DRM Suit Over Special Education Services Continues

DRM and Gilbert Law filed suit in December 2019 on behalf of a child who has been out of school for over three years due to the school district’s inability to provide behavior supports and the state’s inability to provide proper oversight and support to the district as needed to meet its obligations. Although the case involves only one student, the impact affects the ability of over 200,000 Michigan students with disabilities to seek recourse from the state when a district is not able to provide legally required support services. “Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the state is ultimately responsible for ensuring that each student with a disability in Michigan receives a free appropriate public education”, said DRM education attorney Erin Diaz. “There are districts that struggle to provide services to students, especially behavior supports. Students in every district in the state—even districts that struggle—should get the services they need to make progress in school.”