Litigation

Ray M. v. NYC Board of Education and NYS Department of Education, et al.

The Ray M. suit was brought in 1994 by New York City parents of preschool children with disabilities, and alleged that these children were denied their rights to appropriate educational services under state and federal law. One of the Ray M. claims alleged that preschoolers with disabilities were wrongfully denied timely referrals and evaluations to special education and were automatically being placed in the most restrictive classroom settings in violation of state and federal law. Another claim alleged that disabled preschool students with limited English proficiency were denied timely special education evaluations in the appropriate language and were being placed in inappropriately restrictive classroom settings. This case was filed in federal court for the Eastern District of New York. During its time, the case was successful in creating new inclusive educational environments for preschool students with disabilities, who had previously been warehoused in segregated settings.

Associated Documents:

Ray M Complaint - March 11, 1994

Order Preliminary Approving Settlement - January 7, 1999