Opinion ID: 771862
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Bexley's procedural violation denied Justin a FAPE

Text: 39 This conclusion does not end our analysis, however. As discussed supra, a procedural violation of the IDEA is not a per se denial of a FAPE; rather, a school district's failure to comply with the procedural requirements of the Act will constitute a denial of a FAPE only if such violation causes substantive harm to the child or his parents. See Guest, 193 F.3d at 464-65;Daugherty, 21 F. Supp. 2d at 772. Substantive harm occurs when the procedural violations in question seriously infringe upon the parents' opportunity to participate in the IEP process. See W.G. v. Bd. of Trustees of Target Range Sch.Dist. No. 23, 960 F.2d 1479, 1484 (9th Cir. 1992). In addition, procedural violations that deprive an eligible student of an individualized education program or result in the loss of educational opportunity also will constitute a denial of a FAPE under the IDEA. See Babb v. Knox County Sch. Sys., 965 F.2d 104, 109 (6th Cir. 1992); W.G., 960 F.2d at 1484. 40 Here, the district court found that Bexley's failure to convene an IEP conference did not constitute a substantive deprivation of Justin's rights under the IDEA. Specifically, the district court held that, based on a preponderance of evidence in the record, any procedural violations committed by Bexley or the aggregation of the violations did not result in the denial of an FAPE. In reaching its conclusion, the district court emphasized that Bexley had afforded the Knables opportunities to become involved in the process of formulating an IEP for Justin. The court also pointed to the cooperation between Bexley officials and the Knables during Justin's hospitalization at Upham Hall between January 1993 and February 1994. In light of these facts, the district court concluded that Bexley's failure to convene an IEP conference did not seriously infringe on the Knables' opportunity to participate in the IEP process or deny Justin educational opportunity. 41 We review the district court's conclusion de novo, see Tucker, 136 F.3d at 503; W.G., 960 F.2d at 1483 (holding question of whether child was denied FAPE is mixed question of law and fact that is reviewed de novo), and find that it is not borne out by the record. It is true that Bexley met with the Knables on several occasions to discuss Justin's behavioral problems and to review possible placement options for him. The record also reflects that Bexley worked with the Knables to ease Justin's transition from Upham Hall back to Bexley in February 1994. Such cooperation, however, is not the equivalent of providing parents a meaningful role in the process of formulating an IEP. 42 As discussed above, Bexley never convened an IEP conference for Justin. As a result, the Knables never were able to participate in an IEP conference. The IEP conference is the primary opportunity for parental involvement in the process of developing an IEP. See 34 C.F.R. §300.345(a); 34 C.F.R. pt. 300, app. C, cmt. 26 (stating that parents are intended to be equal participants and to play an active role in the IEP conference); see also Doe v. Defendant I, 898 F.2d 1186, 1191 (6th Cir. 1990) (Adequate parental involvement and participation in formulating an IEP . . . appear to be the Court's primary concern in requiring that procedures be strictly enforced.). Bexley's assertion that the school district was unable to conduct an IEP meeting until the Knables had agreed to a placement for Justin does not excuse its failure to conduct an IEP conference. Because there was no IEP conference, Mr. and Mrs. Knable were denied any meaningful opportunity to participate in the IEP process. See W.G., 960 F.2d at 1484. 43 Moreover, the absence of an IEP at any time during Justin's sixth-grade year caused Justin to lose educational opportunity. Because Bexley never convened an IEP conference for Justin during the 1993-94 school year, Justin had no IEP at all during that year. Consequently, Justin did not have access to specialized instruction and related services that were individually designed to provide educational benefit. Rowley, 458 U.S. at 201. Without an IEP in place, Justin's behavior and academic performance suffered. Justin's inappropriate behavior became more frequent over the course of his sixth-grade year and his academic performance deteriorated. Bexley's failure to convene an IEP conference thus resulted in Justin losing educational opportunity 4 . See Babb, 965 F.2d at 108. BecauseBexley's failure to convene an IEP conference both denied the Knables the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the IEP process and resulted in the loss of educational opportunity for Justin, we hold that the district court erred in concluding that Bexley's procedural violation did not constitute a denial of a FAPE under the IDEA. 5