Opinion ID: 72884
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Adequate Educational Benefits

Text: Under the substantive prong of Rowley the Court must determine whether Samuel received adequate educational benefits during his year at Maniscalco. J.S.K. v. Hendry County School Board, 941 F.2d 1563, 1572-73 (11th Cir.1991) (interpreting Rowley, 458 U.S. 176, 102 S.Ct. 3034, 73 L.Ed.2d 690). Adequate educational benefits refer to a basic floor of opportunity which might not have existed without the IDEA. Id. The Hearing Officer's findings include a thorough review of Samuel's educational experience while at Maniscalco, and conclude that Samuel progressed both academically and behaviorally during the school year. The final order sets forth a lengthy recitation of Samuel's progress. (Final Order ¶ 37, 38). In their motion for summary judgment. the Weisses disagree with the Hearing Officer's interpretation of certain facts and offer others in support of their position that Samuel did not receive adequate educational benefits. Upon review of the objections to the final order, it appears that the Weisses do not refute the Hearing Officer's recitation of the academic benefits Samuel received. Rather, the Weisses spend a great deal of their memorandum discussing the faults of the educational services that Samuel received and explaining how Samuel would have made greater progress had the Georgia IEP been implemented. The Weisses also contend that Samuel's behavior regressed during the school year. The Court is certain that both the Weisses and the School Board desire to provide Samuel with an education which will maximize his potential. However, the School Board is not required to maximize his potential. Doe v. Alabama State Dept. Of Educ., 915 F.2d 651, 665 (11th Cir.1990). Nor is the School Board required to provide an education according to the dictates of Col. and Mrs. Weiss, notwithstanding their unequivocal right to participate in making educational decisions. The Court finds that Plaintiffs have not adequately refuted the Hearing Officer's conclusion that Samuel made measurable and adequate gains in the classroom as required under J.S.K., 941 F.2d 1563. Thus, the Weisses have failed to show a violation of the IDEA under either prong of the Rowley standard.