Opinion ID: 77196
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Individualized Education Plan

Text: 55 To provide a child with a FAPE, the School Board formulates an IEP during a meeting between the student's parents and school officials. Loren F., 349 F.3d at 1312 (citing 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A)-(B) and N.L. v. Knox County Sch., 315 F.3d 688, 689 (6th Cir.2003)). 56 More specifically, a parent is required to notify a school board or other public agency that it wishes to place a child in special education services. 7 The parent then consents to have the child evaluated to determine whether the child is a child with a disability under the IDEA. See 34 C.F.R. §§ 300.320, 300.343. 57 Once a child is evaluated and determined to be a child with a disability under the IDEA, an IEP team is formed. See 34 C.F.R. § 300.344(a). The IEP team normally includes the parents, a regular education teacher, at least one special education teacher, a School Board representative, other individuals with relevant expertise, and the child (if appropriate). Id. at §§ 300.344(a)(1)-(7). 58 Once the IEP team is formed, meetings are held and an IEP is developed. See 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A)(i) (describing the necessary contents of an IEP). During the IEP-development process, parental involvement is critical; indeed, full parental involvement is the purpose of many of the IDEA's procedural requirements. See Doe v. Alabama State Dep't of Educ., 915 F.2d 651, 661 (11th Cir.1990); see also Weber v. Cranston Sch. Comm., 212 F.3d 41, 51 (1st Cir.2000); 34 C.F.R. § 300.345 (outlining parental involvement in the IEP process). 59 Once an IEP is developed, the School Board must determine whether it will provide the special education needs of the child. See Sch. Comm. of Town of Burlington v. Dep't of Educ., 471 U.S. 359, 369, 105 S.Ct. 1996, 2002, 85 L.Ed.2d 385 (1985) (The Act contemplates that such education will be provided where possible in regular public schools, with the child participating as much as possible in the same activities as nonhandicapped children, but the Act also provides for placement in private schools at public expense where this is not possible.) (citations omitted); Loren F., 349 F.3d at 1312 (Although the IDEA reflects a structural preference in favor of providing special education in public schools, it recognizes that certain public schools are unable or unwilling to provide appropriate special education services.). If the School Board elects not to provide the programs outlined in the IEP, it refers the child to a private school or program at no cost to the parents. See 20 U.S.C. § 1412(a)(10)(B)(i); 34 C.F.R. § 300.401. 60 If, however, the School Board elects to provide the services outlined in the IEP, one of three things will happen. First, the parents can enroll their child in public school and the school is required to provide for the services outlined in the IEP. See 34 C.F.R. § 300.342 (outlining when IEPs must be in effect). 61 Second, the parents can acknowledge that the IEP is sufficiently adequate to provide a FAPE but decide that their child's educational needs are better met by voluntarily enrolling their child in a private school or program. If the parents elect this option, the School Board is not required to reimburse the parents for any cost associated with the child's voluntary enrollment in private school. See 20 U.S.C. § 1412(a)(10)(C)(i); 34 C.F.R. § 300.454(a)(1). 62 Third, the parents can notify the school that they are rejecting the IEP and then challenge the IEP via a due process hearing. See 20 U.S.C. §§ 1412(a)(6)(A) & 1415(a)-( o ); 34 C.F.R. § 300.403(b). Should the parents successfully challenge the IEP and if it is determined that the placement in private school was proper, a court or a hearing officer may require [the School Board] to reimburse the parents for the cost of that enrollment. . . . 20 U.S.C. § 1412(a)(10)(C)(ii); see 34 C.F.R. 300.403(c) ([A] court or a hearing officer may require the agency to reimburse the parents for the cost of that [private school] enrollment if . . . the agency had not made FAPE available to the child in a timely manner prior to that enrollment and . . . the private placement is appropriate.). 63 We now discuss the ALJ's and district court's roles under the IDEA.