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The article looks at how the U.S. Supreme Court is to decide whether parents who are not lawyers will be allowed to represent their children in federal court in disputes with school districts over the child's educational placement. The article discusses the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The article informs that the U.S. Supreme Court appeared sharply divided over the question of whether the main federal special education law allows parents to be reimbursed for the costs of experts when they prevail in legal proceedings. The case argued on April 19 asks whether a court may require a school district to pay the fees of an expert who assists parents when the parents win a legal dispute with the district over the educational plan provided for their child under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The article focuses on a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to not hear a case involving private school placement for children with disabilities. The case questions whether parents should enroll their children in public schools before moving them and seeking reimbursement for private school tuition. The case is similar to the Board of Education of New York City v. Tom F. Parents are permitted by the U.S. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to put their children in private schools.