At issue is a long-standing federal law that says children with disabilities have a right to a “free appropriate public education.” Schools, courts and parents have been divided over what this promise means in practice. Parents who are dissatisfied with special educational programs may remove their children from public schools, enroll them in private schools and then sue to have the costs paid by the school districts. But to win a reimbursement, the parents must show that the public schools failed to provide the “appropriate” education promised by the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. They worked with teachers to devise a special education program for him, but by fourth grade, his behavior was getting worse. His parents moved him to a private school where he was “thriving,” according to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 11, 2017 11:03 UTC