October Term 2016 · Docket 15-827
What level of educational progress must schools provide disabled students?
Parents and the school district disagree on the required standard for student progress.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Fisher argued the law requires substantial educational opportunities.
Katyal argued the Spending Clause requires unambiguous standards.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 36-18 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 36-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 46-10 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 46-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 22-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 22-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 32-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 32-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-14
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the minimum educational benefit schools must provide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 46-10 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 46-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 22-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 22-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-14
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 8-10
What each side wants
Parents want a standard requiring significant educational progress.
The district wants a standard allowing minimal progress.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 46-10 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 46-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 22-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 22-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-14
What each side says
Parents argue the law requires substantial educational opportunities.
The district argues the Spending Clause requires unambiguous standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 46-10 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 46-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 22-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 22-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-14
What the justices asked
Roberts asked if the standard appeared in the original petition.
Breyer asked why the statute does not define progress clearly.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 36-18 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 36-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 32-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 32-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-14
Why it matters
This dispute defines the minimum support schools must provide disabled students.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 46-10 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 46-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 22-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 22-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-14
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 36-18 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 36-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 32-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 32-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-14
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 46-10 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 46-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 22-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 22-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 46-10 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 46-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 22-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 22-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-14
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.