Opinion ID: 8414553
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Statutory Background and Legal Framework

Text: Under the IDEA, 20 U.S.C. §§ MOO-1491, all states that receive federal education funding must establish policies and procedures to ensure that a “free appropriate public education is available to all children with disabilities.” Id. at § 1412(a)(1)(A). The IDEA defines a FAPE as “special education” that is provided at public expense. Id. at § 1401(9). A child receives a FAPE, for purposes of the IDEA, if the program addresses the child’s unique needs, provides adequate support services so that the child can take advantage of educational opportunities, and is in accord with the IEP. Id. A state must comply both procedurally and substantively with the IDEA. Id. at § 1400 et seq. In determining whether a student has received a FAPE in compliance with the IDEA, the court conducts both a procedural and substantive inquiry. The court considers whether the school complied with the procedures set forth in the IDEA. Bd. of Educ. v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176, 206-07, 102 S.Ct. 3034, 73 L.Ed.2d 690 (1982). The court also evaluates whether the IEP in this case, or lack thereof, was reasonably calculated to enable the child to receive educational benefits. Id. Where a court identifies a procedural violation that denied a student a FAPE, the court need not address the second substantive prong of the inquiry. Doug C. v. Haw. Dep’t. of Educ., 720 F.3d 1038, 1043 (9th Cir. 2013). Not all procedural violations constitute a denial of a FAPE. R.B. v. Napa Valley Unified Sch. Dist., 496 F.3d 932, 938 (9th Cir. 2007). A child is denied a FAPE when procedural inadequacies result in the loss of an educational opportunity, or seriously infringe on the parents’ opportunity to participate in the IEP formulation process. Doug C., 720 F.3d at 1043. A procedural error is harmless if the student is substantively ineligible for IDEA benefits. R.B., 496 F.3d at 942.