Supreme Court Unanimously Supports Student with Disabilities in Landmark Ruling

In a landmark decision on June 12, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Ava Tharpe, a Minnesota student with severe epilepsy, significantly lowering the legal barriers for students with disabilities to pursue discrimination claims against educational institutions.

The ruling in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools overturns the Eighth Circuit Court's requirement that students prove "bad faith or gross misjudgment" by school officials to succeed in disability discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act. Chief Justice John Roberts emphasized that students with disabilities should not face more stringent legal hurdles than other plaintiffs, aligning educational discrimination standards with those in other contexts.

Ava Tharpe, diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome—a severe form of epilepsy causing frequent morning seizures—required afternoon instruction. While her previous school in Kentucky accommodated this need, upon moving to Minnesota in 2015, Osseo Area Schools refused, resulting in reduced instructional hours. After exhausting administrative remedies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which led to a partial extension of her instructional hours, the Tharpe family pursued claims under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act, seeking full instructional time and compensatory damages.

The Supreme Court unanimously overturned the lower courts' decisions, ruling that students with disabilities should not face more stringent legal hurdles than other plaintiffs. Chief Justice John Roberts stated, "We hold today that ADA and Rehabilitation Act claims based on educational services should be subject to the same standards that apply in other disability discrimination contexts."

Disability rights advocates hailed the decision as a significant victory. Zoe Brennan-Krohn of the ACLU noted, "This decision from a unanimous Supreme Court recognizes that all students with disabilities are entitled to an education free of disability discrimination."

Conversely, some school districts express concern that the decision may lead to increased litigation and financial burdens. Lisa Blatt, attorney for Osseo Area Schools, argued that lowering the legal standard could expose public schools to more lawsuits, even if officials are acting in good faith.

The Supreme Court's decision in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools marks a pivotal moment in disability rights, ensuring that students with disabilities have equal access to legal recourse when facing discrimination in educational settings. By aligning the standards for educational services with those in other disability discrimination contexts, the ruling reinforces the commitment to equitable education for all students.