Church-Associated School Can’t Be Sued Under ADA

Reprinted with permission from
Private Education Law Report
P.O. Box 3008
Malvern, PA 19355
1-800-365-4900

Since a Quaker school meets the ADA’s exemption for religious schools, a New Jersey federal judge has dismissed the ADA and state antibias law claims in a family’s lawsuit against the school.

But the family’s disability bias and retaliation claims under Section 504 are going forward.

Family Sues Over Expulsion

In February 2014, Haddonfield Friends School (HFS) expelled Sky R., a boy diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and dyslexia.

Sky’s mother sued HFS on his behalf. The suit accuses HFS of denying Sky reasonable accommodations and retaliating against him and his parents for the parents’ “vigorous” advocacy for him.

The suit also alleges HFS’ decision to expel Sky was motivated by disability bias.

HFS asked the court to dismiss the ADA claims on the basis that schools controlled by religious organizations aren’t required to comply with that law.

The judge asked the parties to conduct limited discovery on the exemption question only.

After considering the evidence, the judge decided HFS is exempt.

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