Education Archives - Disability Rights Maryland

Washington, DC – Wiley Rein LLP secured an important victory on behalf of Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) in a lawsuit against Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), stemming from allegations that the school system disproportionately subjected students with disabilities to inappropriate and exclusionary forms of discipline.

In a March 24 decision granting DRM’s motion for summary judgment, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland ordered PGCPS to provide DRM with contact information for the parents or guardians of students who are eligible for special education in the school district, and who have received a suspension of more than three days or were expelled since January 2019.

Wiley Pro Bono Partner Theodore A. Howard represents Disability Rights Maryland in this case in collaboration with Luciene Parsley and Megan Berger of DRM’s legal staff. DRM is a nonprofit organization designated as the State of Maryland’s Protection & Advocacy agency. DRM is “federally mandated to advance the civil rights of people with disabilities,” and provides free legal services to individuals in Maryland with all types of disabilities who live in facilities or the wider community, or who are homeless.

DRM’s unsuccessful requests for parent or guardian contact information came after it received over 85 complaints against PGCPS related to exclusionary discipline and educational neglect of students with disabilities. As noted in the court’s ruling, DRM investigated many of the complaints and concluded that “PGCPS frequently violated the educational rights of students with disabilities.”

When PGCPS refused to voluntarily provide the contact information DRM sought, Wiley filed an action for declaratory and injunctive relief on DRM’s behalf in November 2021 under the applicable federal protection and advocacy statutes and regulations.

The court agreed with Wiley’s argument that DRM is entitled to production by the school system of the information it has requested as a matter of law, and firmly rejected the various arguments interposed by the school system to prevent that outcome.

Originally posted March 28, 2023 by Wiley Rein LLP

About Wiley Rein LLP

Founded in 1983, Wiley is a dominant presence in the nation’s capital. With more than 240 attorneys and advisors, the firm has earned international prominence by representing clients in complex, high-stakes regulatory, litigation, and transactional matters. Many of Wiley’s lawyers and public policy advisors have held high-level positions in the White House and federal agencies and on Capitol Hill. The firm represents a wide range of clients – from Fortune 500 corporations to trade associations to individuals – in virtually all industries. Wiley provides significant pro bono legal services and charitable contributions to the local community every year.

The Blueprint ensures every child in Maryland gets the education they deserve

We are writing to share a disappointing, but hopefully temporary, setback: Governor Hogan has decided to veto the bipartisan Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. This historic piece of legislation passed with overwhelming majorities in both the House of Delegates (96-38) and the Senate (37-9) and had responsible safeguards put in place to protect our budget against downturns in the economy.

Now more than ever, students, families, and communities need the support and investment offered by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future bill. The Blueprint implements a series of important reforms that benefit our children’s education, health and well-being, and the state’s economy. Some of the benefits of the legislation include:

Investing in early childhood education by expanding full-day Pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds.
Transforming teaching into a high-status profession with increased preparation and benchmark salaries.
Expanding college and career pathways including career and technical education opportunities.
Fixing our regressive funding formula by providing extra support for students living in poverty and interventions for struggling students, including students with disabilities, before achievement gaps grow.
Adding a new accountability board to ensure the reforms are carried out with fidelity.

The state of Maryland must remain committed to the goal of eliminating inequities and building an education system that works for all kids, families, and educators over the long term. This virus magnified the extreme disparities that exist in Maryland, including in our schools. The Blueprint was designed to close these disparities and eliminate the achievement gap. We can’t let this veto send a message that our kids’ future is not a priority for the state of Maryland.

Legislators wisely built in a pause button into the Blueprint in the event of an extreme economic downturn. This pause button would slow implementation allowing the economy to recover before further funding ramps up. The Blueprint takes a measured, cautious fiscal approach while implementing the supports that we know all of our students need.

Now is the time for our leaders to ensure that Maryland will build the system we need not only to recover from this virus but to provide enhanced opportunities for all students, eliminate racial achievement gaps, and rebuild a strong economy for all Marylanders.

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Wiley Secures Victory for Disability Rights Maryland in Pro Bono Lawsuit Against Prince George’s County Public Schools

Governor Hogan Vetoed the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Bill

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Governor Hogan Vetoed the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Bill