Hooks v. Clark County School District

228 F.3d 1036
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit·Decided September 21, 2000·No. No. 98-17271·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

GOODWIN, Circuit Judge:

William and Catherine Hooks appeal the dismissal of their action against Clark County School District and its Superintendent. Their case presents novel issues regarding (1) the interpretation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. (1996) (“IDEA”), and (2) the constitutionality of denying benefits to home-educated children. We hold that, pursuant to the IDEA, States have discretion in determining whether home education constitutes an IDEA-qualifying “private school.” Further, the challenged regulatory scheme does not unconstitutionally offend equal protection principles or infringe on the parents’ liberty interest in guiding their child’s education.

BACKGROUND

Christopher Hooks is a child who receives his education at home from his parents. In August 1996, Christopher was [1038] deemed to be medically eligible for speech therapy services. The Hooks family requested subsidized services, even though there has been no claim that home education is necessary to treat his disability, and even though Christopher was not enrolled in any school within the school district. The school district, in accordance with its policy, opted not to provide the services.

In Nevada, children taught at home can be excused from Nevada’s compulsory attendance law by receiving an exemption under Nevada Revised Statute (“NRS”) 392.070 (1997) (the “home-education exemption”). Exempted educational environments avoid certain regulatory requirements imposed on institutional “private schools” in Nevada. See, e.g., NRS 651.050(2)(k) (1997) (imposing requirements on “private schools”); NRS 394.251 (1997) (same); NRS 394.130 (1997) (same).

The Hooks family has applied for and received the home-education exemption since the 1994-95 school year. For the 1996-97 school year, the Hooks family requested that Christopher be exempted from Nevada’s compulsory attendance law and also that he receive speech therapy services provided in Nevada’s schools. As noted, the school district refused the services.

By letter in March 1997, the school district explained that the school district’s Policy 5111(IV) provides that, in accordance with Nevada law, students who receive the home-education exemption “do not have access to instruction and/or ancillary services with the public schools.” Id. The school district suggested that the parents either (1) seek an exception from the Board of Trustees, or (2) enroll Christopher in the school district, where he would have an individualized education plan tailored to his needs. The Hooks family chose neither option.

Instead, in June 1997, the Hooks family filed a complaint with the Nevada Department of Education (the “NDOE”), which the NDOE rejected. The NDOE relied on a policy letter from the United States Office of Special Education Programs (“OSEP”), which declares that States have discretion to determine whether or not home education qualifies as a “private school or facility” that implicates IDEA requirements. See U.S. Dept. of Educ., OSEP, Policy Letter to Williams, 18 IDELR 742 (Jan. 22, 1992). Because exempted home education does not qualify as a “private school” under Nevada law, NRS 394.103 (1997), the NDOE upheld the school district’s policy.

In January 1998, the parents filed a federal action, alleging that the school district’s policy violated the IDEA and the Fourteenth Amendment. The parents sought (1) declaratory relief that Christopher is entitled to receive speech therapy services, (2) reimbursement for the parents’ payments for private speech therapy services, and (3) attorneys’ fees. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the school district, and the parents appealed. We affirm.

JURISDICTION & STANDARD OF REVIEW

We have jurisdiction to review the summary judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we review de novo. See Washington v. Garrett, 10 F.3d 1421, 1428 (9th Cir.1993). To successfully challenge a summary judgment, the plaintiffs must point to some part of the record that demonstrates a genuine issue of material fact and, drawing all reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs’ favor, could convince a reasonable jury to find in their favor. See Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 56; Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

DISCUSSION

I. Change in Nevada Law

After this action was commenced, the Nevada legislature amended state law to provide that “[t]he board of trustees of [1039] each school district shall provide programs of special education and related services for children who are exempt from compulsory attendance pursuant to the home-education exemption and receive instruction at home.” Nev. Act Chap. 606, Sec. 45 (1999) (effective July 1, 1999), codified at NRS 392.070(2) (2000). Under the amended Nevada law, “related services” includes “speech-language pathology ... services.” NRS 392.070(7) (2000) (referencing 20 U.S.C. § 1401(22)).

Pursuant to this legislation, the school district concedes that it is now required to provide speech therapy to eligible home-educated children, and Christopher has been assessed and deemed eligible for speech therapy services. Thus, there is no need for us to consider whether the district court erred by refusing to enter a declaratory judgment. We remand that matter to the district court for its consideration in light of Nevada’s new law.

However, neither the appeal nor the action is moot, because the new law does not resolve the reimbursement claim for the payments already made by the parents for Christopher’s therapy, to which we now turn. Cf. Capistrano Unified School Dist. v. Wartenberg, 59 F.3d 884, 890 (9th Cir.1995) (graduation of disabled student did not moot claims for reimbursement and attorneys’ fees).

II. Statutory and Regulatory Scheme

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Hooks v. Clark County School District, 228 F.3d 1036 (9th Cir. 2000).

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