Firm Files Class Action Lawsuit with Advocates for Children on Behalf of Students with Disabilities to Address COVID-Related Loss of Educational Services
On Monday, November 23, Patterson Belknap and Advocates for Children filed a class action complaint in the Southern District of New York against the New York City Department of Education and New York State Education Department on behalf of students with disabilities who have not received an appropriate education during the time of remote learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. When schools closed their physical spaces in March, tens of thousands of students with disabilities in New York City were – and still are – unable to access appropriate services and programs during remote learning. Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, school districts must provide a free and appropriate education to all students with disabilities. The plaintiffs are asking the Court to require the DOE to create a streamlined, systemwide process to identify and provide the compensatory services necessary to address each student’s educational harm.
To read the complaint, please click here.
To read the full press release, please click here.