Supreme Court unanimously rules for deaf student in education case

Authored by pbs.org and submitted by je97

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday for a deaf student who sued his public school system for providing an inadequate education. The case is significant for other disabled students who allege they were failed by school officials.

The case the justices ruled in involves Miguel Luna Perez, who attended public school in Sturgis, Michigan. Perez’s lawyers told the court that for 12 years the school system neglected the boy and lied to his parents about the progress he was making, permanently stunting his ability to communicate.

The justices ruled that after Perez and his family settled a complaint against the school system — with officials agreeing to pay for additional schooling and sign language instruction — they could pursue money damages under a different federal law. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in an eight-page opinion for the court that the case “holds consequences not just for Mr. Perez but for a great many children with disabilities and their parents.”

It remains difficult for Perez, who emigrated to the United States from Mexico at age 9, to make himself understood. Perez’s lawyers say the school system failed him by providing an aide who was not trained to work with deaf students, did not know sign language and in later years left him alone for hours at a time. After over a decade, Perez did not know any formal sign language and communicated through invented signs that anyone unfamiliar with his unique signing did not understand, his lawyers have said.

Meanwhile, the school awarded him inflated grades and his parents believed he was on track to earn his high school diploma. Just before graduation, however, his family was told he qualified only for a “certificate of completion.”

LISTEN: Supreme Court hears case on deaf student and assistance in public schools

His family responded by pursuing claims under two laws: the broad Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against disabled people, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The latter guarantees children with disabilities a free public education that is tailored to their specific needs.

Perez’s family and the school district ultimately settled the IDEA claims. The district agreed to pay for extra schooling and sign language instruction for Perez and his family, among other things, and he graduated from the Michigan School for the deaf in 2020. After the settlement, the family went to federal court and, under the ADA, sought monetary damages, which are not available under the IDEA.

Lower courts said Perez was barred from pursuing his ADA claims because of language in the IDEA, but the Supreme Court disagreed. Gorsuch wrote: “We clarify that nothing” in the IDEA “bars his way.”

Perez’s lawyer Roman Martinez said in an emailed statement: “We are thrilled with today’s decision. The Court’s ruling vindicates the rights of students with disabilities to obtain full relief when they suffer discrimination. Miguel and his family look forward to pursuing their legal claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

The superintendent of Sturgis Public Schools, Arthur Ebert, who joined the district after the settlement, said in an email that he was “not in a position to comment on the details or the outcome of the case.” But he said that he believes “that every experience provides us with an opportunity to learn and grow.”

“Through this too,” he said, “we will gain knowledge, insight, and understanding that will help us maximize every student’s true potential.”

The Biden administration had also urged the court to side with Perez. The case is Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools, 21-887.

JustAKeyboard on March 24th, 2023 at 19:15 UTC »

deaf kid wins at hearing.

langis_on on March 24th, 2023 at 14:05 UTC »

This is only going to get worse as the great teacher resignation continues. Every day we have EAs get pulled to cover classes because teachers quit and there are no subs.

There needs to be a great shift in the way we handle public education before we have no public education.

AchillesOnAMountain on March 24th, 2023 at 13:28 UTC »

Here is a brief review...

School had an aide working with him who had no experience working with deaf students and for TWELVE YEARS lied to the parents about his educational progress and communications skills. They basically just ignored this kid for years at a time.

To me it is the apathy and sheer disregard that even the school's superintendent has on the situation. No remorse, guilt or responsibility. Just crass administrator speech.

Common thread tbh, the teachers don't bear as much culpability for the problems in schools, 90% of it begins with the administrators who do f- all other than soak up 3 teacher salaries and cover their own arse.

The superintendent of Sturgis Public Schools, Arthur Ebert, who joinedthe district after the settlement, said in an email that he was “not in aposition to comment on the details or the outcome of the case.” But hesaid that he believes “that every experience provides us with anopportunity to learn and grow.”