April 14, 2020
Special Education during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic
By Brian L. Allard, Associate
As the spread of the global pandemic of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, causes school closures for in-person learning across the nation, school districts have been left with extraordinary challenges, including but not limited to rapidly transitioning to online learning and conducting day-to-day business virtually. As school districts move to this virtual setting, an additional challenge includes that federal and state mandates for special education remain in place. School districts are still required to provide students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). This means that school districts must still comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II).