Peter Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia

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Peter Mills et al. v. Board of Education of District of Columbia et al.
Rights of Children with Disabilities
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Summary
The case of Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia is a landmark case for it established the right of children to special education. The class-action suit started from the desire of seven "exceptional" children to obtain private education and instruction due to their special needs back in 1971. This includes not only instructions and lectures but also appropriate facilities and learning resources for their needs. Accordingly, although their relief was initially heeded by the Board of education, they were still excluded from public institutions through an assurance of special tuition grants. Upon filing the class-action suit, the Board raised the defense that their duty is to provide free education and not specialized training and education. In the end, the Supreme Court ruled that contrary to their claims, the Board also has the duty to provide "publicly supported education suited to each child's needs," including those who have learning and other difficulties.
Landmark Decision
This case is a landmark decision for it changed the way how public education is required to cater to the needs of special children. Before this, it is sufficient that (1) public education can provide for the general needs of children and (2) there is a valid defense of "lack of funding" to cater for the additional needs of exceptional children. However, because of this case, it was mandated that public institutions (particularly educational institutions) should also cater to special children's needs with the appropriate and tailor-fitted curriculum, resources, and facilities. Additionally, the defense of 'lack of fundin...