Charting New Territory: Legal and Educational Crossroads in Dual Enrollment and Special Education

This is a fictitious case that examines the challenges of accommodating a Mexican American Special Education student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) enrolled in dual-enrollment college courses at Adolfo López Mateos High School in South Texas. This case study is meant to inform people about the potential challenges in the implementation of these policies. The dual-enrollment college courses, taught by high school instructors but due to its affiliation with a local college, adhered to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the American and Disabilities Act (ADA), rather than the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act–based modifications used in high school classes. This resulted in lower academic performance, prompting the student’s parents to contest the school’s dual-enrollment policies and seek legal counsel.