TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on May 7, 2026

Knox County Schools is appealing a ruling that found the district violated the rights of a middle school student with autism under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), according to the Knox News. The dispute centers on whether the student should remain at Farragut Middle School or be transferred to Ridgedale Alternative School for additional support. An administrative law judge ruled the district failed to provide the student with a free and appropriate public education, did not adequately address communication needs and violated disability protections by showing “deliberate indifference” to those needs. Court filings also reveal the student was physically restrained dozens of times during the school year. The case is now before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.