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Board of Education v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176 (1982)
the Supreme Court wrote an opinion on IDEA requiring proposed special education and related services to enable the student within reason to receive educational benefits. It is generally understood that IDEA does not guarantee any particular result simply that the educational services proposed by a school district need only be reasonably likely to sufficiently provide a benefit to the student. Https://massadvocate.org/billsview/ -
Florence County School district Four b. Carter, 510 U.S. 7 (1993)
This case addressed the applicable standards in which a parent may obtain reimbursement for a private school education. This translates to mean the a private school does not necessarily have to meet the state's educational standards. hips://massadvocates.org/billsview/ -
Winkelman v. Parma City School District (No.05-983) (2007)
The Winkelmans agreed that parents had rights under IDEA and could represent themselves on behalf of their child in court. The Supreme Court reversed the Sixth Circuit stating that parents also have rights under IDEA. As a result, parents are entitled to prosecute IDEA claims on their own behalf." https://massadvocates.org/billsview/ -
SUMMARY
The three historical rulings I selected support the right to an equal education for all special education students, and the rights of parents to prosecute IDEA claims on their own behalf. State rules for public school education and private schools vary considerably. The last historical ruling I selected supports the idea that a private school does not necessarily have to meet the IDEA's definition of a free appropriate public education.