Endrew F. was a fifth grade student in Douglas County School District, Colorado, on the autistic spectrum whose public school education was not meeting his educational needs. He was then placed in the Firefly Autism House.

In 2017, Endrew’s parents attempted to sue the school for a reimbursement of private school tuition, after the public school did not meet educational standards for disabled children.

It soon went to the Supreme Court.

The case has changed how public school systems provide appropriate education for disabled children. Individuals with Disabled Education Act or IDEA, help hold these standards using the Individualized Education Program where each student must make progress appropriate to their situation.

Nowadays, schools must follow “appropriately ambitious” meaning having a desire for success while still having reasonable goals. This challenges all students and sets an individual curriculum for each child. 

Without this case, disabled children would struggle in completing their education and IDEA would not help create programs. 

At Lower Dauphin, we offer learning support, life skills support, speech and language support, and other opportunities. This greatly affects many students’ opportunities to succeed in our curriculum. These programs would not have been made possible without this case. It shines a light on the struggles of disabled students and education.

Special education teachers share their opinion on the Endrew F. vs Douglas County case.

 Mrs. Jennifer Wagner explained that this is why she started teaching, the students deserve to have the same education and jobs that everyone else does. 

Wagner also explains how many of her students are capable of doing what others do and she advocates for this to be recognized more. She used an example of one of her students who are succeeding by obtaining a job where they help make boxes. 

“I agree with the court case, if the school couldn’t meet educational standards, they should pay for the schooling.” -Mrs. Lauren Stambaugh.