Opinion ID: 771862
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Bexley's draft IEP must be evaluated as written

Text: 50 As an initial matter, we note that we must limit our evaluation of Bexley's proposed IEP to the terms of the document itself, as presented in writing to the Knables. The IDEA specifically requires school districts to provide parents a formal written offer before either initiating a placement for a disabled child or otherwise providing a FAPE to the child. See 20 U.S.C. § 1415(b)(1)(C). In discussing the importance of the formal written offer requirement, the Ninth Circuit has noted that the requirement is not merely technical, but rather serves the important purpose of creating a clear record of the educational placement and other services offered to the parents. See Union Sch. Dist. v. Smith, 15 F.3d 1519, 1526 (9th Cir. 1994). The written offer not only helps to eliminate factual disputes between the school district and parents about proposed placements, but also greatly assists parents in presenting complaints with respect to any matter relating to the . . . educational placement of the child. Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). The written offer requirement should therefore be enforced rigorously. See id. 51 The district court expressly addressed the question of whether Bexley's proposed IEP offered an appropriate program for Justin and agreed with the IHO's assessment of the quality of the proposed IEP and the Harding School Plus program, holding that Bexley could have provided a free appropriate public education to meet Justin's specific needs . . . . (emphasis added). The district court suggested that any unanswered questions resulting from deficiencies in the proposed IEP were the Knables' fault inasmuch as Bexley offered 'continuing and abundant opportunities to the Knables to be involved in fashioning an IEP. . . .' 52 The district court erred in relying on the IHO's finding that Bexley had the capacity to offer Justin an appropriate program. The district court should have limited its assessment to the terms of the draft IEP document itself. Although there was evidence in the record indicating what could have been provided at Harding, only those services identified or described in the draft IEP should have been considered in evaluating the appropriateness of the program offered. See id. at 1525-26 (considering only written placement offer in assessing appropriateness of program offered by school district); see also Burilovich v. Bd. of Educ. of Lincoln Consol. Schs., 208 F.3d 560, 568 (6th Cir.) (holding that oral proposal by school district about what could be offered is not an IEP), cert. denied, 121 S. Ct. 380 (2000); Cleveland Heights-Univ. Heights City Sch. Dist. v. Boss, 144 F.3d 391, 398 (6th Cir. 1998) (rejecting school district's argument that proposed IEP was first draft that would have been further developed had parents continued dialogue with school); Briere v. Fair Haven Grade Sch. Dist., 948 F. Supp. 1242, 1256 (D. Vt. 1996) (finding that issue before the court was whether proposed IEP complied with the IDEA, not whether an IEP might have been developed that would have complied). Moreover, as discussed previously, the Knables' refusal to agree on a proposed placement for Justin does not justify Bexley's noncompliance with the IDEA. Thus, the only offer of placement that was appropriately before the district court was that specified in Bexley's draft IEP dated August 30, 1994. 53