Associate Morgen Black-Smith recently secured victories for two families in special education due process hearings. In both cases, Black-Smith represented parents of children with disabilities who used to attend Khepera Charter School. Alleging that Khepera denied their children a free and appropriate public education (FAPE), the parents requested compensatory education services. The Hearing Officer agreed with the parents that Khepera denied their children FAPE and awarded around $14,000 in compensatory education services to each family. Further, after concluding that the children’s placement at a private school is their “stay-put” placement, the Hearing Officer ordered Khepera to pay the children’s tuition at the school. The first decision is J.D. v. Khepera Charter School, and the second is J.R. v. Khepera Charter School.
