Background
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that
public schools provide a free,
appropriate education to qualifying students with disabilities.
If there is a disagreement between parents and their school
district, either party may request a special education due
process hearing.
Surviving
Due Process: Stephen Jeffers v. School Board
is based on a true story of a young child with autism.
With different evidence and witnesses, this could easily be
a case about a child with a different disability or a different
legal issue.
Learn
more about Surviving
Due Process: Stephen Jeffers v. School Board.
Exam
Copies
- Many
colleges and universities use Wrightslaw books in education,
special education and special education law courses. Order
an Exam Copy
Cast
The cast includes:
* Darrel Tillar Mason, Esq., former hearing officer
& member of the Virginia Board of Education
* Kathleen S. Mehfoud, Esq., nationally-known
school board attorney
* Pete Wright, Esq., parent attorney
Surviving Due Process: Stephen Jeffers
v. School Board is produced by Harbor
House Law Press and The
Virginia Legal Advocacy Center and was directed and filmed
by V.A.V.S. Video Productions,
a team of specialists in producing educational video programs.
"Every viewer will have fun and learn something new
from watching this video."
"Working on the ‘Due Process’ project was so
much fun! The project brought together people who are heartily
involved in the subject, it showed aspects of a procedure
that many parents must go through and it has a very real and
human feel to it. - John Nelson, President, V.A.V.S.
Update on the Case (2/12/05)
When Surviving
Due Process was being filmed, the due process hearing
in Z.P. v. Henrico School Board had just been held.
The story of Surviving
Due Process: Stephen Jeffers v. School Board was based
on the facts in Z.P. v. Henrico School Board.
The individuals who played the roles of teachers, therapists,
the psychologist and special ed director, and the attorneys
in Surviving
Due Process read the transcript of the Z.P. v. Henrico
School Board due process hearing. At the time the DVD
was filmed, the hearing officer had not issued a decision.
What
happened next?
The parents received a favorable decision from the hearing
officer. The school district appealed to U. S. District Court.
The District Court reversed the hearing officer and found
for the school district.
The parents appealed this decision to the U. S. Court of Appeals
for the Fourth Circuit. The Court heard oral argument on September
29, 2004.
On February 11, 2005, in a 2-1 split decision, the U. S. Court
of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reversed the District Court
and remanded the case back with instructions. Read School
Bd of Henrico County VA v. Z.P. in html.
School
Bd of Henrico County VA v. Z.P. is also available
in pdf at https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/05/4th.henrico.va.zo,pdf
Does this mark the end of School Bd of Henrico v. Z.P.?
Yes. After the favorable pro-parent decision by the 4th Circuit,
the case was settled.
Awards
Surviving
Due Process Wins Award of Excellence from Aegis Awards.
Surviving Due Process was directed and filmed
by V.A.V.S. Video Productions,
a team of specialists in producing educational video programs.
More
special education law and advocacy products from Harbor
House Law Press.
