Henry Ex Rel. Henry v. School Administrative Unit 29

70 F. Supp. 2d 52, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9707, 1999 WL 799876
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Hampshire
DecidedJune 28, 1999
DocketCivil 98-648-B
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 70 F. Supp. 2d 52 (Henry Ex Rel. Henry v. School Administrative Unit 29) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Hampshire primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Henry Ex Rel. Henry v. School Administrative Unit 29, 70 F. Supp. 2d 52, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9707, 1999 WL 799876 (D.N.H. 1999).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

BARBADORO, Chief Judge.

Matthew Henry is a sixteen year-old student with learning disabilities who has been determined by the Keene, New Hampshire, School District to be entitled to an Individualized Education Program (“IEP”) pursuant to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”), 20 U.S.C.A. § 1400 et seq. (Supp.1998). For three years prior to the commencement of the current school year, the School District paid for Matthew to attend the Linden Hill School, a residential school serving students aged 10-15 with language-based learning disabilities. In 1998, however, the School District developed a new IEP for Matthew (the “proposed IEP”) and decided to implement it at Keene High School. The Henrys challenged the proposed IEP and the public school placement by requesting a “due process” hearing before the New Hampshire Department of Education. Since the Henrys were unwilling to send Matthew to a public school and he was too old to remain at Linden Hill, they decided to enroll him at the Eagle Hill School, another private school that accepts older students with learning disabilities.

In this action, the Henrys seek a preliminary injunction requiring the School District and School Administrative Unit # 29 to pay for Matthew to attend Eagle Hill during the Henrys’ administrative challenge to the proposed IEP. They also seek reimbursement for the costs that they incurred in sending Matthew to Eagle Hill. The Henrys base their claim on 20 U.S.C.A. § 1415(i)(2)(B)(iii) (Supp.1998), which authorizes a court to enforce the IDEA by awarding “such relief as the court determines is appropriate,” and the IDEA’S “stay-put” provision, which provides that

during the pendency of any proceedings conducted pursuant to this section, unless the State or local educational agency and the parents otherwise agree, the *54 child shall remain in the then-current educational placement of such child ...

20 U.S.C.A. § 14150) (Supp.1998). Defendants argue that the Henrys are not entitled to a preliminary injunction because they failed to administratively exhaust their stay-put claim. Alternatively, they claim that a preliminary injunction should not issue because the proposed IEP does not alter Matthew’s “then-current educational placement.” Finally, defendants assert that even if some form of provisional relief is warranted, the court should reject the Henrys’ reimbursement claim.

As I explain below, I conclude that (1) the Henrys were not required to administratively exhaust their stay-put claim because any further attempt to do so would have been futile; (2) the Henrys are entitled to a preliminary injunction requiring the School District to fund Matthew’s placement at Eagle Hill pending a ruling on the merits of their challenge to the proposed IEP; and (3) the School District must reimburse the Henrys for the costs they incurred in placing Matthew at Eagle Hill prior to the issuance of the injunction subject to a right to reimbursement for the entire cost of Matthew’s placement if the proposed IEP is later proven to be adequate.

I.

Matthew Henry suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities in language arts and math. 1 He was educated in the Keene Public Schools through the fifth grade. During his three middle school years, the School District paid for him to attend the Linden Hill School in Northfield, Massachusetts. The School District agreed to fund this placement because, after fifth grade, Matthew was scheduled to move from his public elementary school to a public middle school where the special education program had changed dramatically, was in its first year of operation, and could not meet Matthew’s needs.

Matthew’s last agreed-upon IEP, which was signed by his mother on October 21, 1997, provided the following description of the special education and related services he was to receive pursuant to the IEP:

Matthew needs small group, modified instruction in all academic areas. He should receive instruction in reading, written language, and math from special educators in a setting where distractions are minimized and instruction can be individualized to meet his needs.

The IEP noted that Matthew was then attending Linden Hill but did not specify that he must be placed at a private school.

Linden Hill is a boarding school for students aged 10 to 15 who are dyslexic or who have other language-based learning disabilities. It offers class ratios of 4-5 students per teacher and small group educational programs marked by multi-senso-ry teaching approaches tailored to meet the educational and social needs of its learning-disabled students. Students also are required to participate in daily extracurricular, athletic, and social events that are conducted in highly structured settings geared to the special needs of learning-disabled children. Although Linden Hill was able to implement Matthew’s IEPs during the past three school years, it is no longer an option for Matthew because he is too old.

The School District developed a new IEP for Matthew for the 1998-99 school year. The proposed IEP provided the following description of Matthew’s suggested educational program:

Matt will participate in a modified regular education and resource room program that provides instruction by special educators in small groups for English, math and vocational training with extensive accommodations in regular classes for related subjects. He *55 will be provided one tutorial period per day. Matt will be given a formal vocational assessment (Micro Tower) and explore in an hands-on manner, a variety of vocational options. Matt will receive supplemental help in small group [sic] to reinforce subjects, facilitate success and develop independence through daily participation.

It also stated that Matthew would not participate in general education classes in math and English, that existing programs would be modified to provide him with small group study time, and that he would be allowed to take tests and obtain remedial instruction in a quiet, non-distracting setting. It did not identify any special accommodations with respect to extra-curricular activities.

Although the proposed IEP did not specify a particular placement, the School District planned to implement the IEP at Keene High School. Approximately 1500 students attend Keene High School. Matthew would be required to change classes 6-7 times per day at his new placement. He also would be required to attend some of his classes with as many as 18 other non-disabled students. Unlike at Linden Hill, where his participation in specially-structured athletic, social, and other extracurricular activities was mandatory and geared specifically to his needs, Matthew would not be required to participate in extra-curricular activities at Keene High School.

The Henrys challenged the proposed IEP, fearing that the School District was attempting to move Matthew into a public school setting too quickly.

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Bluebook (online)
70 F. Supp. 2d 52, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9707, 1999 WL 799876, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/henry-ex-rel-henry-v-school-administrative-unit-29-nhd-1999.