No. 20-205

Z. B., By and Through His Mother, Sylvia Sanchez v. District of Columbia

Lower Court: District of Columbia
Docketed: 2020-08-21
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: change-in-placement circuit-court-split disability-rights free-and-appropriate-public-education free-appropriate-public-education individualized-education-program individuals-with-disabilities-education-act parent-participation school-placement special-education
Latest Conference: 2020-09-29
Question Presented (from Petition)

I. As school placement is an essential element of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, 20 USC §§ 1400 et. seq., and to the provision of a Free and Appropriate Education, the statute fails to define school placement, the Circuits have a variety of fundamentally different formulas for determining placement, and school districts are more commonly changing a student's location of services without first making a team decision to change the students placement where those districts have distinguished location of services from placement, Petitioner requests this Court define what a school placement is and, accordingly, when a change in placement occurs.

II. Whether, in the event that there was a change in placement in this matter, Respondent denied Z.B. a FAPE by committing the procedural violation of preventing Petitioner from meaningfully participating in Z.B.'s IEP meeting by predetermining his new placement and accordingly unilaterally reducing the hours of individualized instruction in the IEP to accommodate the new placement.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

What is the definition of school placement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and when does a change in placement occur?

Docket Entries

2020-10-05
Petition DENIED.
2020-09-02
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2020.
2020-08-27
Waiver of right of respondent District of Columbia to respond filed.
2020-08-10
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 21, 2020)

Attorneys

District of Columbia
Sonya Ludmilla LebsackOffice of the Solicitor General for the District of Columbia, Respondent
Sylvia Sanchez
Chesseley Alexander Robinson IIILaw Offices of Chesseley Robinson, Petitioner