Opinion ID: 1473311
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Review by Petition for Writ of Certiorari Is Inappropriate

Text: This case is before us on a petition for a writ of certiorari from the order of the board of education requiring the school district to provide special education to Christine. Because New Hampshire receives federal funding pursuant to EHCA, the subject matter of this case is governed by EHCA as well as by RSA chapter 186-C (Supp. 1981). The review process preceding this petition was consistent with the federal due process mandate of EHCA and with the department of education's regulations. EHCA provides, however, that any party aggrieved by a decision of the State educational agency shall have the right to bring a civil action with respect to any complaint in any State court of competent jurisdiction or in federal district court, which is able to hear additional evidence. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(e)(2) (1976). Consequently, the school district could have sought review of the board's decision by instituting such a civil action in State superior court or in the United States District Court, but instead it erroneously sought a petition for a writ of certiorari in this court. [1, 2] The standard of review is narrow for a case which comes before us on a petition for writ of certiorari: whether the agency or official acted illegally in respect to jurisdiction, authority, or observance of law, or whether it abused its discretion or acted arbitrarily, unreasonably, or capriciously. See Appeal of Hollingworth, 122 N.H. 1028, 1032, 453 A.2d 1288, 1290 (1982). This standard of review necessarily precludes the consideration of additional evidence which the school district had a right to present under federal law. In oral argument and in its reply brief, the school district argues that federal law requires that the appeal from the decision of a State educational agency be in the form of a de novo review, and requests that the narrow scope of review by petition for a writ of certiorari not be applied. Furthermore, the school district requests that this court constitute the forum for such de novo review. [3] At the outset, we note that the United States Supreme Court's holding in Rowley indicates that court review pursuant to EHCA is not de novo in nature because the court receives the records of the administrative proceedings, and the evidence it receives is additional. Board of Education v. Rowley, 102 S. Ct. 3050-51. [4, 5] We hold that judicial review by means of a petition for a writ of certiorari to this court is inappropriate in this case, because applicable federal law provides that any party aggrieved by the findings and decisions of the State educational agency has the right to bring a civil action in a court where additional evidence may be presented; specifically, a State trial court or a federal district court. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(e)(2) (1976). An appellate court, such as ours, is not an appropriate forum for review of a complaint based on EHCA. We agree with the United States Supreme Court that the importance Congress attached to these procedural safeguards cannot be gainsaid. Board of Education v. Rowley, 102 S. Ct. at 3050. Accordingly, we find that the procedural requirements of EHCA cannot be satisfied by this court, and we dismiss the petition for writ of certiorari so that the school district may bring an action in State superior court or the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. [6] We caution that if the school district initiates a proceeding in State superior court, this would not be an invitation to the [court] to substitute [its] own notions of sound educational policy for those of the board of education. Board of Education v. Rowley, 102 S. Ct. at 3051. However, we agree with the First Circuit Court of Appeals that for judicial review under EHCA to have any meaning the courts must be free to construe the term `educational' so as to insure, at least, that the state [policy] provides the hope of educational benefit. Abrahamson v. Hershman, 701 F.2d 223, 231 (1st Cir. 1983). Dismissed.