This article analyzes the provisions of IDEA '97 as they pertain to students in private schools. More specifically, the article reviews implementing regulations and relevant case law, issues concerning the extent to which services must be provided and the manner in which they are provided, and the quality of services that are provided. Finally, the article examines guidelines for implementing the new provisions and suggestions for how to avoid violating the establishment clause when one is providing services to students who attend sectarian schools.
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References
1.
Agostini v. Felton, 117 S. Ct. 1997 (1997).
2.
Aguilar v. Felton, 473 U.S. 402 (1985).
3.
Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities, 34 C.F.R. § 300 et seq. (IDEA Regulations).
4.
Cefalu v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, 117 F.3d 231; previous decision at 103 F.3d 393 (1997) withdrawn.
5.
Donald B. v. Board of School Commissioners of Mobile County, 117 F.3d 1371 (11th Cir. 1997).
6.
Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 C.F.R. § 76.1 et seq. (EDGAR Regulations; 1995).
7.
Federal Register, 64(48), 12405-12672 (March 12, 1999).
8.
Felter v. Cape Girardeau School District, 810 F. Supp. 1062 (E.D. Mo. 1993).
9.
Foley v. Special School District of St. Louis County, 927 F. Supp. 1214 (E.D. Mo. 1996); motion for reconsideration denied 968 F. Supp. 481 (E.D. Mo. 1997), affirmed 153 F.3d 863 (8th Cir. 1998).
10.
Fowler v. Unified School District, 107 F.3d 797 (10th Cir. 1997), vacated and remanded 117 S. Ct. 2503 (1997) (mem.), on remand 129 F.3d 1431 (10th Cir. 1997).
11.
General Provisions Concerning Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1221 et seq. (1994).
12.
Goodall v. Stafford County School Board, 930 F.2d 363 (4th Cir. 1991), 60 F.3d 168 (4th Cir. 1995).
13.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.
14.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.
15.
K.R. v. Anderson Community School Corporation, 81 F.3d 673 (7th Cir. 1996), vacated and remanded 117 S. Ct. 2502 (1997) (mem.), on remand 125 F.3d 1017 (7th Cir. 1997).
16.
Mawdsley, R.D. (1997). On-site IDEA services at private schools: The emergence of multiple judicial standards. Education Law Reporter , 121, 445-459.
17.
Mawdsley, R.D. (1998). Religious schools and the IDEA: An ongoing controversy . Education Law Reporter, 125, 595-610.
18.
Mawdsley, R.D., & Dieterich, C. (1996). Limiting services to parochial school students: What does Zobrest now mean? Education Law Reporter, 112, 555-568.
19.
Natchez-Adams School District v. Searing, 918 F. Supp. 1028 (S.D. Miss. 1996).
20.
National Center for Educational Statistics. ( 1997). Digest of educational statistics (Table 59: Private elementary and secondary enrollment and schools, by selected characteristics: 1993-94, p. 70). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education.
21.
Nieuwenhuis v. Delavan-Darien School District Board of Education, 996 F. Supp. 855 (E.D. Wis. 1998).
22.
Peck v. Lansing School District, 148 F.3d 619 (6th Cir. 1998).
23.
Peter v. Wedl, 155 F.3d 992 (8th Cir. 1998).
24.
Russman v. Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of the City of Watervliet, 945 F. Supp. 37 (N.D.N.Y. 1995), affirmed sub nom. Russman v. Sobol, 85 F.3d 1050 (2d Cir. 1996), vacated and remanded 117 S. Ct. 2502 (1997) (mem.), reversed and remanded on remand sub nom. Russman v. Mills, 150 F.3d 219 (2d Cir. 1998).
25.
Tribble v. Montgomery County Board of Education, 798 F. Supp. 668 (M.D. Ala. 1992).
26.
U.S. Department of Education. (1997, July). Guidance on the Supreme Court's decision in Agostini v. Felton and Title I (Part A) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Available: http://www.ed.gov.legislation/ESEA/feltguid.html
27.
Walsh, M. (1997). Court voids religious-freedom law, defers on special education cases. Education Week, 16(40), 21.
28.
Yell, M.L. (1998). The law and special education. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.
29.
Zobrest v. Catalina Foothills School District, 509 U.S. 1 (1993).
