We’re proud to announce a significant legal milestone in the fight for students with disabilities in Clark County, Nevada.
Twelve students and their families, as well as the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, have achieved a major victory today in a lawsuit requesting to be certified as a class action, against the Clark County School District (CCSD) and the Nevada Department of Education (NDE).
The lawsuit seeks systemic reforms to address widespread violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Those violations include, among many others, failing to locate and identify children with disabilities, conduct appropriate evaluations for children already identified, and provide appropriate specially designed instruction, related services, and behavioral supports.
Today, the federal district court denied the motions to dismiss filed by both CCSD and NDE. This means the case will move forward—an important step toward achieving meaningful change for students with disabilities in the fifth largest school district in the country. The opinion is available here.
The law firms representing the families are Reisman Gran Zuba, Freeman Law Offices, Rogich Law Firm, Wasserman Little, and Simmons Freeman.
But this victory belongs to the brave families who stepped forward to demand better. We are honored to stand with them in this fight for justice and equity.