The dispute centers on Sequoia Union High School District's decision to close TIDE Academy, with disability rights advocates Tide Rising and other plaintiffs arguing the closure violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act by denying disabled students meaningful educational opportunities.
Thompson directly challenged the plaintiffs' position that meaningful access determinations cannot be resolved at the motion to dismiss stage, citing several Northern District cases that have addressed the issue during early proceedings. "The Court disagrees and refers Plaintiffs to several cases in this circuit which have addressed the issue of 'meaningful access' at the motion to dismiss stage," Thompson wrote, pointing to decisions in Goodwin v. Marin County Transit District and K.C. v. Town of Atherton.
The judge's questions probe whether the district must show plaintiffs have plausibly alleged denial of meaningful access before the court examines claims about reasonable modifications, disparate impact, or collaborative processes. Thompson also asked plaintiffs to identify specific regulatory violations that allegedly denied meaningful access, referencing Ninth Circuit precedent from A.G. v. Paradise Valley Unified School District.
Both parties must respond to Thompson's questions by April 10, 2026, with the court's probing suggesting potential skepticism toward both sides' legal theories. The case could establish important precedent for how disability access claims against school districts are evaluated at the pleading stage.