The case centered around a student, identified only as "Beattie," who was suspended from school for disruptive behavior. The key legal question was whether the school district adequately followed the procedural safeguards outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) before suspending Beattie. The court ruled that the school district had failed to provide Beattie with appropriate procedural due process before suspending him. Specifically, the school did not properly consider whether his behavior was a manifestation of his disability before imposing the suspension.
The case highlighted the importance of schools adhering to the procedural requirements of IDEA when dealing with disciplinary actions against students with disabilities. It underscored that students with disabilities have the right to a fair and impartial process before facing disciplinary consequences, and that the school must actively consider whether the behavior is a direct result of the student's disability. If the behavior is a manifestation of the disability, alternative disciplinary measures must be considered. The decision affirmed the protections afforded to students with disabilities under IDEA and served as a precedent for future cases involving disciplinary actions and students with disabilities.