Schaffer V. Memphis City Schools: A Case Study

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People with disabilities were segregated from society, excluded from public education, placed in institutions for long-term custodial care, considered unable to learn or benefit from educational programs, not valued members of the community and referred to as crippled, idiotic, feeble-minded, insane. The first special class for deaf children in a public school was held in Boston in 1869. In 1896, the first special class for children who were mentally disabled was held in Rhode Island and in 1899 a class for students with physical impairments was formed as well.

Prior to 1940’s

People with disabilities were excluded from society

Considered unable to learn

Paragraph 2 integrates information from the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

Parents began to question whether placing their child with a disability in an institution for long-term custodial care was the only …show more content…

Doe (1988), This case ruled that children with disabilities could not be excluded from school indefinitely for any misbehavior that is "disability-related" but that educational services could cease if the misbehavior is not related to the disability.

Schaffer v. Weast (2005). The court ruled that the burden of persuasion in an administrative hearing challenging an IEP is placed on party seeking the relief, whether the party is the student with a disability or the school district.

F. H. v. Memphis City Schools (6th Cir. 2014) School and parent entered a settlement agreement, as a result of parental suit against school for alleged verbal, physical and sexual abuse of their child by school aides. The school did not honor the settlement agreement resulting in claims of a breach of contract. The circuit court ruling reversed the district court decision and found the established settlement agreement as enforceable by the courts.

There are three major laws that currently serve as the main protections for students with

disabilities (and their families). These are laws that school districts receiving federal

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