Opinion ID: 442966
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: district of columbia

Text: 19 Our decision that the injunction against HSC was improper does not end the case. The EAHCA does impose exacting procedural requirements on public authorities, and the District unquestionably is covered by the Act. If a parent or guardian objects to a proposed change in a child's educational placement, the EAHCA requires that the change not take place until the objections are aired before the appropriate public education agency in a full hearing procedure, including judicial review. 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1415(e). If the move to Forest Haven constitutes a change in educational placement, and HSC does not continue to house Pierce, it appears that the District, in order to satisfy its statutory obligation, must provide Pierce other facilities--ones more closely resembling HSC's--which would maintain his educational placement at least until hearings are completed. Thus, we reach the central question whether the move from HSC to Forest Haven, with continued education at HSC, is a change in educational placement under the EAHCA. 20 First, we reject the argument that simply because Pierce, after his discharge, will continue to receive the same HSC daytime education he now receives as an HSC resident, his educational placement cannot be said to change. As courts that have required education agencies to provide free residential care as part of a free education under the EAHCA have noted, the educational needs of a severely handicapped child such as Pierce are closely intertwined with the need for other residential services. See Abrahamson v. Hershman, 701 F.2d 223, 227 (1st Cir.1983); Kruelle v. New Castle County School District, 642 F.2d 687, 693-95 (3d Cir.1981). Therefore, we look beyond the concededly unchanged HSC daytime education to residential services provided Pierce at HSC and at Forest Haven. 21 The leading precedent on what type of change constitutes a change in educational placement is Concerned Parents v. New York City Board of Education, 629 F.2d 751 (2d Cir.1980), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1078, 101 S.Ct. 858, 66 L.Ed.2d 801 (1981). The Second Circuit stated in Concerned Parents that a change in educational placement occurs only when there is a change in the general educational program in which a child ... is enrolled, rather than mere variations in the program itself. Id. at 754. Under Concerned Parents, a move from a mainstream program to one consisting only of handicapped students would constitute a change in educational placement; a move from one mainstream program to another, with the elimination of a theater arts class, would not be such a change. 22 The type of program required by a profoundly handicapped child such as Pierce is too individualized to enable us to say that a move from one residential placement to another can never be a change in educational placement. However, the Concerned Parents reasoning 5 suggests that appellee must identify, at a minimum, a fundamental change in, or elimination of a basic element of the education program in order for the change to qualify as a change in educational placement. Appellee has not met this standard. 23 The main change appellee-surrogate parent has alleged 6 is in the feeding treatment Pierce will receive at Forest Haven. Appellee does not dispute that Pierce will be fed on a one-to-one basis at Forest Haven, as he is in HSC, or that the Forest Haven feeding program was developed by a nutritionist. Affidavit of Emille Grier, Lunceford, Civ. No. 83-2132 (D.D.C. Oct. 14, 1983). Appellee contends only that the overworked Forest Haven staff cannot administer its feeding program as well as HSC administers its program. Declaration of Sheila Kaplan, Lunceford, Civ. No. 83-2132 (D.D.C. Oct. 14, 1983). This can be a problem, and the subject of a complaint and hearings under the EAHCA. 7 But it is not alone sufficient to constitute a change in educational placement, requiring the District to keep Pierce at HSC or a comparable facility until hearings are completed. 24 Finally, we address appellee's argument that under the court order in Evans v. Washington, 459 F.Supp. 483 (D.D.C.1978), Pierce cannot be re-admitted to Forest Haven in any case. In Evans, Judge Pratt found that constitutional rights of Forest Haven residents had been violated; he issued an order, consented to by the defendants, detailing procedures for, among other things, deinstitutionalization of patients and interim operation of Forest Haven. Section 12 of the order stated: There shall be no admissions to Forest Haven until further order of this Court. Id. at 488. 25 The District argues that section 12 of the Evans order covers only new admissions, not returns or readmissions. In the district court, the District submitted in support of its interpretation an affidavit of the Acting Superintendent of Forest Haven. The affidavit stated that although [n]o new persons can be admitted or committed to Forest Haven, ... Forest Haven residents have lived outside of Forest Haven [in community residences, hospitals, other institutions] and then [have] returned. Affidavit of Donald Brooks, Lunceford, Civ. No. 83-2132 (D.D.C. Oct. 14, 1983). The surrogate parent does not challenge the accuracy of the Acting Superintendent's affidavit. We believe it reflects a proper reading and application of Judge Pratt's order. 8 26 Pierce's surrogate parents have diligently sought the best possible treatment for Pierce, and this court is sympathetic to their concerns. But resources are not infinite, and many other demands compete for limited public funds. The EAHCA does not secure the best education money can buy; it calls upon government, more modestly, to provide an appropriate education for each child. See Hendrick Hudson District School Board v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176, 198-200, 102 S.Ct. 3034, 3046-3048, 73 L.Ed.2d 690 (1982). 27 In this case, the District, using the residential services of Forest Haven and the outpatient education program of HSC, has fulfilled its obligation under the EAHCA to maintain Pierce's educational placement pending any complaint proceedings the surrogate parent may bring. 28 We reverse the district court's judgment for plaintiff-appellee, and direct dismissal of the action against HSC, and judgment on the merits for the District of Columbia. 29 It is so ordered.