Parents allege years-long delays in evaluating students for disabilities despite written requests under IDEA and Section 504.
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI, December 10, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- K Altman Law is drawing attention to a recently filed federal class action lawsuit alleging that Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina systematically delayed or denied special education evaluations for elementary students, leaving children without the services they are entitled to under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504.
According to reporting from NC Newsline, the complaint alleges that district officials steered struggling students into general education interventions for years rather than timely evaluating them for disabilities, even when parents requested testing in writing. For a detailed account of the allegations, you can read it here.
The case, Lee et al. v. Cumberland County Board of Education et al., Case No. 5:25-cv-00746 (E.D.N.C.), was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Plaintiffs are represented by attorney Robert C. Ekstrand of Ekstrand & Ekstrand LLP, 110 Swift Avenue, Second Floor, Durham, NC 27705, Tel. (919) 452-4647.
The lawsuit seeks systemic relief on behalf of a proposed class of students whose learning, behavior, or mental health needs triggered school concerns but who never received timely evaluations, eligibility determinations, or individualized education programs (IEPs).
"When schools ignore parent requests for evaluations or hide behind tiered interventions, students lose years of learning they can never get back," said Keith Altman, Managing Partner of K Altman Law. "This case is a reminder that districts have a legal duty, not just a moral one, to identify and support students with disabilities before they fall off the cliff academically or behaviorally."
Altman emphasized that families across the country face similar barriers when requesting evaluations, even though federal law requires schools to identify, locate, and evaluate all children who may need special education services.
K Altman Law's Special Education team represents families nationwide in matters involving delayed evaluations, inappropriate IEPs, failure to implement services, and discrimination under IDEA, Section 504, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
About K Altman Law
K Altman Law is a national education and civil-rights law firm focused on Student Defense, Special Education advocacy, Title IX, and complex litigation. The firm represents students and families in K–12 and higher education matters across the United States, with a particular emphasis on protecting the rights of vulnerable learners and holding institutions accountable.
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