'Everything we have fought for in my son's (individualized education plan) now gets put on hold,' one parent said.
Patrick Riccards received an email Tuesday from his New Jersey school district about its plan for special-education services during the coronavirus shutdown. But what should have brought him comfort instead caused dismay.
At issue: Federal law calls for individuals with disabilities to have an equal opportunity to participate in everything schools provide. If districts don't accommodate students, they risk losing federal aid — and facing complaints from parents and disability rights advocates for violating federal civil rights laws.
The Northshore School District in Washington state was one of the first large districts — with more than 25,000 students — to enact a robust distance learning plan. Officials successfully got 4,000 devices and additional internet access to low-income students. But then they had to pause the plan because, they said, it risked running afoul of state and federal mandates for providing equitable services.
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