Endrew F. v.

Douglas County School District

Woo, Eun Jee

Introduction to Special Education 203
Exploration of Historical Foundation in Special Education: Landmark Court Case
Thursday, September 28, 2017
 Endrew F. is an autistic 5th grade student with attention deficit disorder who was placed in
private school because his parents believed the public school education was inadequate. Endrew
was placed in Firefly Autism House and his parents sued for reimbursements of Endrew’s private
school tuition and related expenses.
The case went to the Supreme Court because there have been a steady movement toward a
more specific standard for FAPE over the years. There was many outside groups that filed legal
papers supporting Drew’s case and more than 100 members of Congress also on record
supporting Drew. There was an important legal paper filed by NASDSE, it represents the school
administrators who oversee IEP’s in schools. Thanks to people stepping in, supporting Drew,
gaining publicity the case itself got spotlight that helped the case go into the Supreme Court. The
case went to the Supreme Court because of the question what is the level of educational benefit
that school districts must discuss on children with disabilities to provide them with FAPE
guaranteed by IDEA because the lower courts had many different interpretations on the level of
services required with FAPE guaranteed by IDEA. This is a landmark case because it overturned
the decision of Rowley which was to provide what seems like a reasonable amount of support
but not the best or most of what’s available.
The family won the case because the court ruled that under IDEA the school must offer an
IEP that fits the needs of the child’s circumstances and the school must create an environment
where students with disabilities have the equal chance to make appropriate progress in the
general education curriculum.