Excerpts From Unanimous Ruling in Private-Placement Case

Following are excerpts from the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous opinion in Florence County School District 4 v. Carter.

JUSTICE O'CONNOR delivered the opinion of the Court.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (I.D.E.A.) requires States to provide disabled children with a "free appropriate public education,'' [20 U.S.C.] Section 1401(a)(18). This case presents the question whether a court may order reimbursement for parents who unilaterally withdraw their child from a public school that provides an inappropriate education under I.D.E.A. and put the child in a private school that provides an education that is otherwise proper under I.D.E.A., but does not meet all the requirements of Section 1401(a)(18). We hold that the court may order such reimbursement, and therefore affirm the judgment of the...