Doe v. State of Ohio

In Doe v. State of Ohio, the Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS) represents eight students with disabilities, their parents, and a plaintiff class of over 250,000 Ohio students with disabilities. OLRS brought the case to ensure that state officials were meeting their obligations to ensure that children with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and because of the impact that inequities in Ohio's school funding scheme have on the education of these children. Plaintiffs seek relief under IDEA, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the U.S. Constitution.

Case updates

The following are updates to the Doe v. State of Ohio class action education lawsuit. See also media coverage of Doe v. State of Ohio.

• October 20, 2009: Federal Judge Approves Consent Order in Doe v State of Ohio
• October 9, 2009: The Court has recently extended the deadline for filing objections to the Consent Order in Doe v. State of Ohio, Case No. 2:91-cv-464, and will consider any objections filed in writing with the Clerk of Court on or before October 19, 2009. Read the court order: Amended Notice to Ohio Students with Disabilities and Their Parents or Guardians of Partial Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit (PDF file)
• September 16, 2009: The objection period for the partial settlement ended and a fairness hearing is scheduled for October 20.
• July 10, 2009: OLRS newsletter about the notice and consent order
• July 2, 2009: Federal Judge gives preliminary approval of consent order in partial settlement of Doe v. State of Ohio class action education lawsuit
• Consent Order (PDF file)
• Second joint motion for preliminary approval (PDF file)
• Judge's Order for proposed settlement, hearing and notice (PDF file)
• Notice to Ohio students with disabilities and their parents or guardians of partial settlement (PDF file)
• May 21, 2009: OLRS reaches proposed partial settlement in Doe v. State of Ohio.
• April 17, 2009: OLRS Receives Broad Support in Special Education Funding Case
• Ohio Education Association's brief (PDF file)
• Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding's brief (PDF file)
• Ohio General Assembly Minority Caucuses brief (PDF file)
• April 7, 2006: OLRS' Memo in Opposition to the State's Motion (PDF file)
• January 6, 2006: State's Motion to Dismiss (PDF file)
• July 29, 2005: Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint (PDF file)
• May, 2005: Federal Court Issues Decision Allowing OLRS' Class Action Special Education Funding Case to Proceed

• Special Education for Children Ages 3-22