Posted on June 13, 2025, Last Updated on March 23, 2026
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, the Supreme Court put out a unanimous opinion on an education-related case that the disability rights community is now excited about.
The case was brought by a teenage girl with epilepsy and her family from the state of Minnesota. She was fighting to receive as much instruction as her non-disabled peers. The legal question that was brought before the Supreme Court asked what standard of proof was necessary to demonstrate that the student was facing discrimination by the public school in education-related disability lawsuits.
The Supreme Court in its unanimous decision explained that the student and her parents were only required to show that the school system had acted with deliberate indifference toward her educational needs. This is the sane standard that must be shown in other suits where people claim discrimination of disability. In contrast, the school district had argued that higher standard was necessary in school-based claims. The Court dismissed this claim.
Disability advocates are excited about this ruling. It is hoped that it will assist in future education-related cases for students with disabilities seeking better access.
You can read Chief Justice John Roberts’ opinion at https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-249_a86c.pdf
Posted on June 13th, 2025