Foley Secures Pro Bono Victory, Enabling Graduation of Special Education Student

Foley & Lardner LLP secured a pro bono victory by obtaining critical educational support for a special education student. As a result of Foley’s intervention and litigation initiated seven years earlier, the client was recently able to graduate with a high school diploma and participate in commencement ceremonies.

The client was referred to Foley by a pediatric neuropsychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, who identified an urgent need for residential educational placement due to severe behavioral challenges. Despite these recommendations, the client’s local school district and one of the state’s most under-resourced, repeatedly denied requests for placement, which disrupted family stability and led to periods of homelessness.

Foley’s pro bono team, led by partner Michael Tuteur, filed a case before the Massachusetts Board of Special Education Appeals, retained expert witnesses, and prepared for the hearing. Following extensive proceedings and delays requested by the district, the parties reached a settlement under which the district agreed to provide residential placement for the remainder of the school year and to continue funding as long as the client remained eligible under federal law.

The resolution ensured the client received the necessary educational support to complete their schooling and graduate successfully.