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Artifact 5

Lauren Hawthorne

EDU 210

College of Southern Nevada

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Debbie Young is a high school principal that served as a special education teacher and an

assistant principal in the past. The parents of a severely disabled tenth grade student named

Jonathan approached her about attending one of the schools in the district. Because he is

extremely mentally disabled, has spastic quadriplegia, and has a seizure disorder he requires the

constant care of a special nurse. Principal Young refused the parents request because she

believed the school was not the best fit for Jonathan and the accommodations needed would be

extremely expensive.

Florence Co. School District Four v. Shannon Carter (1993) determined that parents

would be reimbursed for the costs of private education if a public school does not provide

appropriate education. If the public school in question does not provide an educational program

that is not appropriate for the student, the parents may choose a private institution instead and be

reimbursed for the costs. Therefore, the parents have another option aside from the public school

that will not cost them. The principle did not see the public school as a fit place for the severely

disabled student. Schools are required to provide appropriate education, so if he did not find the

school appropriate for the student, they are not in violation of IDEA. In addition, the parents may

still have access to appropriate education.

In contrast, Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley

(1982) held that federally funded schools are required to provide free appropriate public

education and the standards that should be met. They must provide students with the services

they need to benefit from their educational program. Based on this case the school would have to

provide the necessary accommodations, including the care from a specialized nurse regardless of

the cost.
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Mills v. Washington DC Board of Education (1971) also determined that it is unlawful to

deny students access to publicly funded education, whether they are disabled or not. If they are

old enough to attend a public school, they cannot be denied access. Based on this case, it is

unlawful to deny the student admission based on his disabilities. He is old enough to attend the

public school so he must be given access to public education and provided with the correct

services.

Based on Board of Education v. Rowley (1982) and Mills v. Washington DC Board of

Education (1971), the publicly funded school cannot deny access to a student otherwise eligible

to attend the school. They are also required to provide the services needed for that student to

attend the publicly funded school.

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References

Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 175

(1982).

Florence Co. School District Four v. Shannon Carter, 510 U.S. 7 (1993)

Mills v. Washington DC Board of Education 348 F. Supp. 866 (D.D.C. 1972)