The St. Louis metropolitan area crosses the Mississippi and covers two states, Missouri and Illinois. Home to almost three million people, the Gateway City has a thriving cultural and sports scene, from live music to the Cardinals. It's also the only area in the county where Panera Bread is still known by its original moniker, the St. Louis Bread Company.
Beyond the Arch and riverboat rides that are popular with tourists, it's also one of the best cities in the U.S. to raise a family. That's one reason why over twenty percent of the area's population is under the age of 18. For those children attending K-12 schools, they are entitled to a free public education under federal law.
Federal law, as well as Illinois and Missouri state laws, protects all individuals with disabilities from discrimination. This included students. The goal of these laws is to allow individuals with disabilities to participate in their communities and American society as much as they desire and with minimal limitations.
A student's age, school, and disability all inform the type of services and support they are entitled to under the law. Students attending K-12 public schools have the most guaranteed rights under the law, but that does not mean college or graduate students or K-12 students who attend other school options do not still have rights.
If and when a school fails to provide a student with the services and support they are entitled to under the law, families and students have ways to address the issue and find a resolution. The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team works with families nationwide to ensure their students have access to the accommodations they need to succeed in school. We keep the focus on a student's best interests and finding collaborative solutions when possible.
About the St. Louis Metropolitan Region
The city of St. Louis was founded in 1764 while the Missouri side of the region was under French control, and a year after, Illinois had become part of the United States, then a colony of England. This explains the city's name, which was a homage to Louis IX of France, and the region's roots in French culture and language.
Beginning in the 1950s, the population of the City of St. Louis declined while surrounding areas saw an influx of residents. LaDue and Frontenac, for example, were both established in 1936 and 1950, respectively and trade off the title of the wealthiest city in Missouri.
The following Missouri counties are part of the metropolitan area:
- Crawford
- Franklin
- Jefferson
- Lincoln
- St. Charles
- St. Louis (city)
- St. Louis (county)
- Warren
These Illinois counties are also part of the St. Louis region:
- Bond
- Calhoun
- Clinton
- Jersey
- Macoupin
- Madison
- Monroe
- St. Clair
Missouri K-12 Public School Districts
The following public school districts are part of the St. Louis metropolitan area. They range in demographics from large and diverse urban districts to small rural areas.
- Affton School District
- Bayless School District
- Brentwood School District
- Clayton School District
- Crawford County R-I School District (Bourbon)
- Crawford County R-II School District (Cuba)
- Crystal City 47 Public Schools
- De Soto School District 73
- Dunklin R-5 School District
- Elsberry R-II School District
- Ferguson-Florissant School District
- Festus R-VI School District
- Fort Zumwalt School District R-II
- Fox C-6 School District
- Francis Howell School District
- Franklin County R-II School District
- Gasconade County R-2 School District
- Grandview R-2 School District
- Hancock Place School District
- Hazelwood School District
- Hillsboro R-3 School District
- Jefferson R-VII School District
- Jennings School District
- Kirkwood School District
- LaDue School District
- Lincoln County R-III School District
- Lindbergh Schools
- Lonedell R-XIV School District
- Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District
- Mehlville School District
- Meramec Valley R-III School District
- New Haven School District
- Normandy Schools Collaborative
- Northwest School District
- Orchard Farm District
- Owensville R-II School District
- Parkway School District
- Pattonville School District
- Ritenour School District
- Riverview Gardens School District
- Rockwood School District
- School District of University City
- School District of Washington
- Silex R-I School District
- Spring Bluff R-XV School District
- Saint Louis Public Schools
- St. Clair R-XIII School District
- St. Charles School District
- Steelville R-III School District
- Strain-Japan R-XVI School District
- Sullivan School District
- Sunrise R-IX School District
- Union R-XI School District
- Valley Park School District
- Warren County R-III School District
- Webster Groves School District
- Wentzville School District
- Windsor C-1 School District
- Winfield R-IV School District
- Wright City R-II School District
Illinois K-12 Public School Districts
Across the Mississippi are dozens of school districts that make up the eastern portion of the St. Louis region. One of the unique features of Illinois public schools is that each district is assigned a name, and districts may be better known by their number than their name.
- Albers School District 63
- Alton Community Unit School District 11
- Aviston School District 21
- Bartelso School District 57
- Belle Valley School District 119
- Belleville School District 118
- Belleville Township School District 201
- Bethalto Community Unit School District 8
- Bond County Community Unit School District 2
- Breese School District 12
- Brooklyn Unit School District 188
- Brussels Community Unit School District 42
- Bunker Hill Community Unit School District 8
- Cahokia Community Unit School District 187
- Calhoun Community Unit School District 40
- Carlinville Community Unit School District 1
- Carlyle Community Unit School District 1
- Central Community High School District 71
- Central School District 104
- Collinsville Community Unit School District 10
- Columbia Community Unit School District 4
- Damiansville School District 62
- Dupo Community Unit School District 196
- East Alton School District 13
- East Alton-Wood River Community High School District 14
- East St Louis School District 189
- Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7
- Freeburg Central Consolidated School District 70
- Freeburg Community High School District 77
- Germantown School District 60
- Gillespie Community Unit School District 7
- Grant Central Consolidated School District 110
- Granite City Community Unit School District 9
- Harmony-Emge School District 175
- High Mount School District 116
- Highland Community Unit School District 5
- Jersey Community Unit School District 100
- Lebanon Community Unit School District 9
- Madison Community Unit School District 12
- Marissa Community Unit School District 40
- Mascoutah Community Unit School District 19
- Millstadt Central Consolidated School District 160
- Mount Olive Community Unit School District 5
- Mulberry Grove Community Unit School District 1
- New Athens Community Unit School District 60
- North Mac Community Unit School District 34
- North Wamac School District 186
- Northwestern Community Unit School District 2
- O'Fallon School District 90
- O'Fallon Township High School District 203
- Pontiac-William Holliday School District 105
- Region III Special Education Cooperative
- Roxana Community Unit School District 1
- Shiloh Village School District 85
- Signal Hill School District 181
- Smithton Central Consolidated School District 130
- Southwestern Community Unit School District 9
- St Libory CSD 30
- St Rose School District 14-15
- Staunton Community Unit School District 6
- Triad Community Unit School District 2
- Valmeyer Community Unit School District 3
- Venice Community Unit School District 3
- Waterloo Community Unit School District 5
- Wesclin Community Unit School District 3
- Whiteside School District 115
- Willow Grove School District 46
- Wolf Branch School District 113
- Wood River-Hartford School District 15
State-Funded Schools
Missouri and Illinois both fund schools for students with specific disabilities. All of these programs, regardless of state, are offered at no cost to families.
Both the Missouri School for the Blind and the Missouri School for the Deaf have residential campuses as well as statewide outreach services, including programs for families. A student's local school district, even if they don't attend the school, will make a referral for these programs.
Both the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired and the Illinois School for the Deaf are located in Jacksonville, Illinois. Similar to their Missouri counterparts, referrals come from a student's local school district. Similarly, both schools have statewide outreach programs for students.
Missouri operates a third program, the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled (MSSD). This is not a residential campus but instead schools throughout the state that are equipped to assist students with severe disabilities. When a local school district is unable to meet a student's needs, the district will refer a student to an MSSD school. Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education keeps an updated list of MSSD schools.
Colleges and Universities
The St. Louis area is home to over 30 colleges and universities. While these schools do not have the same requirements for disability services as K-12 schools, they must still comply with the ADA and certain parts of Section 504. These schools range from world-renowned research universities and historically black colleges to community colleges and technical schools.
The following colleges and universities have campuses in the region:
- Aquinas Institute of Theology
- Brookes Bible College
- Central Methodist University
- Columbia College of Missouri
- Concordia Seminary of St. Louis
- Covenant Theological Seminary
- East Central College
- Eden Theological Seminary
- Fontbonne University
- Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College
- Greenville University
- Harris–Stowe State University
- Jefferson College
- Kenrick–Glennon Seminary
- Lewis and Clark Community College
- Lindenwood University
- Logan University
- Maryville University
- McKendree University
- Midwest University
- Missouri Baptist University
- Principia College
- Ranken Technical College
- Saint Louis University
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- St. Charles Community College
- Central Christian College of the Bible (merged with St. Louis Christian College)
- St. Louis Community College
- Southwestern Illinois College
- University of Missouri–St. Louis
- Urshan College and Urshan Graduate School of Theology
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Webster University
Even if a college, university, or seminary is a private or religious institution, if it is open to the public, it will likely still fall under certain aspects of federal law, such as the ADA.
Federal Law
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are the cornerstones of establishing, protecting, and expanding disability rights in education.
Of the three, IDEA is the most narrowly focused. IDEA applies only to public schools and to students between the ages of 3 and 21 who have not graduated from high school. IDEA also establishes Individual Education Plans (IEPs). IEPs are essentially roadmaps that detail the services and support students with disabilities receive.
Federal law applies to all students. Whether a student resides in Missouri or Illinois may affect their IEP and their services and accommodations.
As far as the number of Americans and places covered by a law, the ADA has the broadest reach. Private schools, if open to the public, must meet the ADA's accommodation requirements. Unlike IEPs, individuals do not have to have a certain disability to qualify for protection.
IEP Dispute Resolution
Both Missouri and Illinois align with IDEA's requirements for dispute resolution. Both states offer four primary methods for resolving disputes involving IEPs. They are:
- Facilitated IEP Meetings
- Mediation
- State Complaint
- Due Process Hearing
Both facilitated IEP meetings and mediation use a neutral third party to help lead a discussion between a family and the school district. The goal of both is to encourage understanding and collaboration between the two sides, which results in a resolution.
For those who believe a school district is violating the law, they may file a written state complaint. Their claim will be investigated, and a report will be issued. Unlike other options, state complaints can be general and do not offer a solution specific to one student.
Due process hearings are similar to court cases. A judge hears both sides present their evidence and testimony, and each side often has legal representation. The judge will issue his decision, and either party may appeal to a state or federal court.
Before embarking on one of these paths, families may wish to schedule a meeting with the school district to discuss the issue. This less formal option, if successful, can minimize disruption to a student's education.
Disputes are not uncommon in special education. For families, the stakes are high. Delays or improper support can hurt a student's education and potentially impact their future. When a dispute arises, an attorney can help guide families through their options and select the path that is most likely to support and benefit their student.
Other Dispute Resolution
For students at private schools, colleges, or universities, they may first need to consult their student handbook or their school's code of conduct to find out how to challenge a school's decision. Students and families should keep in mind that many of these schools have fewer legal obligations under the law.
Individuals can file a complaint under the ADA online or via the U.S. Department of Education. Section 504, unlike IDEA, does not have a mediation requirement.
Disability Support in Education
The level of support and legal obligations a student can expect varies depending on a student's age and circumstances. All students with disabilities, however, should expect protection against disability-based discrimination.
For K-12 students, IEPs and IDEA help establish their right to a free public education. For college and university students, ADA and Section 504 afford them a level of protection.
The Lento Law Firm Team works with families and students nationwide to protect the right to access and benefit from an education. We help families find solutions that emphasize the importance of education and support. Contact us online or at 888-535-3686.
