Assignment: Your group is responsible for reading the Supreme Court cases on the

famous 10 Special Education courses listed below. Complete the graphic organizer for
each case.
The group leader will need to combine all 10 charts for each of the 10 cases and submit
them on one Google document for the group.
Example:
Petitioner:
Respondent:
Disability:
The Situation/Background Information:

Supreme Courts Decision and Reasoning:

Evaluation (Is it a fair ruling?):

New Vocabulary:

Student who completed this case overview is

1.
BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE HENDRICK HUDSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT,
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, et al.,
Petitioners
v.
AMY ROWLEY, by her parents, ROWLEY et al.
Respondent
http://massadvocates.org/rowley/

Petitioner:
Hendrick Hudson Central School District
Respondent:
Amy Rowley
Disability:
She was deaf
The Situation/Background Information:
In regular education classes and she did well in kindergarten. School required her to
wear a hearing aid. Parents wanted her to get a sign language interpreter. School did
not think she needed that.
In order to get federal money state schools have to be in compliance with IDEA.

Supreme Courts Decision and Reasoning:

Agreed with the school. School didnt have to hire an interpreter.

Evaluation (Is it a fair ruling?):

Yes - she was actually doing well; parents thought she could do better; act calls for

equal, not better, education

No - Natural born disability so she deserved it
New Vocabulary:
IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (The Act)
Incentive - something that makes you interested in doing something
Alternate assignment
Stenographer - court reporter
Student who completed this case overview is Tifa, Alyya, Jamir

2.
IRVING INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT,
Petitioners
v.
TATRO, et. Ex., Individually and as Next Friends of TATRO, a Minor,
Respondent
http://massadvocates.org/irving/

Petitioner: Irving Independent Schools

Respondent: TATRO
Disability: Spina Bifida
The Situation/Background Information:
8 year old has orthopedic and speech impairments and neurogenic bladder. Needs
catheterization every 3-4 hours. School didnt want to hire a medical professional to
perform this.

Supreme Courts Decision and Reasoning:

They ruled that the Education of Handicapped Act doesnt require a person to be
certified as a doctor or nurse. The parents had to hire someone to do this. School wont
provide this service.

Evaluation (Is it a fair ruling?):

No - not treated equally; werent providing her the ability to come to school and be able
to be healthy and learn like other students
Yes - it would be an expense for a school
New Vocabulary:
catheterization - using a tube to help someone urinate
Student who completed this case overview is

3.
JACOB WINKELMAN, a minor, by and through his parents and legal guardians,
Jeff and Sandee Winkelman, et al.,
v.
PARMA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
http://massadvocates.org/winkelman/

Petitioner:
Winkelman
Respondent:
Parma City School District
Disability:
Autism
The Situation/Background Information:
Jacob was a minor and his parents were helping to develop his individual education
program (IEP).
Want him to attend a specific school - want him to go to a private school, which costs

money. They thought that school would be better for their son.

Supreme Courts Decision and Reasoning:

Parents can make claims under IDEA for reimbursement. They may get paid...just
depends.

Evaluation (Is it a fair ruling?):

No - shouldnt be in between; needs a yes or no
Yes - It could cost the public school a lot of money which would take away from other
students
New Vocabulary:
IEP - individual education plan
reimbursement - repay
Student who completed this case overview is Jeramiah, VaAndra

4.
ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION,
v.
PEARL MURPHY AND THEODORE MURPHY
http://massadvocates.org/Arlington/

Petitioner:
Arlington School
Respondent:
Murphy

Disability:
Speech and language impairments
The Situation/Background Information:
Parents want the school district to pay for sons private school.
The parents had spent so much on attorney fees.
Why did he want to go to private school ?
Needs details on what the public school wasnt providing for him.

Supreme Courts Decision and Reasoning:

Supreme Court decided in favor of the parents. They didnt have to pay for the
educational consultant.

Evaluation (Is it a fair ruling?):

No - its a private school and that means you should go in expecting that you will have
to pay
Yes - may offer better things for the student
New Vocabulary:

Student who completed this case overview is Sharon, VaAndra

5.
BRIAN SCHAFFER, A MINOR, BY HIS PARENTS AND NEXT FRIENDS, JOCELYN AND
MARTIN SCHAFFER, ET AL., PETITIONERS
v.
JERRY WEAST, SUPERINTENDENT, MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ET AL.
http://massadvocates.org/schaffer/

Petitioner:Brian Schaffer
Respondent:Montgomery County Public Schools
Disability:He had a learning disability
The Situation/Background Information:
Wanted an IEP because he had problems with English and science. Had to do 15 hours
a week of tutoring. Couldnt attend school properly or regularly. Establish an IEP for all
students who need one.

Supreme Courts Decision and Reasoning:

They gave Brian the IEP
Anyone can be tested for services

Evaluation (Is it a fair ruling?):

Yes - gives everyone and parents equal rights
No - some people may overtest; kids may not have any say if theyre minors
New Vocabulary:

Student who completed this case overview isNate, Aneika, Emily

6.

BUCKHANNON BOARD AND CARE HOME, INC., et al., PETITIONERS v. WEST VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN RESOURCES et al.
http://massadvocates.org/buckhannon/

Petitioner:Buckhannon Care Home

Respondent: WV Dept. of Health and HR
Disability:
Varying
The Situation/Background Information:
Fire marshal said that the people would not be able to save themselves (self
preservation) if there was a fire. Close the home down in 30 days.

Supreme Courts Decision and Reasoning:

They decided that there should be people available to assist the disabled people.

Evaluation (Is it a fair ruling?):

Yes - they need more staff to ensure safety
No - costs Buckhannon home a lot more money
New Vocabulary:

Student who completed this case overview is

7.
CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
v.
GARRET F., a minor, by his mother and next friend, CHARLENE F.
http://massadvocates.org/cedarrapids/

Petitioner:
Cedar Rapids Schools
Respondent:
Garret F.
Disability:
Spinal column was paralyzed from the neck down, and he had speech and language
issues
The Situation/Background Information:
Mom wants the district to hire a one-on-one medical services person because her son
is ventilator-dependent after a motorcycle crash at age 4. School doesnt want to take
financial responsibility.

Supreme Courts Decision and Reasoning:

School needs to provide a qualified school nurse or other qualified person. Doesnt
have to do medical services. District has to pay for/provide continuous nursing
services for Garret.

Evaluation (Is it a fair ruling?):

7-2 ruling
New Vocabulary:

Student who completed this case overview is

8.
FLORENCE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUR, et al.
Petitioners
v.
SHANNON CARTER, a minor by and through her father, and next friend, Emory D. Carter
Respondent
http://massadvocates.org/florence/

Petitioner:
Respondent:
Disability:
The Situation/Background Information:
doesnt want to stay in a classroom with IEP only
Parents put her in a private school

Supreme Courts Decision and Reasoning:

Ruled that the school has to reimburse the parents for the tuition they paid

Evaluation (Is it a fair ruling?):

New Vocabulary:
reimburse - get your money back

Student who completed this case overview is

9.
HONIG, California Superintendent of Public Instruction
v.
DOE, et al.
http://massadvocates.org/honig/

Petitioner:
Respondent:
Disability:
The Situation/Background Information:

Doe and Jack Smith - cant control aggression

Supreme Courts Decision and Reasoning:

Evaluation (Is it a fair ruling?):

New Vocabulary:

Student who completed this case overview is

10.
BURLINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE, et.al.,
Petitioners
v.
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Respondent
http://massadvocates.org/burlington/

Petitioner:
Respondent:
Disability:
The Situation/Background Information:

Supreme Courts Decision and Reasoning:

paying if in free appropriate environment

Evaluation (Is it a fair ruling?):

New Vocabulary:

Student who completed this case overview is