Menlo Park parents are asking a federal judge to slam the brakes on Sequoia Union High School District’s plan to close TIDE Academy this summer, arguing the move would yank critical supports away from students with disabilities and low-income families. The group is seeking a temporary restraining order to keep the campus open while a civil rights lawsuit plays out, turning what started as a school board budget fight into a federal courtroom battle set to be heard this week.
Parents File Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit
Tide Rising, a coalition of parents and community supporters, has filed a complaint in U.S. District Court claiming the board’s February vote to shut down TIDE violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act and would cause “irreparable harm” to students who depend on the school’s small campus model. The plaintiffs are asking the judge for emergency relief that would keep TIDE open while the case moves forward.
According to the U.S. District Court docket, both sides filed briefs in late February on the request for a temporary restraining order and related motions, setting the stage for an early test of the parents’ claims.
District Points to Budget Shortfall
District leaders insist the recommendation to close TIDE is about math, not malice. Sequoia officials say enrollment and finances are driving the decision, with district materials showing per pupil spending at TIDE at roughly $39,000 and administrators warning of a multimillion dollar budget gap that could trigger layoffs if they do nothing.
The district’s TIDE FAQ emphasizes that students’ IEP and 504 accommodations are legally enforceable and can be implemented at whatever campuses receive TIDE students. Sequoia leaders have argued that consolidating programs at larger schools is a way to preserve offerings across the district while dealing with a projected shortfall. According to the Sequoia Union High School District, those financial figures and trade offs were presented at recent community meetings.
Small Campus, Big Investment
TIDE opened in 2019 on a new Measure A-funded campus that cost about $50 million. The site was built for roughly 400 students, but current enrollment is closer to 200. Supporters argue that is the whole point, saying TIDE’s small classes and personalized approach are exactly why students who struggled at larger schools have been able to succeed there.
The school board voted unanimously on Feb. 4 to end operations on June 30 and move TIDE’s programs to Woodside High School for the 2026-27 school year. For more on the campus and how the plan would work in practice, see TIDE Academy and local coverage from the Raven Report and the Woodside Paw Print.
Families Warn of Harm to Students With Disabilities
Parents and the lawsuit say shuttering TIDE would hit students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students the hardest, because they rely on the school’s structure and size to actually access the IEPs and 504 accommodations that exist on paper. A memorandum supporting the request for a temporary restraining order describes TIDE this way: TIDE Academy is the functional equivalent of an accessibility ramp, and argues that shifting students into campuses with more than 2,000 students would scatter vulnerable kids and undermine that support.
Court filings and parent declarations also state that a significant share of TIDE students have IEPs or 504 plans and that the school posts strong graduation outcomes. Those allegations and the supporting declarations are detailed in local coverage from The Almanac.
Legal Stakes
The judge now has to decide two key questions: whether the district’s plan violates federal disability rights law and whether the court should freeze the closure while that question is litigated. In its filings, the district argues that federal law requires only reasonable modifications and does not give parents veto power over a board’s decision to close a campus. Sequoia points to transition IEPs and districtwide services as evidence that students’ rights will remain protected even if TIDE closes.
The U.S. District Court docket lays out the step-by-step paper trail, including the motion for emergency relief and the district’s opposition.
What Happens Next
A federal judge in San Francisco is scheduled to hear arguments on the temporary restraining order request this week. The ruling will determine whether TIDE stays open while the broader lawsuit unfolds or whether the district can keep marching toward its June 30 shutdown date.
If the judge grants the restraining order, Sequoia would likely have to pause its closure plans and continue operating the school while the case proceeds. If the request is denied, the board’s timeline could stay in place while parents pursue other legal remedies. Local reporting also notes that the district plans to meet individually with families to map out transition plans for next school year; see coverage from The Mercury News.
