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Schaffer v. Weast

The Supreme Court on the Burden of Persuasion When Challenging IEPs

University of South Carolina School of Law

Mitchell L. Yell

University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, myell{at}gwm.sc.edu

Antonis Katsiyannis

Clemson University

On November 14, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in Schaffer v. Weast. This special education decision concerned which party bears the burden of persuasion when parents challenge a school district's Individualized Education Program (IEP) in a due process hearing. In this article, we define burden of persuasion and explain its application in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)–related cases prior to Schaffer; we discuss the relevant history of the case; we summarize the facts and analyze the reasoning of the majority, concurring, and dissenting opinions in the Supreme Court's decision; and we address the implications of the Schaffer decision for special educators and for the parents and children served by the IDEA.

Key Words: Burden of persuasion • Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Remedial and Special Education, Vol. 29, No. 2, 108-117 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0741932508317273


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