Opinion ID: 398788
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Required

Text: 14 The EHA requires that states participating in the EHA's federal grants-in-aid program establish procedures by which parents or guardians may challenge the evaluation and placement of a child by the local educational agency. A state must provide an opportunity to present complaints with respect to any matter relating to the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child, or the provision of a free appropriate public education to such child. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(b)(1)(E). When a complaint is received, the parents or guardian shall have an opportunity for an impartial due process hearing which shall be conducted by the State educational agency or by the local educational agency or intermediate educational unit, as determined by State law or by the State educational agency. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(b)(2). If the hearing is conducted by a local educational agency or an intermediate educational unit, any party aggrieved by its findings and decision may appeal to the State educational agency. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(c). 15 New York State has given these hearings requirements operational effect by providing parents the right to appeal the decision of the local Committee on the Handicapped to an impartial hearing officer appointed by the local board of education. The hearing officer will make a recommendation to the board. An appeal to the commissioner of education will lie from any determination of the board of education. N.Y.Educ.Law (McKinney) § 4404.1. 16 Once those state administrative proceedings are exhausted, any aggrieved party shall have the right to bring a civil action with respect to the complaint presented pursuant to this section, which action may be brought in any State Court of competent jurisdiction or in a district court of the United States without regard to the amount in controversy. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(e)(2). 17