"TIDE Academy is a science, technology, engineering and mathematics-focused high school built to serve 400 students. It currently enrolls about 200, down from 242 in 2022-23. Citing a widening budget deficit, the school board voted Feb. 4 to close the school this summer and move students to Woodside High School for the 2026-27 school year."
"Nearly 37% of TIDE's students have an IEP or a 504 plan—more than double the rate at other Sequoia Union district campuses. An IEP provides specialized instruction and learning goals for students with disabilities that affect their academic performance. A 504 plan offers formal accommodations such as extra time on exams or physical adjustments to a classroom to ensure students with disabilities have equal access to learning."
"At the heart of the case is whether federal disability law protects a student's specific school placement, or simply guarantees services regardless of campus. Parents argued TIDE's small-school environment functions as a legally protected structural accommodation for these students."
TIDE Academy, a STEM-focused high school in Menlo Park opened in 2019 with $50 million in bond funding, faces closure due to budget deficits and declining enrollment. The school currently serves approximately 200 students, down from 242 the previous year. Nearly 37% of TIDE's students have IEPs or 504 plans—more than double the rate at other district schools. Parents sought emergency court intervention to prevent closure, arguing the small-school environment functions as a legally protected accommodation for students with disabilities. Federal Judge Trina L. Thompson sympathized with families but found the situation lacked sufficient urgency to warrant emergency relief. She scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing for May and encouraged both parties to pursue court-assisted mediation.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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