Opinion ID: 2976050
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: standard of review

Text: A district court initially reviewing an IDEA administrative finding “should make an independent decision based on a preponderance of the evidence but also should give ‘due weight’ to the determinations made at the state administrative process.” Bd. of Educ. of Fayette County, Ky. v. L.M., 478 F.3d 307, 312 (6th Cir. 2007) (citations and quotation marks omitted), petition for cert. filed, 76 U.S.L.W. 3199 (U.S. Oct. 3, 2007) (No. 07-465). “A district court thus reviews IDEA cases under a modified de novo standard, meaning that it may set aside administrative findings in an IDEA case only if the evidence before the court is more likely than not to preclude the administrative decision from being justified based on the agency’s presumed educational expertise, a fair estimate of the worth of the testimony, or both.” Id. at 312-13 4 (citation and quotation marks omitted). “More weight is due to an agency’s determination on matters for which educational expertise is relevant.” Id. at 313 (citation and quotation marks omitted). On appeal, we review the district court’s findings of fact for clear error, and its conclusions of law are reviewed de novo. Id. Mixed questions of law and fact “are reviewed de novo, although the panel should accord due deference to the state administrative hearing officer’s decision.” Id. (citation and quotation marks omitted).