Exceptionally Ambitious: Raising the Bar for Every Child
Inspired by Endrew F., this is our call to dream big, push past low expectations, and deliver the education all children deserve.
What Does It Mean to Be Exceptionally Ambitious?
At The Advocacy Underground, we hold bold expectations for inclusive education. “Exceptionally ambitious” isn’t just a phrase—it’s a declaration of our unwavering belief that every child with disabilities deserves an education that is tailored, inclusive, and designed to help them reach their fullest potential. It’s a standard we stand by and a promise to champion the right of every child to grow, thrive, and belong.
The term "exceptional" acknowledges how programs for students with disabilities are often referred to as "exceptional children’s programs," while "ambitious" stems from the groundbreaking 2017 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. In this pivotal moment, the Court raised the bar for schools, declaring that students with disabilities deserve more than just minimal progress. They deserve opportunities to achieve meaningful, challenging goals that are appropriately ambitious and honor their potential and humanity.
The Endrew F. Case: A Turning Point
Endrew F. was a young boy with autism whose story mirrors the experiences many parents of children with disabilities face. Like so many others, his parents saw their son stuck with Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals that felt more like a checkbox than a roadmap for growth. They knew he was capable of more and were frustrated to see low expectations accepted as the norm. Determined to fight for his future, they took their battle all the way to the Supreme Court.
The Court ruled in favor of Endrew, stating:
“The IEP must be appropriately ambitious in light of the child’s circumstances.”
This landmark decision redefined what is "appropriate" in education. Before 2017, "appropriate" often referred to a basic floor of opportunity—a minimal standard that did little to inspire or challenge students with disabilities. However, the Court's decision in Endrew F. transformed this understanding. Now, "appropriate" demands ambition, requiring schools to create goals that are both tailored to each child’s unique needs and designed to ensure meaningful growth and substantial progress.
The Heart of Being Exceptionally Ambitious
For far too long, students with disabilities have been placed in programs with low expectations. These programs often focused on what students couldn’t do rather than what they could achieve. Historically, such programs were also tied to forced segregation based on disability and specific eligibility categories under special education law. This legacy still influences teacher attitudes and often leads to systemic low expectations.
Being “exceptionally ambitious” changes this narrative. It’s about:
Ambition with Integrity: Setting goals that reflect a child’s true potential without prematurely deciding that tasks are “too hard” or “too much.” Every child deserves the opportunity to try, grow, and succeed.
Equity, Not Equality: Recognizing that each child’s journey is unique. Success looks different for everyone, but every child deserves the opportunity to be challenged and achieve.
Belief in Belonging: Inclusive education is key. Students with disabilities deserve to learn alongside their peers, in the least restrictive environment possible, with access to the same curriculum and a supportive community that values them.
What Exceptionally Ambitious Looks Like in Inclusive Education
Challenging Goals: IEPs should go beyond basic compliance. They need to set goals that help students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.
Comprehensive Support: Ambitious goals require strong support. This means providing the right accommodations, evidence-based interventions, and collaboration between teachers, families, and specialists.
High Expectations: Every educator, parent, and administrator must believe that students with disabilities can achieve great things. When we set the bar high, we create growth opportunities.
Commitment to Inclusion: Inclusive classrooms are an incubator for ambition. When students learn alongside their peers, they gain access to a rigorous curriculum and build meaningful relationships.
Why “Exceptionally Ambitious” Matters
Too often, children with disabilities are underestimated. "Exceptionally ambitious" is our challenge to that mindset. It’s a belief that every child deserves an education that prepares them for a fulfilling life by embracing their unique needs and abilities.
Ambition doesn’t mean ignoring a child’s disability or expecting them to perform as if it doesn’t exist. Instead, it means welcoming children with disabilities into the same classrooms as their peers, allowing them to grow and develop in their own way. When we set high expectations and provide the tools for success, we’re not just following the law established in Endrew F.—we’re transforming how society sees and values students with disabilities.
Join Us in Raising the Standard
At The Advocacy Underground, "exceptionally ambitious" is our rallying cry. It’s a call to action for parents, teachers, and advocates to demand more for children with disabilities.
Together, we can create a world where no child is left behind, underestimated, or excluded. Every child is exceptional, and every child deserves an education that reflects their limitless potential.
Let’s raise the bar. Let’s be ambitious. Exceptional kids included.