in special education, special education teacher preparation, policy programming on the use of restraint and seclusion, and FBA and BIP implementation.

Mitchell L. Yell

Mitchell L. Yell is the Fred and Francis Lester Chaired professor of Teacher Education at the University of South Carolina. His current research interests include legal issues in special education, IEP development, classroom management, progress monitoring, and evidence-based practices in special education.

Antonis Katsiyannis

Antonis Katsiyannis is an Alumni Distinguished professor at Clemson University. His current research interests include legal and policy issues in special education, delinquency, and emotional and behavioral disorders.