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Kidlaw · October 19 · 15 min

Perez v. Sturgis

Perez v. Sturgis One deaf student. One unanimous Supreme Court ruling. Discover how Perez v. Sturgis dismantled a legal barrier and changed the fight for disability rights in schools forever. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. Why Miguel Luna Perez sued Sturgis Public Schools 2. How the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in March 2023 3. Why exhausting IDEA procedures is no longer required 4. When students can sue directly under the ADA for damages 5. How this raises school districts' financial liability 6. Why IDEA settlements no longer block later ADA lawsuits 7. How families can pursue emotional distress damages 8. Why staffing and interpreter access face new scrutiny 9. How advocacy groups view this as a landmark victory 10. Where the standard for proving discrimination may be heading In 2023, the Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools removed a major procedural hurdle for students with disabilities. Families no longer must complete the IDEA's administrative process before seeking monetary damages under the ADA or Section 504. The ruling has already reshaped litigation strategy, settlement negotiations, and school compliance practices nationwide, with nearly every post-decision case siding with plaintiffs. For students, families, attorneys, and administrators alike, understanding this shift is essential to navigating special education law today. Learn more about Perez v. Sturgis by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/02/23/perez-v-sturgis-public-schools-2023/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ npeckman@acnj.org - Nina Peckman, Esq. - Staff Attorney vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #PerezvSturgis,#SupremeCourt,#DisabilityRights,#SpecialEducation,#IDEA,#ADA,#Section504,#EducationLaw,#DisabilityLaw,#DeafEducation,#FAPE,#SchoolDistrictLiability,#KidLaw,#EducationalAdvocacy,#CivilRights,#LegalNews,#SpecialEdLaw,#InclusiveEducation,#StudentRights,#AccessToJustice,#MaxineECarter Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.

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Perez v. Sturgis

One deaf student. One unanimous Supreme Court ruling. Discover how Perez v. Sturgis dismantled a legal barrier and changed the fight for disability rights in schools forever.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST
1. Why Miguel Luna Perez sued Sturgis Public Schools
2. How the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in March 2023
3. Why exhausting IDEA procedures is no longer required
4. When students can sue directly under the ADA for damages
5. How this raises school districts' financial liability
6. Why IDEA settlements no longer block later ADA lawsuits
7. How families can pursue emotional distress damages
8. Why staffing and interpreter access face new scrutiny
9. How advocacy groups view this as a landmark victory
10. Where the standard for proving discrimination may be heading

In 2023, the Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools removed a major procedural hurdle for students with disabilities. Families no longer must complete the IDEA's administrative process before seeking monetary damages under the ADA or Section 504. 

The ruling has already reshaped litigation strategy, settlement negotiations, and school compliance practices nationwide, with nearly every post-decision case siding with plaintiffs. For students, families, attorneys, and administrators alike, understanding this shift is essential to navigating special education law today.

Learn more about Perez v. Sturgis by visiting:
https://kidlaw.org/2026/02/23/perez-v-sturgis-public-schools-2023/

SOCIAL & WEB LINKS
Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org

PODCAST LINKS
Buzzsprout Link:
https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com

Apple Link:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336

Spotify Link:
https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c

CONTACTS
mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ
npeckman@acnj.org - Nina Peckman, Esq. - Staff Attorney
vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ
Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer

#PerezvSturgis,#SupremeCourt,#DisabilityRights,#SpecialEducation,#IDEA,#ADA,#Section504,#EducationLaw,#DisabilityLaw,#DeafEducation,#FAPE,#SchoolDistrictLiability,#KidLaw,#EducationalAdvocacy,#CivilRights,#LegalNews,#SpecialEdLaw,#InclusiveEducation,#StudentRights,#AccessToJustice,#MaxineECarter

Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice.

This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney.

The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.

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