Jenna R.P. v. The City of Chicago School District No. 229

2013 IL App (1st) 112247

• Court: Appellate Court of Illinois
• Decided: January 8, 2014
• Docket: 1-11-2247
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

2013 IL App (1st) 112247

FIFTH DIVISION DECEMBER 31, 2013

No. 1-11-2247

JENNA R. P. and E. SCOTT P., as her Guardian ) Appeal from the and Next Friend, ) Circuit Court of ) Cook County. Plaintiffs-Appellants, ) ) v. ) No. 10 CH 22880 ) THE CITY OF CHICAGO SCHOOL DISTRICT ) Honorable NO. 229 and THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF ) Mary L. Mikva, EDUCATION, ) Judge Presiding. )

Defendants-Appellees.

PRESIDING JUSTICE GORDON delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. Justice Lampkin concurred in the judgment and opinion. Justice Reyes specially concurred in part and dissented, with opinion.

OPINION

¶1 Plaintiffs, Jenna R. P. (Jenna) and E. Scott P. (Scott), as her guardian and

next friend, appeal an order of the circuit court of Cook County which found in

favor of defendants City of Chicago School District No. 229 (District) and the

Illinois State Board of Education (Board), denying plaintiffs reimbursement of 1-11-2247

Jenna's tuition and expenses for her placement at a private boarding school. For

the following reasons, we reverse.

¶2 BACKGROUND

¶3 Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities

Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq. (2006)) and the Illinois School

Code (School Code) (105 ILCS 5/14-1.10 (West 2008)). A brief description of the

statute will aid in understanding this litigation. The purpose of IDEA is to provide

all children with disabilities with a free appropriate public education. 20 U.S.C.

§ 1400(d)(1)(A) (2006). One of the primary tools to further this objective is the

individualized education program (IEP). The IEP is a "written statement for each

child with a disability," which describes the child's present levels of achievement

and performance, the child's measurable annual goals, and the special education

and related services to be provided to the child. 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A). The

IEP is developed by an "IEP Team," which ordinarily must include the child's

parents, a regular education teacher, a special education teacher, and a

representative of the local educational agency. 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(B) (2006).

IDEA provides parents challenging an IEP with comprehensive procedural

safeguards, including the right to an impartial due process hearing. 20 U.S.C.

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§§ 1415(f),(g) (2006). Any party aggrieved by the findings and decision made by

the state educational agency has the right to file a civil action with respect to the

complaint presented pursuant to section 1415 in a federal district court or a state

court of competent jurisdiction. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2) (2006). The complaint in

this case was filed in the circuit court of Cook County pursuant to section

1415(i)(2).

¶4 I. Jenna's Childhood Education

¶5 The record on appeal here, consisting primarily of the testimony and other

evidence adduced at the due process hearing before the Board, discloses the

following facts. In 1989, Jenna was adopted at birth by Scott and Rona S. (Rona).

According to Scott, he and Rona separated when Jenna was three or four years old.

Jenna's toilet training at 3½ years old included behavior modification treatment.

¶6 Jenna attended kindergarten and first grade at a private school named North

Shore. She transferred to start the second grade at Near North Montessori, another

private school. Jenna initially had trouble making new friends at the new school.

¶7 According to Scott, Jenna was molested from ages six to eight by a neighbor

approximately five years older. Jenna's parents divorced in 1997, when she was

approximately nine years old. Scott testified the divorce became acrimonious in

3 1-11-2247

2000 and Jenna suffered as a result. In October 2001, when Jenna was almost 12

years old, her parents retained Dr. Heidi Hamernik, a neuropsychologist, because

Jenna was temperamental and had difficulty maintaining friendships and

interpreting social cues. According to Dr. Hamernik, Jenna had a verbal IQ in the

average range and an above average performance IQ. Dr. Hamernik opined that

Jenna's greatest difficulties were "within the social-emotional arena." Dr.

Hamernik did not diagnose Jenna with a major depressive disorder, but found her

sad, anxious and despondent. Dr. Hamernik suggested Jenna's parents share her

evaluation and recommendations for addressing Jenna's difficulties in organizing

her thoughts, becoming caught up in details and forgetting to write down or turn in

homework.

¶8 Jenna's grades deteriorated during her eighth grade year at Near North

Montessori, which was the 2003-04 academic year. Jenna received counseling

from psychologist Lori Buckenberger between the ages of 13 and 15 years old. In

June 2004, Dr. Buckenberger discussed with Jenna's parents the need to closely

monitor Jenna's transition to high school "due to her history of poor academic

follow through, poor organizational skills, and nonverbal learning disability." In

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February 2005, Dr. Buckenberger reported there had been no followup on any

monitoring program for Jenna.

¶9 II. Jenna at Lane Technical High School

¶ 10 In September 2004, Jenna began attending Lane Technical High School

(Lane Tech). According to Scott, he and his ex-wife agreed that to assist the

transition, Jenna would live with his ex-wife and visit him on alternate weekends.

As the semester progressed, Jenna began failing some subjects and was teased by

her basketball teammates. On one occasion, several girls pushed Jenna into the

snow. Jenna's school attendance began to decline.

¶ 11 According to Scott, in February 2005, Jenna was cohabiting with a slightly

older boy at her mother's house. Rona took Jenna to Children's Memorial Hospital

to address the situation. While at the hospital, Jenna discussed a plan to hang

herself. Jenna was then hospitalized in the psychiatric ward. Hospital clinicians

were concerned Jenna was depressed and having adjustment problems. The

clinicians also opined that Jenna was developing a cluster of borderline

personality traits, but did not diagnose her with personality disorder due to her

age.

5 1-11-2247

¶ 12 After Jenna was discharged from the hospital, Rona requested that Lane

Tech evaluate Jenna to determine whether she qualified for special education. In

March 2005, a Chicago Public Schools psychologist found Jenna's achievement

fell at or above the ninth grade level and her IQ was in the average to above

average range. According to Scott, he and Rona participated in the development

of an IEP for Jenna in April 2005. The IEP reflects that Jenna had a primary

disability of "emotional disturbance," but was also found to have a learning

disability. The IEP contained strategies to reduce Jenna's academic stress by

deceasing her course load and granting time in a special education resource room.

Nevertheless, in her freshman year, Jenna accumulated 68 absences, failed five

subjects and earned only 3½ academic credits of the 24 credits required for a

diploma.

¶ 13 During Jenna's sophomore year, on December 8, 2005, Rona participated in

an evaluation of Jenna's IEP. On that date, Jenna was receiving an "A" in world

studies, a "C" in Italian, a "D" in music appreciation, and was failing geometry and

American literature. The IEP was modified to include, among other items:

extended time for tests, quizzes, projects, essays and research papers; a small

group or resource room set for testing; test and homework modifications, as

6 1-11-2247

needed; allowance for calculator use; provision of class notes, as needed; and a

modified grading scale. In addition, Jenna was assigned to a special education

resource room for 450 minutes weekly, to assist her with time management,

independent functioning and organizational skills. Further, a special education

teacher was assigned to Jenna to provide accommodations for her in her general

education geometry and earth science classes. Jenna was also scheduled for 60

minutes of social work weekly, to improve Jenna's self-esteem and help her

develop positive attachments.

¶ 14 According to Scott, however, Jenna began receiving homebound tutoring

based on her truancy problem. Jack Cox, a social worker at Lane Tech, testified

Jenna received a minimal amount of homebound tutoring because she was not at

home. Jenna accumulated 115 absences and received no academic credits. Her

class ranking at the end of the 2005-06 academic year was 919 out of 926.

¶ 15 Jenna went missing in Spring 2006. According to Scott, Jenna had later

informed him she was living with a woman and her pimp. Jenna also said the

pimp wanted to prostitute her, but she refused. Jenna further admitted she had

once smoked crack cocaine. On May 2, 2006, Rona met with Jenna's IEP Team by

telephone to revise the IEP. The IEP does not note Jenna was missing from home.

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¶ 16 In May 2006, Rona notified Scott that Jenna had been missing for over one

month. Scott hired a private investigator to find Jenna. After locating Jenna, Scott

placed her in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, where the staff told him Jenna was

severely depressed, oppositional and defiant, with a cluster of borderline

personality traits. The hospital recommended long-term residential care.

¶ 17 III. Jenna at the Aspen Achievement Academy

¶ 18 On May 26, 2006, Scott decided to send Jenna to the Aspen Achievement

Academy in Utah. He retained individuals otherwise employed as prison guards

or correctional officers to escort Jenna to Utah. The academy is a wilderness-

therapy program, in which adolescents are dropped off in the Utah desert and

taught to survive in groups.

¶ 19 Jenna was given a psychological evaluation by Dr. Jeffrey D. Rush during

her time in Utah. Dr. Rush's report refers to a number of traumatic events in

Jenna's life, including her mother's illness, an alleged gang rape and a recent

abortion. Dr. Rush diagnosed Jenna with dysthemic disorder, oppositional defiant

disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, cannabis dependence and a nonspecified

learning disorder with a nonverbal learning disability and features of attention

deficit hyperactivity disorder. Jenna also displayed symptoms of borderline

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personality disorder, although she was not diagnosed with such due to her age.

Dr. Rush recommended Jenna be placed in a highly-structured and supportive

program to address her problems. Dr. Rush also recommended individual and

family therapy for Jenna, as well as a substance abuse program.

¶ 20 Scott testified he reconciled with his daughter in Utah, but knew the

academy was not a long-term solution. In early June 2006, Scott contacted

Josephine Martinez, who was responsible for special education services at Lane

Tech, for the purpose of arranging and financing long-term plans for Jenna when

she left the academy in Utah. Martinez informed him the IEP Team could not be

convened given the end of the school year, but to remain in contact to address

these issues.

¶ 21 IV. Jenna at the Elan School

¶ 22 On July 14, 2006, Scott sent a 10-day notice1 to Arne Duncan, then

superintendent of Chicago Public Schools, advising of his intent to place Jenna at

1 Under IDEA, failure to submit this 10-day notice may result in a reduction

or denial of reimbursement for enrollment in a private school. 20 U.S.C.

§ 1412(a)(10)(C)(iii)(I)(bb) (2006). 9 1-11-2247

the Elan School in Portland, Maine (Elan) and to seek reimbursement from the

District. Scott explained this decision was based on his desire to keep Jenna safe

and sober, the inclusion of Elan on a list of Board-approved schools, cost, and

Jenna's intelligence relative to the children at other institutions. On July 25, 2006,

Louis Rodriguez, the director for due process and mediation for the Chicago

Public Schools, wrote to Scott, notifying him the Chicago Public Schools would

not fund Jenna's unilateral placement at Elan.

¶ 23 Jenna attended Elan from July 2006 through April 2009. Kate Hawkins, a

social worker for Elan, testified the school provides a highly structured program

for emotional and transitional problems. Elan students attend academic classes at

night (with small class sizes) and participate in a life skills program during the

day. According to Hawkins, Elan students also perform jobs at the school and are

promoted to more interesting jobs if they are cooperative and diligent. Hawkins

testified she conducted sessions with Jenna in which she learned Jenna put herself

into various dangerous situations. However, Hawkins never conducted a formal

evaluation or assessment of Jenna. According to Hawkins, Jenna left Elan on a

positive note, but did not reach the highest job level at the school. Hawkins also

testified Jenna did not complete the program at Elan, but obtained a high school

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diploma from the state of Maine. The record further contains a May 8, 2008,

letter from Hawkins to Lane Tech, noting prior interventions proved unsuccessful

until Jenna was placed at Elan. Hawkins opined Jenna could not have been

educated outside a very structured and supervised residential program like Elan.

¶ 24 Scott testified he was in family therapy with Jenna during her time at Elan,

usually weekly. According to Scott, Jenna made academic progress at Elan and

was accepted to attend college at Western Illinois University, Southern Illinois

University, and Lewis University. Being accepted at Western Illinois University

was significant because Jenna expressed an interest in forensic science. Elan's

records for July 2007 show Jenna received high honors for all subjects, earning

100 in algebra, 98 in geometry, 98 in reading the classics, 98 in Spanish, 95 in

United States history I and 94 in English III. Jenna had a "B+" average when she

left Elan.

¶ 25 V. Scott's Efforts to Return Jenna to Lane Technical High School

¶ 26 Meanwhile, on November 17, 2006, Scott contacted Lane Tech's case

manager to request an evaluation of Jenna's placement at Elan. At a November 26,

2006, meeting of the IEP Team, representatives told Scott that Jenna would have

to be evaluated by a psychologist chosen by the District. During the meeting,

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Scott also voiced his concerns about being able to afford Jenna's placement at

Elan.2 Meeting notes indicate: "[d]ue to his decision being unilateral, likelihood

of CPS reimbursement for [Jenna's] residential school in Maine is not predicted to

be granted (team discussed post-meeting with father)."

¶ 27 On February 28, 2007, after a dispute regarding whether Jenna should return

to Chicago for a psychological evaluation, Scott provided the District with the

names of two psychologists in Maine, including Dr. Greggus Yahr. On April 27,

2007, the District agreed to pay Dr. Yahr to evaluate Jenna. Notes from the April

27 meeting indicate a 90-day observational period was required to assist the

District in assessing the least restrictive environment for educating Jenna. On

May 17, 2007, Scott signed the consent forms for Dr. Yahr's evaluation.

¶ 28 On January 17, 2008, Lane Tech's then-case manager and special education

teacher Lauren Osada contacted Dr. Yahr, who promised to contact Osada after

visiting Elan the following week. Dr. Yahr, however, did not place a followup

2 The record on appeal does not appear to disclose the cost of annual tuition

at Elan or a specific amount plaintiffs seek as reimbursement. During oral

argument, plaintiff's counsel provided a general estimate of $100,000. 12 1-11-2247

telephone call. Osada telephoned Dr. Yahr again on February 11, 2008, but Dr.

Yahr did not return the call. On April 8, 2008, Dr. Yahr informed a District

psychologist his computer crashed in November 2007 and he also believed he had

transmitted his report on Jenna by facsimile long ago. On April 31, 2008, Dr.

Yahr sent the District a summary report, noting Jenna's difficulties were

emotionally based, not cognitively based. Dr. Yahr diagnosed Jenna as meeting

the criteria for a student with an emotional disability, due to her inability to self-

regulate, depression in situational remission, and characteristics of borderline

personality disorder. Dr. Yahr opined the appropriate setting for Jenna would be

one where she is unable to avoid her emotions or the situation and remains

accountable for her behavior.

¶ 29 On February 11, 2009, the District notified Jenna and Scott of a March 6,

2009, conference at Lane Tech to review and revise Jenna's IEP and to consider

transition services. Lane Tech case notes suggest the conference was delayed

because Cox (Lane Tech's social worker) had difficulty speaking to Jenna at Elan

and the IEP Team needed Jenna's updated medical records. On March 11, 2009,

Scott left a voicemail at Lane Tech, stating he was running out of money and

demanding a decision regarding Jenna's placement. On March 12, 2009, Jenna

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completed a transition planning questionnaire about her grades and activities at

Elan, as well as her plan to live with Scott until she attended Western Illinois

University in September 2009.

¶ 30 On March 13, 2009, the IEP Team held a meeting regarding Jenna's

placement, which Jenna attended via conference call. The IEP Team noted Jenna

had 22.75 credits from Elan and had been on the Elan's honor roll for the prior two

years. The IEP Team listed necessary accommodations for Jenna and steps to

assist Jenna's transition to college. Jenna's revised IEP called for Jenna to boost

her word processing and computer skills to prepare for her goal of becoming a

forensic scientist. Jenna was also sceduled to receive 30 minutes of weekly social

work consultation to address her distractability, cognitive distortions and coping

mechanisms.

¶ 31 The revised IEP also called for Jenna to take biology, social science,

Spanish II, driver's education, music, art, and computer informational technology

courses in general education classrooms at Lane Tech for 80% of the school day.

The IEP Team rejected Scott's request for residential placement for Jenna. The

team concluded supportive services in a special education room for 20% of the

school day would meet Jenna's needs.

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¶ 32 V. The Due Process Hearing

¶ 33 On March 27, 2009, Scott requested a due process hearing before the Board,

which was not held until January 19, 2010. At the hearing, the Board's hearing

officer received the aforementioned testimony and evidence. In addition, Scott

testified Jenna returned to Chicago on April 6, 2009, and regressed to her prior

high-risk behaviors within three weeks of her return. Cox opined Jenna's

educational needs could be met at Lane Tech with related services provided 20%

of the school day. Cox also recommended 275 minutes of social work monthly,

which was more than most students he saw were provided. Osada testified Lane

Tech offered special education classes across the spectrum, including self-

contained instructional classes for more severe cases. Both Cox and Osada

concurred with the March 2009 IEP. David Yaffe, a special education teacher and

Lane Tech's then-current case manager, also concurred with the March 2009 IEP.

¶ 34 On January 29, 2010, the Board's hearing officer entered an order denying

reimbursement for Jenna's placement at Elan. The hearing officer ruled the

District had denied Jenna a free appropriate public education. The hearing officer

also ruled the District failed to carry its burden of proving Jenna's IEP was

appropriate, given the overwhelming testimony that Jenna needed a small teacher-

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pupil ratio in a highly-structured setting. Yet the hearing officer further ruled

Scott failed to carry his burden of showing his placement of Jenna with Elan was

appropriate. The hearing officer observed Jenna's problems stemmed from

parental management issues and it was not necessarily the school's duty to provide

residential placement for a chronic runaway based on psychological reasons

unrelated to the school.

¶ 35 In the hearing officer's view, however, Scott's chief problem was in failing

to demonstrate he placed Jenna in the least restrictive environment, given IDEA's

mandate that disabled students be educated alongside nondisabled students to the

maximum extent appropriate. The hearing officer found Cox and Osada seemed to

suffer from selective memory regarding questions to which they might be expected

to know the answers. Nevertheless, giving due weight to the opinions of District

staff that they could have provided a free appropriate public education to Jenna,

the hearing officer opined that providing Jenna with a free appropriate public

education in the least restrictive environment would have meant placing Jenna in a

self-contained, instructional classroom at Lane Tech, to benefit from a lower

teacher-to-pupil ratio, with more structure and certified staff, or a private day

school if that program failed. Given these conclusions, the hearing officer declined

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to rule on the District's claim that Scott made his request for a due process hearing

beyond the relevant limitations period in IDEA.

¶ 36 VI. The Circuit Court Proceedings

¶ 37 On May 27, 2010, plaintiffs filed a complaint in the circuit court of Cook

County to contest the findings and decision of the Board.3 On August 6, 2010, the

District and the Board filed their answer, along with the administrative record. In

January 2011, plaintiffs moved for summary judgment. In February 2011,

defendants filed a cross-motion for summary judgment.

3 Under the School Code, the hearing officer shall issue a written decision,

including findings of fact and conclusions of law, within 10 days after the

conclusion of the due process hearing. 105 ILCS 5/14-8.02a(h) (West 2010).

"Any party to an impartial due process hearing aggrieved by the final written

decision of the impartial due process hearing officer shall have the right to

commence a civil action with respect to the issues presented in the impartial due

process hearing." 105 ILCS 5/14-8.02a(i) (West 2010). Thus, the decision of the

hearing officer is not reviewed by the Board prior to judicial administrative

review. 17 1-11-2247

¶ 38 On May 27, 2011, the circuit court entered a memorandum opinion and

order in favor of the District and the Board. The circuit court agreed with the

Board that the District denied Jenna a free appropriate public education. The

circuit court also agreed with plaintiffs that the Board's hearing officer misapplied

the requirement of educating Jenna in the least restrictive environment in this case.

The circuit court nevertheless concluded when it "focused more broadly on

whether this was an appropriate placement under the IDEA, and whether [Scott]'s

actions were 'reasonable' under the statute, *** reimbursement is not required."

The circuit court ruled Scott's unilateral placement of Jenna with Elan "was

certainly a 'reasonable' response to Jenna's myriad of issues, [but] went beyond

concerns relating to her education." The circuit court noted Scott testified he

placed Jenna at Elan mainly out of concern for her safety and security. The circuit

court further ruled IDEA does not contemplate reimbursement for a placement

where the student's problems are largely behavioral. Accordingly, the circuit court

affirmed the decision of the Board's hearing officer denying reimbursement.4

4 The circuit court, like the hearing officer, declined to reach the issue of whether plaintiffs' claim fell outside the limitations period provided in IDEA. 18 1-11-2247

¶ 39 Plaintiffs filed a motion to reconsider. On July 6, 2011, the circuit court

entered an order denying reconsideration, but clarifying the circuit court did not

find Scott was aware of the July 25, 2006, letter from Rodriguez objecting to

Jenna's placement with Elan before Scott transported Jenna to Elan. On August 3,

2011, plaintiffs filed a timely notice of appeal to this court.

¶ 40 ANALYSIS

¶ 41 On appeal, plaintiffs argue they are entitled to reimbursement for Jenna's

placement at Elan, and for the following reasons we agree. We first set forth the

standard of review and the statutory framework in IDEA cases.

¶ 42 I. Standard of Review

¶ 43 Review of an administrative agency's factual findings is limited to

determining whether the agency's findings of fact were against the manifest weight

of the evidence, while questions of law are reviewed de novo. See City of

Belvidere v. Illinois State Labor Relations Board, 181 Ill. 2d 191, 205 (1998).

"An administrative agency's factual determinations are contrary to the manifest

weight of evidence where the opposite conclusion is clearly evident." City of

Belvedere, 181 Ill. 2d at 205. In contrast, "an agency's decision on a question of

law is not binding on a reviewing court." City of Belvedere, 181 Ill. 2d at 205.

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Illinois courts, however, grant some deference to the agency's expertise where it

resolves a genuine ambiguity in a statute or regulation it is charged with

administering. Department of Central Management Services v. Illinois Labor

Relations Board, 2012 IL App (4th) 110013, ¶ 51.

¶ 44 II. The IDEA Framework

¶ 45 IDEA "was intended to ensure that children with disabilities receive an

education that is both appropriate and free." Florence County School District 4 v.

Carter, 510 U.S. 7, 13 (1993).5 As defined in IDEA, a "free appropriate public

education" includes both "special education" and "related services." 20 U.S.C.

§ 1401(9) (2006). Special education must be specially designed instruction to suit

the needs of the disabled child. 20 U.S.C. § 1401(29) (2006). Related services

include:

"[T]ransportation, and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive

services (including speech-language pathology and audiology services,

interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational

5 Defendants do not dispute Jenna is a "child with a disability" within the

meaning of the IDEA. 20 U.S.C. § 1401(3)(A) (2006). 20 1-11-2247

therapy, recreation, including therapeutic recreation, social work services,

school nurse services designed to enable a child with a disability to receive

a free appropriate public education as described in the individualized

education program of the child, counseling services, including rehabilitation

counseling, orientation and mobility services, and medical services, except

that such medical services shall be for diagnostic and evaluation purposes

only) as may be required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from

special education, and includes the early identification and assessment of

disabling conditions in children." 20 U.S.C. § 1401(26)(A) (2006).

¶ 46 The United States Supreme Court interpreted the predecessor to the IDEA

as granting a court authority "to order school authorities to reimburse parents for

their expenditures on private special education for a child if the court ultimately

determines that such placement, rather than a proposed IEP, is proper under the

Act." School Committee of Town of Burlington, Massachusetts v. Department of

Education of Massachusetts, 471 U.S. 359, 369 (1985).

¶ 47 The IDEA essentially codifies the Burlington ruling:

"If the parents of a child with a disability, who previously received special

education and related services under the authority of a public agency, enroll

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the child in a private elementary school or secondary school without the

consent of or referral by the public agency, a court or a hearing officer may

require the agency to reimburse the parents for the cost of that enrollment if

the court or hearing officer finds that the agency had not made a free

appropriate public education available to the child in a timely manner prior

to that enrollment." 20 U.S.C. § 1412(a)(10)(C)(ii) (2006).

When a public school system has defaulted on its obligations under IDEA, a

private school placement is appropriate if the education provided by the private

school is reasonably calculated to enable the child to receive educational benefits.

Carter, 510 U.S. at 12; see also Goldstrom v. District of Columbia, 319 F. Supp.

2d 5, 8 (D.D.C. 2004) (parents may be reimbursed for private placement where

public placement violated IDEA and private school placement is proper under

IDEA). The decision to reject public education in favor of enrolling a child in

private school, however, cannot be described as "reasonably calculated to enable

the child to receive educational benefits" if the private school does not offer at

least "some element of special education services in which the public school

placement was deficient." Berger v. Medina City School District, 348 F.3d 513,

523 (6th Cir. 2003). Retroactive reimbursement is an equitable remedy for the

22 1-11-2247

failure of the public school to provide a free appropriate public education to a

disabled student; thus, a private school placement must be consistent with the

purposes of IDEA. Berger, 348 F.3d at 523. To allow reimbursement where the

services offered by the public school are not deficient would entitle parents of

disabled students, at public expense, to seek any alternative school they wish if the

public education is inadequate. Mr. I. ex rel. L.I. v. Maine School Administrative

District No. 55, 480 F.3d 1, 24 (1st Cir. 2007).

¶ 48 Moreover, reimbursement may be denied "upon a judicial finding of

unreasonableness with respect to actions taken by the parents." 20 U.S.C. §

1412(a)(10)(C)(iii)(III) (2006).

¶ 49 This case involves a unilateral, full-time residential placement. Despite

IDEA's preference for educating children with disabilities in the least restrictive

environment (20 U.S.C. § 1412(a)(5) (2006)), the statute recognizes some disabled

students need full-time care in order to receive an educational benefit. IDEA

defines "special education" to include "instruction conducted *** in ***

institutions ***." 20 U.S.C. § 1401(29)(A) (2006). Pursuant to regulations

promulgated under the statute by the United States Department of Education, "[i]f

placement in a public or private residential program is necessary to provide special

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education and related services to a child with a disability, the program, including

non-medical care and room and board, must be at no cost to the parents of the

child." 34 C.F.R. § 300.104 (2006).

¶ 50 Nevertheless, the United States Supreme Court has ruled:

"[P]arents who unilaterally change their child's placement during the

pendency of review proceedings, without the consent of state or local school

officials, do so at their own financial risk. If the courts ultimately determine

that the IEP proposed by the school officials was appropriate, the parents

would be barred from obtaining reimbursement for any interim period in

which their child's placement violated [IDEA]." Burlington, 471 U.S. at

373-74.

The Supreme Court has since reiterated this point. Carter, 510 U.S. at 15; see Doe

v. Nashville Metropolitan Public Schools, 133 F.3d 384, 387-88 (and cases cited

therein); Goldstrom, 319 F. Supp. 2d at 8 (and cases cited therein).

¶ 51 III. The Decisions Below and Plaintiffs' Claims

¶ 52 In the case at bar, the hearing officer denied the father reimbursement

because it found that his daughter could have been placed in a self-contained

classroom at Lane Tech, with more structure and specially certified staff, which

24 1-11-2247

would have met her needs. The hearing officer's memorandum order, dated

January 29, 2010, stated: "In the Hearing Officer's opinion, FAPE [free

appropriate public education] and the LRE [least restrictive environment] would

have meant placing Jenna in a self-contained, instructional classroom at Lane

Tech, to benefit from a lower teacher to pupil ratio, with more structure and

specially certified staff, and/or a private day school, if the self-contained

instructional program did not work our for her."

¶ 53 Plaintiff's primary argument on appeal is that, even assuming that the

hearing officer's conclusion was correct, it is irrelevant, because the school system

never offered her such an alternative. The hearing officer and the circuit court both

ruled the District denied Jenna a free appropriate public education, and defendants

do not challenge those rulings on appeal. Moreover, defendants do not argue on

appeal that plaintiffs were required to demonstrate Elan was the least restrictive

environment for Jenna.

¶ 54 IV. Errors of Law

¶ 55 For the reasons explained below, the hearing officer erred as a matter

of law, and thus we must reverse.

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¶ 56 A. Lack of a Request for an IEP Hearing

¶ 57 Federal courts considering the issue have ruled that an IEP should be

evaluated as drafted. R.E. v. New York City Department of Education, 694 F. 3d

167, 185-86 (2d Cir. 2012); see also A.K. v. Alexandria City School Board, 484

F.3d 672, 682 (4th Cir. 2007) ("In evaluating whether a school district offered a

FAPE [free appropriate public education] a court generally must limit its

consideration to the terms of the IEP itself.").

¶ 58 As a preliminary matter, we observe that we cannot ignore this rule in the

case at bar because the father did not formally "reject or seek a hearing on the IEP

in place when he placed" his daughter in a private school.

¶ 59 First, in June 2006, prior to placing his daughter in a private school, the

father contacted Josephine Martinez, the person responsible for special education

services at Lane Tech, where his daughter was enrolled, for the purpose of making

long-term plans for her. After attending Lane Tech for her freshman and most of

her sophomore years, the daughter had run away from home during the spring of

her sophomore year. After the daughter was located, the father attempted in early

June to make plans with the school. However, Martinez informed him that the IEP

team could not be convened, since it was the end of the of the school year. Left

26 1-11-2247

with very little choice in terms of making prompt plans for the upcoming school

year, the father in July sent a 10-day notice of his intent to place his daughter in a

private school. 20 U.S.C. §1412(a)(10)(C)(iii)(I)(bb) (2006) (to receive

reimbursement, a parent must provide a 10-day notice of his intent to place his

child in a private school). In light of his attempt to work with the school and the

fact that he was told that the IEP team could not be convened, his failure to

formally seek a change to the IEP does not provide us with a reason to ignore the

rule.

¶ 60 Second, although a parent may be denied reimbursement if he failed to

express his concerns at the most recent IEP meeting (20 U.S.C.

§1412(a)(10)(C)(iii)(I) (2006)), this notice requirement is excused if "the school

prevented the parent from providing such notice" (20 U.S.C.

§1412(a)(10)(C)(iv)(I)(aa) (2006)). In the case at bar, the school prevented the

father from expressing his concerns at an IEP meeting by refusing to convene one.

¶ 61 B. Errors of Law

¶ 62 Since the hearing officer must evaluate the IEP as it existed, and not a

hypothetical IEP that never existed, the officer erred as a matter of law. As we

observed above, federal courts have held that an IEP should be evaluated as

27 1-11-2247

drafted. R.E. v. New York City Department of Education, 694 F.3d 167, 185-86

(2d Cir. 2012); see also A.K. v. Alexandria City School Board, 484 F.3d 672, 682

(4th Cir. 2007)("In evaluating whether a school district offered a FAPE [free

appropriate public education] a court generally must limit its consideration to the

terms of the IEP itself.").

¶ 63 In the case at bar, the hearing officer concluded that the school district had

denied plaintiff a free appropriate public education, and that the district had failed

to carry its burden of proving that the daughter's existing IEP was appropriate.

Nonetheless, the hearing officer denied the father reimbursement because the

district could have, hypothetically, provided his daughter with an appropriate

education.

¶ 64 Since prior courts have held that we must review what actually was, instead

of what hypothetically could have been, we must reverse. There is good reason to

review only an actual, as opposed to, a hypothetical IEP. As the Second Circuit

Court of Appeals has explained, under the opposing view, "a school district could

create an IEP that was materially defective, causing the parents to justifiably effect

a private placement, and then defeat the parents' reimbursement claim" – every

time – "with evidence that effectively amends or fixes the IEP." R.E. v. New York

28 1-11-2247

City Department of Education, 694 F.3d 167, 186 (2d Cir. 2012). We cannot

countenance such a result.

¶ 65 Parents are not barred from reimbursement where a private school they

choose does not meet the IDEA's definition of a free appropriate public education.

Frank G. v Board of Education of Hyde Park, 459 F.3d 356, 364 (2d Cir. 2006)

(citing M.S. v. Yonkers Board of Education, 231 F.3d 96, 104 (2d Cir. 2000)).6 20

U.S.C. § 1401(9) (2006) (definition of a free appropriate public education). An

appropriate private placement need not meet state education standards or

requirements. Frank G., 459 F.3d at 364 (citing Florence County School District

4 v. Carter, 510 U.S. 7, 14 (1993)). For example, a private placement does not

have to utilize certified special education teachers or develop an IEP for the

disabled student. Frank G., 459 F.3d at 364 (citing Carter, 510 U.S. at 14). In

addition, parents may not be subject to the same mainstreaming requirements as a

school board. Frank G., 459 F.3d at 364 (citing M.S. , 231 F.3d at 105, citing

Warren G. v. Cumberland County School District, 190 F.3d 80, 84 (3d Cir. 1999)).

6 Justice Sotomayor was on the panel for both of these Second Circuit cases:

Frank G., 459 F. 3d 356, and M.S., 231 F.3d. 96. 29 1-11-2247

¶ 66 "No one factor is necessarily dispositive in determining whether a parent's

unilateral placement is 'reasonably calculated to enable the child to receive

educational benefits.' " Frank G., 459 F.3d at 364 (quoting Board of Education of

Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176, 207 (1982)).

See also Carter, 510 U.S. at 11. However, "a unilateral private placement cannot

be regarded as 'proper under the [IDEA]' when it does not, at a minimum provide

some element of special education services in which the public school placement

was deficient." Berger v. Medina City School District, 348 F.3d 513, 523 (6th Cir.

2003). For example, a "small class size," such as in the classes provided to Jenna

at Elan, can be "one element of the special education services" needed for a child.

Frank G., 459 F.3d at 365.

¶ 67 For purposes of the IDEA, the term "special education" means solely what

the statute has defined it to mean: "specially designed instruction *** to meet the

unique needs of a child with a disability." 20 U.S.C. § 1401(29) (2006). As a

result of the plain language of the statute, a parent does not have to show that the

school has a special education department, or special education teachers, or "every

special service." Frank G., 459 F.3d at 364-65 (affirming the award of

reimbursement despite the school district's claim that the private school did not

30 1-11-2247

offer special education). See also Carter, 510 U.S. at 14 (a school's teachers do

not have to be state certified). A parent must show only that the school provided

specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of his or her child. 20

U.S.C. § 1401(29) (2006). Proof may include evidence of the child's social and

academic progress, including test scores. Frank G., 459 F.3d at 366.

¶ 68 However, contrary to the plain language of the statute, the hearing officer in

the case at bar stated the question that he had to answer as: "Did the Elan School

Provide Jenna With FAPE [free appropriate public education] in the LRE [least

restrictive environment]?" The officer concluded that "[c]learly Jenna made

progress at Elan," and "[c]learly, in the case at issue, Jenna did well at the Elan

Residential School," receiving excellent grades. See M.S., 231 F.3d at 105 ("[a]n

assessment of educational progress" is the type of judgement to which a court

should defer to the hearing officer's judgment). However, the hearing officer

denied reimbursement, stating: "The chief problem with the Petitioner's case is the

failure to comport with an equally significant portion of the IDEA, namely, that

placement be in the least restrictive environment (LRE)."

¶ 69 The hearing officer erred, as a matter of law, in the question that he posed.

The United States Supreme Court held in Carter that parents seeking

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reimbursement did not have to prove that the school provided free appropriate

public education. Carter, 510 U.S. at 13. The Court stated:

"This case presents the narrow question whether Shannon's parents

are barred from reimbursement because the private school in which

Shannon enrolled did not meet the [IDEA's] definition of a 'free

appropriate public education.' We hold that they are not, because [the

definition's] requirements cannot be read as applying to parental

placements." Carter, 510 U.S. at 13.

As a result, the hearing officer erred, as a matter of law, when he asked: "Did the

Elan School Provide Jenna With FAPE ***?"

¶ 70 The hearing officer also erred, as a matter of law when it formulated the

ultimate question it had to decide as whether "the Elan School Provide[d] Jenna

With FAPE in the LRE [least restrictive environment]?" Like we do, the trial court

also found that the hearing officer "focused exclusively on whether Elan met the

LRE requirement," and it also found that this was an error as a matter of law,

stating:

"In denying reimbursement, the hearing officer focused exclusively

on whether Elan met the LRE requirement embodied in the IDEA.

32 1-11-2247

While LRE is a consideration, parents are not subject to the same

requirements as a school board in ensuring that a student is placed in

the least restrictive alternative educational setting. [Citation.] Thus,

this does not, in itself seem to this Court to be a basis for denying

[Jenna's father] reimbursement."

Like the trial court, the Second Circuit has held that, although LRE is one factor

that a hearing officer may consider, the same mainstreaming requirements that

apply to a school district do not necessarily apply to a parent's private placement.

M.S., 231 F.3d at 105. Thus, while LRE may be one factor, a hearing officer errs

when it makes LRE the ultimate test.

¶ 71 However, the Seventh Circuit has gone further than the Second Circuit and

has held that, when a school district fails to provide a child with an adequate plan,

the court is unable to determine whether the private placement is the least

restrictive alternative because, at that moment, it is "the only alternative." Board

of Education of Murphysboro Community Unit School District No. 186 v. Illinois

State Board of Education, 41 F.3d 1162, 1168 (7th Cir. 1994). The school district

cannot be heard to complain because "this situation result[s] from the school

district's failure to present a viable alternative." Murphysboro, 41 F.3d at 1168.

33 1-11-2247

As a result, the question is not whether the private school presented the least

restrictive option but "simply" whether the parent's choice "provided an

appropriate education." Murphysboro, 41 F.3d at 1168.

¶ 72 The Sixth Circuit agrees that LRE drops out as a consideration when the

school district has failed to provide a meaningful alternative. Rejecting a school

district's argument that the parent's choice of a residential program "was the most

restrictive option," the Sixth Circuit explained that, at that point, a court is "faced"

with only "two options": "the school [district]'s choice of inaction" or the parent's

"choice of a residential program with counseling and educational services." Babb

v. Knox County School System, 965 F.2d 104, 108 (6th Cir. 1992). The court's job

is to "compar[e] these two options" and decide whether the parent's choice

provided an appropriate education. Babb, 965 F.2d at 108.

¶ 73 Whether one adopts the trial court's view that the LRE can be one factor but

not the exclusive test, or whether one adopts the view of the Sixth and Seventh

Circuits that LRE drops out as a consideration once the school district fails to offer

a viable alternative, one must still find that the hearing officer erred, as a matter of

law, in making LRE the ultimate test. Due to these errors in law, we must reverse

and remand for a determination of the appropriate amount of reimbursement.

34 1-11-2247

¶ 74 V. The Limitations Period

¶ 75 Lastly, defendants argue plaintiffs' claim is barred by a limitations period

specified in the School Code. Plaintiffs respond that defendants forfeited this

issue by failing to plead it in the circuit court. The expiration of a statute of

limitations is an affirmative defense, which is forfeited if not timely raised in the

trial court. Fox v. Heimann, 375 Ill. App. 3d 35, 45 (2007). It is the duty of the

party wishing to assert a limitations defense to raise it at the earliest possible time.

McKinnon v. City of Chicago, 243 Ill. App. 3d 87, 92 (1993). A party who raises a

statute of limitation defense for the first time on appeal may be deemed to have

forfeited the defense. See McKinnon, 243 Ill. App. 3d at 92. Thus, we find, first,

that this issue was waived for our review.

¶ 76 Second, for the reasons described below, even if we found that this issue

was not waived, we would still find that it did not present a bar to plaintiffs'

claims.

¶ 77 The School Code requires a request for a due process hearing to be "filed no

more than 2 years following the date the person or school district knew or should

have known of the event or events forming the basis for the request." 105 ILCS

5/14-8.02a(f) (West 2006); see also 20 U.S.C. § 1415 (f)(3)(C) (2006) (two-year

35 1-11-2247

limitations period in the absence of state law to the contrary). This limitations

period, however, does not apply where the local educational agency either

specifically misrepresented that it resolved the problem forming the basis of the

parent's complaint, or withheld information from the parent required to be

provided under the statute. 20 U.S.C. § 1415 (f)(3)(D) (2006).7 For example, the

notice of procedural safeguards required to be provided to parents or guardians of

students with disabilities shall include information regarding the time period in

which to make a complaint, the regulations governing due process hearings, and

the availability of a civil action, including the time period for filing such actions.

20 U.S.C. § 1415(d)(2) (2006).

7 Defendants' brief discusses various situations in which reimbursement

may be reduced or denied, none of which appear to be germane to the limitations

defense. See 20 U.S.C. § 1412(a)(10)(c) (2006). Defendant's arguments related to

this provision of the IDEA are directed toward Jenna's participation in the Aspen

Achievement Academy, but plaintiffs' request for reimbursement is limited to

Jenna's placement at Elan. 36 1-11-2247

¶ 78 The appellate record discloses no record showing that the District provided

notice of the limitations period to Scott before March 31, 2009. The appellate

record demonstrates that the mother, Rona, received a copy of the notice of

procedural safeguards that the District provides to parents and guardians of

students with disabilities in December 2005. Yet the copy of the notice included

in the appellate record does not refer to the two-year limitations period.

Accordingly, the District has failed to demonstrate that the limitations period

began to run before March 2009.

¶ 79 In addition, where a defendant's conduct constitutes a continuing violation

of the IDEA, an action may be timely so long as the last act evidencing the

continuing practice falls within the limitations period. Jeffery Y. v. St. Mary's

Area School District, 967 F. Supp. 852, 855 (W.D. Pa. 1997). In this case, the

District failed to provide adequate notice of the limitations period and contributed

to the delay in revising Jenna's IEP.

¶ 80 Thus, the two-year limitations period in the IDEA does not bar

plaintiffs' action in this case since, first, the issue was waived and, second, the

District failed to notify plaintiffs of the limitations period.

37 1-11-2247

¶ 81 CONCLUSION

¶ 82 Due to the errors in law described above, we must reverse and remand for a

determination of the appropriate amount of reimbursement.

¶ 83 Reversed and remanded, with directions.

¶ 84 JUSTICE REYES, specially concurring in part and dissenting in part.

¶ 85 The majority opinion, applying the standards typical of administrative

review in Illinois to this appeal, concludes: (1) plaintiffs were not required to

reject or seek a hearing on the IEP existing when Scott placed Jenna in the Elan

school; and (2) the hearing officer committed reversible errors of law in denying

reimbursement to the plaintiffs. I concur with the majority opinion's application of

the standards typical of administrative review in Illinois to the hearing officer's

decision in this case (see supra ¶ 43), its discussion of the IDEA framework

(supra ¶¶ 45-50), and its focus on the issue of whether Jenna received "special

education" as that term is understood in the context of the IDEA (supra ¶ 67). The

majority opinion, however, in imposing a one-sided rule limiting retrospective

testimony in this case, and in reversing the decisions of the hearing officer and the

circuit court denying reimbursement in this case, has otherwise misconstrued the

38 1-11-2247

record on appeal, the hearing officer's decision, and the relevant case law.

Accordingly, I respectfully dissent from the remainder of the majority opinion.

¶ 86 The Standards of Review in IDEA Cases

¶ 87 Although I concur with the majority opinion's application of the standards

typical of administrative review in Illinois to this appeal, it should be noted that

the IDEA establishes a procedure for judicial review in some respects similar to,

but in other respects significantly different from, the typical procedures for

reviewing the decision of an administrative agency under our Administrative

Review Law (735 ILCS 5/3-101 et seq. (West 2010)). The IDEA, for example,

permits a party to request a court take additional evidence. 20 U.S.C. §

1415(i)(2)(C)(ii) (2006). More significant to this discussion, the IDEA provides

the court is to base its decision on the preponderance of the evidence. 20 U.S.C. §

1415(i)(2)(C)(iii).

¶ 88 Nevertheless, "the provision that a reviewing court base its decision on the

'preponderance of the evidence' is by no means an invitation to the courts to

substitute their own notions of sound educational policy for those of the school

authorities which they review." Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central

School District, Westchester County v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176, 206 (1982). At least

39 1-11-2247

one federal appellate court holds a virtually de novo review of the administrative

decision is appropriate. See R.P. ex rel. R.P. v. Alamo Heights Independent

School District, 703 F.3d 801, 807 (5th Cir. 2012). The weight of authority,

however, holds a less than de novo review, one similar to the typical standards of

administrative review in Illinois, is appropriate. See, e.g., Board of Education of

Murphysboro Community Unit School Dist. No. 186 v. Illinois State Board of

Education, 41 F.3d 1162, 1167 (7th Cir. 1994); C.C. v. Fairfax County Board of

Education, 879 F. Supp. 2d 512, 517 (E.D. Va. 2012) (and cases cited therein).

The IDEA requires the reviewing court to receive the records of the state

administrative proceedings, which "carries with it the implied requirement that due

weight shall be given to these proceedings." Rowley, 458 U.S. at 206. Thus, when

the court does not take new evidence and bases its review on the record compiled

in the administrative proceedings, the court is required to give "due deference" to

the administrative decision. Dale M. ex rel. Alice M. v. Board of Education of

Bradley-Bourbonnais High School Dist. No. 307, 237 F.3d 813, 815 (7th Cir.

2001). The level of deference due the administrative decision depends in part on

whether the court is considering evidence not presented to the administrative

40 1-11-2247

hearing officer, with less deference due when new evidence is presented. See id.

at 816.

¶ 89 In this case, the circuit court reviewed the administrative decision on the

parties' cross-motions for summary judgment, which is not uncommon in IDEA

litigation. See id. at 816 (and cases cited therein). The circuit court did not

consider evidence outside the administrative record. Accordingly, I agree the

hearing officer's decision is subject to the typical standards of administrative

review in Illinois.

¶ 90 The IDEA also provides, however, that the district or circuit court "shall

grant such relief as the court determines is appropriate." 20 U.S.C. §

1415(i)(2)(C)(iii). Accordingly, even in cases where a public school placement

violated the IDEA, and the private school placement was proper, the circuit court

then must exercise its "broad discretion" and weigh "equitable considerations" to

determine whether, and how much, reimbursement is appropriate. Florence

County School District Four v. Carter, 510 U.S. 7, 15-16 (1993). The IDEA

further specifies reimbursement may be denied "upon a judicial finding of

unreasonableness with respect to actions taken by the parents." 20 U.S.C. §

1412(a)(10)(C)(iii)(III). The majority opinion acknowledges this aspect of the

41 1-11-2247

IDEA. Supra ¶ 48. A finding of unreasonableness will not be disturbed absent an

abuse of discretion. See S.W. v. New York City Department of Education, 646 F.

Supp. 2d 346, 363 (S.D.N.Y. 2009).

¶ 91 In this case, the circuit court's decision denying reimbursement was based in

part on a judicial finding that Scott's decision to place Jenna in Elan may have

been reasonable as a parenting decision, but his actions were not reasonable in the

sense intended by the IDEA. The majority opinion does not address this finding,

let alone explain how the circuit court abused its discretion in denying

reimbursement on this basis. See Maynard v. District of Columbia, 701 F. Supp.

2d 116, 124-25 (D.D.C. 2010) (affirming finding parent acted unreasonably in part

because she allowed the defendant school system less than one month to convene

an IEP meeting and develop an IEP for the child during the summer before

deciding to enroll the child in a private placement).

¶ 92 Retrospective Testimony

¶ 93 The majority opinion concludes the hearing officer erred as a matter of law

in considering the retrospective testimony regarding the services Lane Tech could

have offered Jenna, rather than the IEP in place when Scott placed Jenna at the

Elan school. The majority opinion relies on case law ruling an IEP should be

42 1-11-2247

evaluated as drafted. See R.E. v. New York City Department of Education, 694

F.3d 167, 185-86 (2d Cir. 2012) (and cases cited therein). A review of R.E.,

however, demonstrates why a rule barring retrospective testimony is largely

inapplicable to the circumstances presented in this appeal.8 Moreover, a review of

R.E. demonstrates how the majority opinion's application of the rule is unfair and

skews the reimbursement proceedings in favor of the plaintiffs.

¶ 94 In R.E., the Second Circuit considered three consolidated cases involving

the private placement of autistic children. Id. at 174. In each case, the defendant's

local committees on special education developed IEPs, which were rejected by the

parents of the respective children, whereupon the parents filed a due process

demand seeking tuition reimbursement for a private placement. Id. at 176, 179,

182. The court considered "when, if ever, is it permissible for a district to

8 The majority opinion also cites A.K. ex rel. J.K. v. Alexandria City School

Board, 484 F.3d 672, 682 (4th Cir. 2007). As the Fourth Circuit's decision relies

on "the important policies served by the requirement of a formal written offer"

(id.), the following discussion of R.E. is equally applicable to the rationale offered

in A.K. 43 1-11-2247

augment the written IEP with retrospective testimony about additional services

that would have been provided at the proposed placement." Id. at 185. The

Second Circuit held "testimony regarding state-offered services may only explain

or justify what is listed in the written IEP," but "may not support a modification

that is materially different from the IEP." Id.

¶ 95 The reasoning of the Second Circuit in R.E. is not discussed in the majority

opinion, but it is crucial to understanding the extent to which the rule it adopted

should apply to this appeal. The Second Circuit looked to decisions of other

federal courts holding the adequacy of an IEP should not be judged in hindsight.

Id. at 185-86. In holding this rule should apply to due process hearings on tuition

reimbursement, the R.E. court explained:

"At the time the parents must choose whether to accept the school district

recommendation or to place the child elsewhere, they have only the IEP to

rely on, and therefore the adequacy of the IEP itself creates considerable

reliance interests for the parents." Id. at 186.

¶ 96 The Second Circuit also reasoned their rule does not unfairly skew the

reimbursement hearing process. Id. at 187. The court noted the mutual nature of

the rule, i.e., parents "cannot later use evidence that their child did not make

44 1-11-2247

progress under the IEP in order to show that it was deficient from the outset." Id.

The R.E. court further reasoned:

"An important feature of the IDEA is that it contains a statutory 30-

day resolution period once a 'due process complaint' is filed. 20 U.S.C. §

1415(f)(1)(B). That complaint must list all of the alleged deficiencies in the

IEP. [footnote omitted] The [defendant] then has thirty days to remedy

these deficiencies without penalty. If, at the end of the resolution period,

the parents feel their concerns have not been adequately addressed and the

amended IEP still fails to provide a FAPE, they can continue with the due

process proceeding and seek reimbursement. The adequacy of the IEP will

then be judged by its content at the close of the resolution period." Id. at

187-88.

The court additionally noted:

"The parents must state all of the alleged deficiencies in the IEP in

their initial due process complaint in order for the resolution period to

function. To permit them to add a new claim after the resolution period has

expired would allow them to sandbag the school district. Accordingly,

45 1-11-2247

substantive amendments to the parents' claims are not permitted." Id. at 187

n.4.

The Second Circuit concluded this resolution procedure eliminated the danger that

parents could seek reimbursement based on alleged deficiencies in an IEP which

the parents had not previously claimed were deficiencies. Id. at 188. In short, the

R.E. court adopted a rule limiting retrospective testimony based on the reliance

interest parents have in an existing or proposed IEP, which is in turn based on the

existence of a statutory procedure for addressing parental complaints regarding

that IEP.

¶ 97 In this case, the reasons for limiting retrospective testimony propounded by

the Second Circuit are themselves limited. The majority opinion asserts Lane

Tech prevented Scott "from expressing his concerns at an IEP meeting by refusing

to convene one." Supra ¶ 60. This characterization of the record on appeal is not

entirely accurate. The record establishes that in early June 2006, when Scott

contacted Martinez for the purpose of arranging and financing long-term plans for

Jenna, Martinez informed him the IEP Team could not be convened given they

were at the end of the school year, but to remain in contact to address these issues.

46 1-11-2247

Defendants did not completely foreclose any IEP meeting regarding the 2007-08

school year.

¶ 98 Moreover, even assuming arguendo that defendants refused to convene an

IEP meeting in response to Scott's informal telephonic request, plaintiffs' concerns

regarding reimbursement necessarily related to the 2006 IEP. Yet plaintiffs did

not avail themselves of the legally required procedures for lodging a complaint

regarding the provision of a FAPE to Jenna under the 2006 IEP prior to placing

Jenna at the Elan school. Had plaintiffs sought a speedy resolution of their

concerns, they could have legally forced defendants to either address their specific

concerns regarding the 2006 IEP or proceed to the issue of tuition reimbursement.

Instead, Scott chose to work with defendants regarding the formulation of a new

IEP for Jenna – a process which, for a variety of reasons potentially attributable to

both sides – extended from November 2006 through March 2009.

¶ 99 Plaintiffs did not file a due process complaint until after the formulation of

the March 2009 IEP. Although the filing of the due process complaint is

undisputed, neither plaintiffs nor defendants has identified where the due process

complaint appears in the record or discuss any specific objections to the March

2009 IEP. The District's pre-hearing disclosure statement asserts the due process

47 1-11-2247

complaint failed to specify which aspects of the March 2009 IEP were

inappropriate for Jenna's needs. Indeed, absent the due process complaint, this

court is also not informed of the particular objections to the 2006 IEP, beyond

plaintiffs' demand for reimbursement.

¶ 100 Based on the record here, the only possible reliance interest Scott could

have is in the March 2009 IEP. That reliance interest, however, would not extend

to reimbursement for Jenna's placement at Elan prior to March 2009. As Scott had

no reliance interest in the 2006 IEP and plaintiffs chose not to avail themselves of

the formal procedures for challenging the 2006 IEP, the Second Circuit's

reasoning for limiting retrospective testimony in R.E. does not apply to the bulk of

the complaint in this case.

¶ 101 Furthermore, the majority opinion fosters a form of the unfairness the R.E.

court was careful to avoid. The adequacy of the IEP can only be determined as of

the time it is offered to the student, not at some later date. See Rowley, 458 U.S. at

206-07; R.E., 694 F.3d at 187; Fuhrmann ex rel. Fuhrmann v. East Hanover

Board of Education, 993 F.2d 1031, 1039-40 (3d Cir. 1993). Under the majority

opinion, however, all a parent is procedurally required to do in order to obtain

tuition reimbursement is express his or her concerns informally by telephone and

48 1-11-2247

file the statutorily-required 10-day notice. A parent then may wait years to lodge a

formal complaint raising concerns which may have been possible to address

previously, but which may be impossible to address at a later time. In the ensuing

due process proceedings, the majority opinion bars the school from introducing

evidence regarding what it may have done to respond to a timely formal

complaint, while permitting the parent to rely on the child's prior lack of progress

to attack a years-old IEP.9 There is nothing in the Second Circuit's carefully-

reasoned opinion in R.E. justifying this unfair application of the rules of evidence.

See R.E., 694 F.3d at 186-88.

9 Indeed, the hearing officer's ruling that the March 2009 IEP was

inadequate is largely based on Jenna's prior lack of progress at Lane Tech. If the

hearing officer had been aware this court would impose a rule limiting

retrospective testimony, it is possible the officer would have reached a different

conclusion on this issue. 49 1-11-2247

¶ 102 The Hearing Officer's Decision

¶ 103 As previously noted, I concur with the majority opinion insofar as it holds

the traditional standards of administrative review apply to the review of the

hearing officer's decision in this case. Accordingly, we do not review the

propriety of the reasoning underlying the decision; rather, we review the decision

itself. Boaden v. Department of Law Enforcement, 267 Ill. App. 3d 645, 652

(1994). Indeed, this court can affirm an administrative decision for any reason the

record discloses, regardless of whether the decision relied on that reason. See,

e.g., Illinois Dept. of Central Management Services (State Police) v. Illinois Labor

Relations Board, State Panel, 382 Ill. App. 3d 208, 221 (2008) (and cases cited

therein); see Gernand v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 286 Ill. App. 3d 934, 943

(1997) (rule permitting this court to search the record to affirm, regardless of

whether the basis was relied upon by the trial court and regardless of whether the

reason given was correct, applies to administrative review).

¶ 104 The majority opinion holds the hearing officer erred as a matter of law in

stating the question he had to answer was: "Did the Elan School Provide Jenna

With FAPE in the LRE?" Supra ¶ 69. I concur that the services provided by the

Elan school are not legally required to meet the statutory definition of a FAPE.

50 1-11-2247

See Carter, 510 U.S. at 13. The majority opinion's analysis of the issue effectively

ends here, without determining whether the decision is otherwise correct.

¶ 105 Despite its initial statement of the issue, the hearing officer's decision never

faults the Elan school's services for failing to meet the statutory definition of a

FAPE. Instead, the hearing officer wrote:

"In determining whether a parent's unilateral placement is reasonably

calculated to enable the child to receive educational benefits, the court must

look at the totality of the circumstances, including, but not limited to,

grades, test scores and regular advancement. Gagliardo v. Arlington

Central School District, 489 F.3d 105 (2d Cir. 2007)."

The relevant passage in Gagliardo relies on Frank G. v. Board of Education of

Hyde Park, 459 F.3d 356, 364-65 (2d Cir. 2006), and M.S. ex rel. S.S. v. Board of

Education, 231 F.3d 96, 104 (2d Cir. 2000). Gagliardo, 489 F.3d at 112 (and

cases cited therein). The majority opinion similarly relies on Frank G. and M.S.

Supra ¶¶ 67-68. As the hearing officer's subsequent references to a FAPE deal

exclusively with the issue of whether Lane Tech provided one to Jenna, a careful

reading of the hearing officer's decision suggests he in fact applied the same law

as the majority opinion on this point.

51 1-11-2247

¶ 106 A careful reading of the hearing officer's decision also establishes the

majority opinion has misconstrued the hearing officer's discussion of the LRE.

Like the circuit court, the majority opinion states the hearing officer "focused

exclusively on whether Elan met the LRE requirement." Supra ¶ 70. The plain

language of the hearing officer's decision establishes the contrary.

¶ 107 Although the hearing officer's decision states "[t]he chief problem with the

Petitioner's case is the failure to comport with an equally significant portion of the

IDEA, namely that placement be in the least restrictive environment," the decision

proceeds to state:

"Though parent's failure to place Jenna in the "least restrictive

environment" possible is not necessarily a bar to tuition reimbursement, it is

a factor which the Hearing Officer may consider. M.S. vs. Bd. of Educ., 231

F.3d [sic] 96, 102 (2000)."10

10 Again, the hearing officer relied on the same case law as the majority

opinion on this point. Supra ¶ 70. The majority opinion alternatively relies on

case law holding a court cannot determine whether a private placement is the LRE

where the school district fails to provide a child with an adequate plan. See supra 52 1-11-2247

Thus, the hearing officer recognized he could not exclusively rely on the LRE

factor.

¶ 108 The hearing officer's decision also establishes he did not, in fact, rely on the

LRE factor as the sole reason for denying reimbursement in this case. When the

hearing officer wrote the LRE was an "equally significant portion of the IDEA,"

he was comparing it to his prior discussion of the rule that:

"Even where there is evidence of success, a Courts should not disturb

a State's denial of IDEA reimbursement where, as here, the chief benefits of

the private school would be preferred by parents of any child, disabled or

not. See Gagliardo, above."

At this juncture, it is worth quoting the relevant passage from Gagliardo:

¶¶ 71-73. For the reasons already explained in discussing the admissibility of

retrospective testimony, the majority opinion's reliance on the failure to provide a

plan depends upon mistaking a request to defer an IEP meeting as a refusal to

provide a plan and considering a parent's concerns expressed informally in a

telephone call as the equivalent of the statutory procedures required by the IDEA. 53 1-11-2247

"We finally add a word about the position a district court finds itself

in where, as here, it is called upon to review a case in which parents have

enrolled their disabled child in a private school, believing it to be the best

thing for the child, and can point to their child's record of success at the

school they chose. It is understandable that a district court would be

receptive to parents under these circumstances; a child's progress is relevant

to the court's review. But such progress does not itself demonstrate that a

private placement was appropriate. See Berger v. Medina City Sch. Dist.,

348 F.3d 513, 522 (6th Cir. 2003) ("[E]vidence of academic progress at a

private school does not itself establish that the private placement offers

adequate and appropriate education under the IDEA."); Rafferty v. Cranston

Pub. Sch. Comm., 315 F.3d 21, 26-27 (1st Cir. 2002) (same). Indeed, even

where there is evidence of success, courts should not disturb a state's denial

of IDEA reimbursement where, as here, the chief benefits of the chosen

school are the kind of educational and environmental advantages and

amenities that might be preferred by parents of any child, disabled or not. A

unilateral private placement is only appropriate if it provides "education

instruction specifically designed to meet the unique needs of a handicapped

54 1-11-2247

child." Frank G., 459 F.3d at 365 (quoting Rowley, 458 U.S. at 188-89, 102

S. Ct. 3034) (emphasis added)." Gagliardo, 489 F.3d at 115.

The majority opinion holds a small class size, such as those offered at Elan,

"can be 'one element of the special education services' needed for a child." Supra

¶ 66 (citing Frank G., 459 F.3d at 365). The Second Circuit's decision in Frank

G., however, specifically avoided holding small class size alone was sufficient to

render the private placement at issue appropriate, because the teacher in that case

adapted her instruction to meet the child's specific needs. Frank G., 459 F.3d at

365.

¶ 109 In this case, neither plaintiffs nor the majority opinion has identified how

the Elan school's program was specifically designed or adapted to meet Jenna's

unique needs. Indeed, Hawkins testified she never conducted a formal evaluation

or assessment of Jenna. Supra ¶ 23. Accordingly, the hearing officer could

reasonably conclude the services Elan offered were those of a kind which might be

preferred by parents generally, but not warranting reimbursement under IDEA in

this case. This failure of proof alone is sufficient to sustain the hearing officer's

decision.

¶ 110 The hearing officer's analysis, however, went further:

55 1-11-2247

"It appears to the Hearing Officer that Jenna's emotional problems

manifested themselves in high risk behaviors outside of school, in the

community, and were not necessarily the school's concern. The evidence

indicated that much of Jenna's problems (absences) stemmed from parent-

child management issues. It is not necessarily the school's duty to provide a

residential placement for a child who does not listen to her parents and is a

chronic runaway, for psychological reasons unrelated to the school."

Indeed, after discussing whether the Elan school was the LRE for Jenna, the

hearing officer returned to a related point:

"Furthermore, the placement must be for educational reasons. Time

and time again, the Petitioner repeatedly stated at the Hearing that he was

concerned about the Student's 'safety and security'. While naturally these

are concerns any father would have for his daughter, they are not necessarily

the school district's concerns, where, as in this case, the student's primary

disability was emotionally based, rather than learning based (although she

did have a secondary classification of a non-verbal learning disorder, her

standardized test scores and grades at Elan showed that Jenna was quite

capable of learning in a highly-structured environment)."

56 1-11-2247

Although unmentioned by the hearing officer, federal appellate courts have

differed in their approaches to residential placements under IDEA and its

predecessor, particularly where the child's disability is primarily medical, social or

emotional. See generally Jefferson County School Dist. R-1 v. Elizabeth E. ex rel.

Roxanne B., 702 F.3d 1227, 1232-34 (and cases discussed therein), aff'd 702 F.3d

1227 (10th Cir. 2012). Of particular note is Dale M., in which the Seventh Circuit

ruled the parents were not entitled to reimbursement for placing their child at the

Elan school after his release from jail because the purpose of the placement was

confinement, which the court concluded is not a "related service" under the IDEA

as a matter of law. See 237 F.3d at at 816-17.11 The majority opinion does not

expressly adopt any of the approaches taken by federal appellate courts to this type

of case. To the extent the majority opinion focuses on whether the placement

provided "special education," as that term is defined by the IDEA, its approach is

consistent with the Tenth Circuit's approach (see Jefferson County School Dist.

11 The record in this case establishes the Elan school provided more than

confinement, even if plaintiffs ultimately failed to prove the Elan school's program

was specifically designed or adapted to meet Jenna's unique needs. 57 1-11-2247

R-1, 702 F.3d at 1235) and to that extent I concur with the majority opinion's focus

on the statutory text, if not its interpretation of that text.

¶ 111 In sum, although I partially concur in the majority opinion's discussion of

the standard of review and its focus on the statutory text, I conclude the adoption

of a rule limiting retrospective testimony by the defendants is inappropriate

regarding reimbursement prior to March 2009, and unfairly applied solely against

the defendants. Moreover, any error of law in the hearing officer's decision does

not preclude this court from affirming the denial of reimbursement, based on the

reasons actually provided by the hearing officer. In particular, I conclude

plaintiffs failed to prove the Elan school's program was specifically designed or

adapted to meet Jenna's unique needs. Lastly, the majority opinion fails to address

the circuit court's finding of unreasonableness with respect to actions taken by the

parents. For all of the aforementioned reasons, I respectfully dissent.