FTCE Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12 Practice Test

What was the significance of the Smith v. Robinson case?

1. It established that parents must pay for special education services

2. It ruled that attorney's fees could be reimbursed for winning cases under IDEA

3. It mandated funding for special education programs

4. It required school systems to hire more special education teachers

The correct answer is: It ruled that attorney's fees could be reimbursed for winning cases under IDEA

The Smith v. Robinson case is significant because it established that attorney's fees could be reimbursed for winning cases under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This ruling helped ensure that families seeking legal recourse to enforce their children's rights to a free appropriate public education would not face prohibitive costs. By allowing for the reimbursement of attorney's fees, the case reinforced the importance of advocacy and legal support in the special education system, ensuring that parents had the means to challenge violations of their children's educational rights. The other options do not accurately reflect the case's implications. For instance, the ruling did not mandate funding for special education or require the hiring of more special education teachers. Also, it did not establish that parents must pay for services, as the core principle of IDEA is that eligible students should receive services at no cost to their families.