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finding substantive harm where student "operated without meaningful assessments for most of the two year period in question and [was] never provided appropriate, measurable goals"
Summary of this case from Gibson ex rel. Gibson v. Forest Hills Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ.Opinion
Civil Action No. 09-10966-PBS.
September 3, 2010.
Amy M. Rogers, Catherine L. Lyons, Sullivan, Nuttall MacAvoy, P.C., Marsh-field, MA, for Plaintiff.
Daniel E. Rosenfeld, Matthew J. Iverson, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP, Janine A. Solomon, Pamela Coveney, Boston, MA, for Defendants.
Christine A. Baily, Attorney General's Office, Boston, MA.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff Dracut School Committee ("Dracut") seeks judicial review of two decisions of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's ("DESE's") Bureau of Special Education Appeals ("BSEA") pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA"), 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400- 1482. In the Initial Decision, issued on March 13, 2009, a BSEA Hearing Officer found that Dracut had failed to provide the student, C.A., who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and an anxiety disorder, with a free and appropriate education ("FAPE") because it gave inadequate transition services while he was in high school. The Hearing Officer ordered Dracut to award C.A. his diploma, and extended his statutory eligibility for two years after graduation so that Dracut could provide him compensatory services during that time. In the second Compliance Decision, issued on July 14, 2009, the Hearing Officer determined that Dracut had failed to comply with his initial order, which had required the school to hire and compensate two of C.A.'s experts as consultants because Dracut offered unreasonable rates of pay.
Dracut and the individual defendants, C.A., and his mother, P.A., have filed cross-motions for summary judgment. The BSEA and DESE have not filed their own motion, but filed a lengthy opposition to Dracut's. After hearing and review of the administrative record, the Court ALLOWS IN PART Dracut's motion, ALLOWS IN PART the individual defendants' motion, and remands the action for further proceedings.
II. BACKGROUND
A. Statutory Overview
Congress enacted the IDEA "to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education . . . designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. . . ." 20 U.S.C. § 1400(d)(1)(A). In exchange for federal funding, the States must provide all disabled children a FAPE. "To the maximum extent appropriate" children with disabilities are to receive a FAPE in the "[l]east restrictive environment."Id. § 1412(a)(5)(A). Massachusetts law requires that local school districts provide disabled children a FAPE as defined by the IDEA and state regulations. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 71B, §§ 1- 3; see also 20 U.S.C. § 1401(9)(B).
The statute defines FAPE as educational services that
(A) have been provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without charge;
(B) meet the standards of the State educational agency;
(C) include an appropriate preschool, elementary school, or secondary school education in the State involved; and
(D) are provided in conformity with the individualized education program required under section 1414(d) of this title.Id. § 1401(9).
The IDEA imposes procedural requirements designed to safeguard a student's right to a FAPE, the most important of which is the mandatory development of an individualized education program ("IEP") by the local school district responsible for an eligible student's education. 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d); see also Pihl v. Mass. Dep't of Educ., 9 F.3d 184, 187 (1st Cir. 1993) (discussing the statutory framework). An IEP team, including the child's parents, regular and special education teachers, qualified and knowledgeable representatives of the local educational agency, and other educational professionals with specialized knowledge about the child's education design the plan. 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(B); see also Lessard v. Wilton Lyndeborough Coop. Sch. Dist., 518 F.3d 18, 23 (1st Cir. 2008) (discussing these requirements). "IEPs are by their very nature idiosyncratic," Me. Sch. Admin. Dist. No. 35 v. Mr. Mrs. R., 321 F.3d 9, 20 (1st Cir. 2003), but must include, among other things, (1) a statement of the child's present level of academic functioning and performance; (2) measurable academic and functional annual goals for the student; (3) the intended method of measuring the student's progress toward those goals; (4) the services provided by the school to facilitate that progress; and (5) an explanation of the extent to which the student will participate in the regular education curriculum. 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A)(i); see also 603 Mass. Code Regs. 28.05(4) (establishing similar state regulations regarding IEP content).
Beginning at age sixteen, the IDEA mandates the provision of transition services, a coordinated set of activities that
(A) is designed to be within a results-oriented process, that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child's movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, adult services, independent living, or community participation;
(B) is based on the individual child's needs, taking into account the child's strengths, preferences, and interests; and
(C) includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school living objectives, and when appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.20 U.S.C. § 1401(34); see also id. § 1414(d)(1)(A)(i)(VIII) (establishing transition services requirement). Massachusetts law includes similar (but not identical) requirements, but requires that transition planning begin at age fourteen. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 71B, § 2.
The school district shall ensure that options are available for older students, particularly those eligible students of ages 18 through 21 years. Such options shall include continuing education; developing skills to access community services; developing independent living skills; developing skills for self-management of medical needs; and developing skills necessary for seeking, obtaining, and maintaining jobs.603 Mass. Code Regs. 28.06(4). The IEPs must list "appropriate measurable postsecondary goals based upon age appropriate transition assessment related to training, education, employment, and . . . independent living skills; [and] the transition services . . . needed to assist the child in reaching those goals. . . ." 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A)(i)(VIII)(aa)-(bb).
A student or parent may challenge an IEP by seeking a hearing before the state special education agency. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(f); Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 71B, § 3. Federal and state regulations govern the proceedings before the agency, the BSEA in this case. See 34 C.F.R. § 300.507-13; 603 Mass. Code Regs. 28.08(5). Decisions of a BSEA Hearing Officer are not reviewable by the state education agency, but an aggrieved party may seek a compliance order for a decision that is not being implemented, 603 Mass. Code Regs. 28.08(6), and may request judicial review by filing an action in state or federal court. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2); 34 C.F.R. § 300.516.
B. C.A.'s Educational History
1. Initial Experience at Dracut
C.A., who is now twenty years old, has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and an anxiety disorder. (Administrative Record ("AR") at 4, 1300, 1330, 1544.) He is "a child with a disability" as defined by the IDEA. 20 U.S.C. § 1401(3).
Asperger's is an autism spectrum disorder that causes significant social interaction difficulties and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other disorders on the autism spectrum in its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development. (See Administrative Record ("AR") at 289, 293-94, 1299, 1309-10.)
C.A. began attending Dracut High School as a freshman in 2004 and soon began experiencing academic, emotional, behavioral, and social problems, including altercations with other students. (AR at 199, 441-43.) In January 2005, P.A. arranged for a private evaluation of her son by Mary Elise Abele, a speech language pathologist, who prepared a report explaining that C.A. has significant pragmatic language deficits and recommending specialized services. (Id. at 199, 206-08, 1332-35; see also id. at 1321-27 (describing Ms. Abele's qualifications).) She observed C.A. in class and interviewed him, reporting that while he did well academically, he "is unable to apply the skills of social interaction in the classroom for academic tasks, like group discussion, or in less formal times during the school day with his peers." (Id. at 1334.) She noted that "[t]he staff at the high school have worked hard to accommodate [C.A.] in the academic and social areas and he has transitioned to the high school well. It will be important to enhance the help offered . . . so that he can learn to control his impulsive behavior . . . and . . . contribute [effectively]." (Id. at 335.) She recommended a social pragmatic peer group, a safe place where he could process difficult interactions, organizational support, and transition planning to help him learn how to function on a job, all of which would require an IEP. (Id.)
Language pragmatics is the proper understanding and use of language in context. (Id. at 614-17.) Pragmatic language deficits, which are characteristic of Asperger's Syndrome, impair one's ability to understand the meaning and appropriate use of language in social situations. (Id.)
P.A. submitted this report to Dracut, which considered it but took no action. (Id. at 199.) As a result, P.A. placed her son in the Spotlight Program, an independent social pragmatics program under the guidance of Dr. Karen Levine, a clinical psychologist. (Id. at 336-38, 1302-04.) He attended the program for three hours every other week from 2005 to 2006. (Id.)
In his sophomore year, C.A.'s behavior led to a six-week suspension after he brought a letter opener to school in January 2006. (Id. at 200, 338, 407-08.) Shortly thereafter, P.A. arranged an independent psychological evaluation of her son with Dr. Levine. (Id. at 200, 204-06, 1294-1301.) Dr. Levine interviewed C.A. for several hours and administered a Social Communication Questionnaire, used to screen for Autism spectrum disorder. (Id. at 1294-99.) Her conclusions were consistent with his diagnoses of Asperger's, Bipolar Disorder, and a Schizotypal Personality Disorder, the last based on peculiar ideation in which C.A. claimed to see Biblical figures who speak to him and advise him on daily activities, like taking an aspirin or how to answer questions on a test. (Id. at 1298, 1301.)
Dr. Levine noted that her findings were consistent with C.A.'s past evaluations, particularly his difficulty in reading affective signs in conversation and engaging in an actual reciprocal dialogue, notwithstanding his intelligence and humor. (Id. at 1301.) She recommended that Dracut develop an IEP to provide a comprehensive program to address his significant needs, which she felt required "a total therapeutic approach informed by specialists highly experienced in working with individuals with his profile." (Id. at 1300-01.) On the basis of this report and its own conclusion that his behavior in bringing the letter opener to school was the result of his disability, Dracut determined that C.A. was eligible for special education services. (Id. at 200, 338-39, 408.)
Prior to February 2006, C.A. received accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794. (Id. at 200, 1206.)
2. The IEPs
While he remained integrated in regular education classes, Dracut provided additional services for C.A. through several IEPs, only the last three of which are relevant under the IDEA's statute of limitations. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(b)(6) (B). The first IEP ran from May 8, 2006, to May 7, 2007, beginning at the end of C.A.'s sophomore year and continuing through most of his junior year at Dracut. (Id. at 198, 1451-65.) The plan offered various accommodations to address C.A.'s needs (e.g., preferential seating and permission to leave classes early to avoid crowded hallways), as well as direct services, including counseling by the school adjustment counselor thirty minutes per week, a social group provided by special education staff for twenty-five minutes per week, consultation with the school autism/inclusion specialist thirty minutes per week, and consultation with the school counselor fifteen minutes per week. (Id. at 1455, 1459.)
A "Transition Planning Chart" included in the first IEP lists various "desired outcomes," indicating that C.A. was "considering furthering his education in the field of computer programming and software. [He] expresses an interest in attending college upon graduating." (Id. at 1464.) The chart also listed "action plans" under the following headings:
Daily Living Skills and Needs: [C.A.] is independent in the school environment. He is currently taking accounting through Dracut High School. A 688 referral will be made next year.
Course of Study: Currently, [C.A.] is enrolled in college preparation classes at Dracut High School. His anticipated graduation is in June 2008. He has qualified for special education services in the areas of behavior, social and emotional needs. He receives services from the Autism Specialist to address his social and behavioral needs. He also receives counseling services which focus on his social/emotional needs. We propose that he also participate in a social group.
Employment: Counselor has offered to [C.A.] some assistance in developing a letter to future employers that will describe his disability characteristics and to provide them with a sense of the accommodations he will need to support his employment.
Community Experiences: The school personnel has had discussions around other sport related activities that [C.A.] could participate in at whatever level possible. His coach has discussed other opportunities for him to manage or assist the coach during other seasons.
(Id. at 1464-65.) The IEP included several measurable benchmarks with regard to behavior, but none directly related to transition planning for employment or independent living. (See id. at 1457.) These objectives focused exclusively on C.A.'s tendency to make offensive or off-topic comments in class, for which the team developed two behavior plans. (Id. at 1466-69.)
The second IEP ran from February 6, 2007, to February 5, 2008. In addition to the general curriculum and other accommodations, it included consultation with the Autism/Inclusion specialist thirty minutes per week, counseling with the school adjustment counselor thirty minutes per week, and ten minute sessions with a special education teacher "as needed." (Id. at 1441.) C.A.'s vision statement, included with the IEP, expressed his desire to graduate, attend college, work with computers, and learn to communicate and express himself appropriately. (Id. at 1435-36, 1450.) He noted specifically, "I need classes in socialization[,]" and "I need to learn how to say the right words to people." (Id. at 1450.) The transition plan was identical to the first IEP. (Id. at 1446-47.)
The third IEP ran from February 6, 2008, to June 10, 2008, in C.A.'s last semester at Dracut. The IEP listed accommodations and services similar to the second plan, but included a more substantial transition plan, informed partly by a two-day vocational assessment of C.A. conducted by Dracut contractor Brad Brooks, M.Ed., on August 7, 2007, at P.A.'s request. (Id. at 214; 1371-1409.) Mr. Brooks' two-day assessment of C.A. consisted of multiple tests, including the McCarron-Dial Systems
This assessment followed an internal review finding that "the District's transition planning was sporadic" and DESE findings regarding incomplete implementation of transition planning requirements by Dracut: "Teams neglect to consider the action plan necessary to achieve . . . post-high school outcomes. In a few instances, there was not a clear linkage between a student's course of study, the vision established by the stakeholders (parents and students) and the planning activities conducted by the Team." (Id. at 588, 1365-67.)
Vocational Evaluation, which includes intellectual, sensory, motor, emotional, coping/adaptive behavior, and memory assessments, and a Wide Range Interest Opinion Test to assess vocational interests. (Id. at 1372-73.) It also included a one-day situational assessment in which Mr. Brooks observed C.A. working in a real world setting at the Community Catering Company in Billerica. (Id. at 1379.)
In discussing the situational assessment, he noted that C.A. "arrived on time and ready to work[,]" and that "[a]lthough he remained low key, he was willing to follow all directions given and appropriately accepted constructive feedback." (Id.) His supervisor for the day "spoke highly of [his] attitude and production," but noted that his work pace might not be fast enough for a typical cafeteria setting "and that he occasionally became overwhelmed if more than one task were given to him at one time." (Id.) Mr. Brooks concluded that C.A. adapted well to the environment, acted appropriately with his coworkers, responded well to instruction, and "remained productive and kept a positive attitude" throughout the day. (Id.) Mr. Brooks' conclusions and recommendations made no mention of C.A.'s pragmatic language or social skills challenges, and made only a few vague suggestions (e.g., improving math skills pertaining to daily living and exploring many career options). (Id. at 1380-81.)
In addition to a more detailed transition plan, the third IEP provided for vocational services. Specifically, it contained a "wellness internship" during gym class, a banking internship where C.A. would work at the school's on-site credit union, interacting with peers and customers, participation in a computer internship, and completion of several accounting, money management, and higher level computer classes. (Id. at 1429.) The plan also included a referral to the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and recommended that C.A. pursue part-time or volunteer employment and opportunities out of school. (Id.) It did not address independent living skills.
P.A. rejected effectively all of these three IEPs, except for portions describing C.A.'s strengths and present levels of performance. (Id. at 1424-25, 1444-45, 1462-63.) She noted repeatedly that the proposed services were acceptable only if provided by a person trained and highly qualified in the area of Asperger's Syndrome, although P.A. accepted some of the services offered in September 2006. (Id. at 200, 339-40, 353, 1424-25, 1445, 1462.) She also rejected the proposed June 2008 graduation date. (Id. at 1424.) Her correspondence discussing the rejected IEPs emphasized the need for "a Transition Plan that would enable [C.A.] to successfully move on to college, employment, and that would help him to function independently (including traveling) after high school." (Id. at 1445; see also id. at 1119.) The parties engaged in numerous IEP team meetings drafting and revising the plans, at which P.A. frequently emphasized her son's
need for social skills and pragmatic language services. (See generally id. at 1107-73, 1485-86.)
3. C.A.'s Progress and Further Assessments
The parties paint different pictures C.A.'s progress under the IEPs. Dracut staff noted improvement in his behavior and social skills, allowing him to operate effectively in the high school environment. (See id. at 200-01, 410-12, 443-46, 466, 476-77, 479-81, 590.) They observed more relaxed, natural contact with peers in the halls and cafeteria. (See, e.g. id. at 443, 479.) C.A. remained on-topic more often and required little redirection from teachers and staff. His organizational skills showed improvement with help from the school Learning Center staff. (Id. at 464.) He performed well in his classes, including an A+ in a college preparatory science course during his senior year, and achieved a final grade point average of 2.97, with a class rank of 103rd in a class of 264 students. (Id. at 26, 202, 502.)
C.A. also became an enthusiastic member of the track team, where he developed a group of friends with whom he ate lunch at school. (Id. at 201, 445-46, 504, 556, 569-70.) Dracut staff observed him interacting with these peers positively during his junior and senior years. (Id. at 446.) He received a "Team Spirit" and a statewide award in his senior year, as well as several scholarship awards. (Id. at 558-61.) He participated in the internships described above during the spring of his senior year, which Dracut believed gave him adequate employment experiences to pursue his goals of attending college and working with computers. (Id. at 414, 425, 489-91, 968-69, 1163.)
P.A. disputes much of this progress, pointing to a physical altercation with another student in January 2008, for which C.A. was suspended. (Id. at 365-66.) She also noted that any social success he experienced in the form of the casual conversations that Dracut staff observed between class and in the cafeteria did not carry over outside of school. (See, e.g., id. at 356.) She argues that her son required more dedicated support in the areas of language pragmatics, social, vocational, and transportation skills, services that she tried repeatedly to have added to his IEPs and for which she attempted to compensate by enrolling him in a private program at her own expense. (Id. at 201, 366-67.) In November 2006, she brought a behavior specialist to an IEP team meeting, who recommended a social skills program for C.A., which Dracut rejected. (Id. at 340-42.)
Ms. Abele conducted a follow-up evaluation in May 2007 and prepared a report indicating that, while he had matured notably since her initial evaluation, C.A.'s pragmatic language deficits remained unaddressed and required services to address them, which Dracut declined to adopt. (Id. at 643, 1328-31.)
He exhibits signs of difficulty with the use of language in context/behavioral regulation in classes. [C.A.] exhibits the typical AS trait of operating in a classroom as though he were in a one-to-one tutorial with the teacher, not in a group or community of learners. This interferes with the class, with his learning the content, and separates him rather than connecting him with both peers and teachers. [C.A.] badly needs explicit learning of the skills of learning/working in a group context so that he can not only benefit from school, but transfer those skills to the workplace so that he can be successful there. These skills can be taught in a Pragmatic Language Group where his neurological profile is accounted for and the steps of those interactional features are taught to him specifically.
(Id. at 1330.) Dracut initially offered a social skills group, which it believed was appropriate. However, it did not offer even this skills group to address pragmatic language in the last two IEPs because it believed C.A.'s social skills had improved to the point where they were appropriate. (See Pl.'s Statement of Material Facts ¶ 36; AR at 446 (noting that C.A. had created his own social group through the track team); AR at 443, 445-46, 466, 479 (noting observations of Dracut staff of C.A. interacting appropriately with teachers and peers).)
Since leaving Dracut High School in June 2008, C.A. spends the majority of his time at home. (AR at 204.) He sleeps late, uses the computer, and does not socialize with friends. (Id. at 204, 321-26.) He has poor personal hygiene and leaves the house only twice a week to attend classes at Middlesex Community College ("MCC"). (Id. at 198, 204, 321-26.) While P.A. has taught him to take the bus to college, he knows only one bus route and has been unable to learn the driver's manual to obtain a license. (Id. at 204, 322-23.) P.A. states that her son is unable to complete employment applications, though this testimony conflicts with one of her experts' reports. (Compare id. at 204, 326, with id. at 1548.) His disabilities have caused him to be "completely unsuccessful" following classroom protocol in discussion-based classes at MCC. (Id. at 204, see also id. at 1568-69 (noting possibility of disciplinary action due to C.A.'s continued inappropriate behavior).)
In October 2008, during the pendency of the administrative proceedings, Michele Mayer, the Vice President of Children's and Transitional Services for Horace Mann Educational Associates, conducted a readiness-to-graduate assessment of C.A. at his parents' request. (See id. at 1542-67.) Ms. Mayer's evaluation indicated that C.A. had significant problems with personal hygiene, socialization skills, inability to control his feelings in various situations, and a lack of work experience. (Id. at 209.) She described a more general "fluency deficit" that caused C.A. to have difficulty applying what he knows when faced with new or stressful situations, and explained that the training provided by Dracut was not effective in addressing this fundamental problem. (Id. at 1559.) Ms. Mayer concluded that C.A. was not prepared to graduate as a result of these issues, even though he had completed the formal requirements.
C. The Administrative Proceedings
C.A. and P.A. requested a hearing on May 29, 2008, seeking a finding that Dracut had failed to provide adequate transition services prior to his anticipated graduation date and that it must continue to provide transition services after that date as compensatory education. (Id. at 1-10.) They filed a motion before BSEA Hearing Officer Lindsay Byrne seeking an emergency stay put order pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § 1415(j) that would allow C.A. to participate in his June 2008 graduation ceremony without accepting or receiving his high school diploma pending the resolution of the case on its merits. (Id. at 13-19.) Hearing Officer Byrne allowed the motion. (Id. at 20-21.) See also Verhoeven v. Brunswick Sch. Comm., 207 F.3d 1, 3 (1st Cir. 1999).
In August 2008, Hearing Officer Byrne allowed a joint motion to postpone the hearing while Ms. Mayer assessed C.A.'s readiness to graduate. (Id. at 54-57.) The matter was reassigned to Hearing Officer William Crane (the "Hearing Officer"), who conducted a three day hearing on December 11, 2008, January 22, 2009, and February 2, 2009. (Id. at 100, 195.) Over those three days, the Hearing Officer received seventy-five exhibits and heard testimony from more than a dozen witnesses, including both C.A. and P.A., numerous Dracut staff, and several of P.A.'s experts, including Ms. Levine, Ms. Abele, Ms. Mayer, and Debra Hart, a transition specialist. (Id. at 195-96.)
On March 13, 2009, the Hearing Officer issued a decision finding that Dracut had denied C.A. with a FAPE by providing inadequate transition services. (Id. at 230-31.) He determined nonetheless that C.A. was ready to graduate and that Dracut "may (and should)" award him a diploma. (Id. at 234.) He also ordered two years of extended IDEA eligibility and required Dracut to provide two years of compensatory transition services, for which he determined C.A. was eligible notwithstanding the receipt of his high school diploma. (Id. at 233-35.)
The second proceeding arose from the order to hire Abele and Mayer. On May 12, 2009, C.A. and P.A. filed a motion seeking an order that Dracut comply with that decision. (Supplemental Administrative Record ("SAR") at 1-14.) The Hearing Officer held a hearing on June 19, 2009, and issued a second decision on July 14, 2009, finding that Dracut had failed to comply with his initial ruling by offering an unreasonably low rate of pay to Mayer and Abele ($32.15 per hour), and ordering Dracut to hire and compensate them at their private rates, $125.00 per hour. (Id. at 141, 144, 152.) Dracut appeals both decisions.
III. LEGAL STANDARD
This action is essentially a request for judicial review of two administrative decisions. See Manchester-Essex Reg'l Sch. Dist. Sch. Comm. v. Bureau of Special Educ. Appeals, 490 F. Supp. 2d 49, 51 (D. Mass. 2007). The IDEA provides that the Court "(i) shall receive the records of the administrative proceedings; (ii) shall hear additional evidence at the request of a party; and (iii) basing its decision on the preponderance of the evidence, shall grant such relief as the court determines is appropriate." 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2)(C). No party has requested that the Court hear additional evidence regarding the claim that Dracut failed to provide adequate transition services.
Plaintiffs moved to file a Second Amended Complaint, however, adding allegations that the Hearing Officer failed to disclose a conflict of interest because he is the former director of the Disability Law Center, which represents P.A. and C.A. (Docket No. 114.) The Court had denied that motion.
"Judicial review of the decision of the BSEA presents a twofold inquiry: Whether the state has complied with the procedures of the Act, and whether the IEP developed through those procedures is 'reasonably calculated to enable the child to receive educational benefits.'" Kathleen H. v. Mass. Dep't of Educ., 154 F.3d 8, 11 (1st Cir. 1998) (quoting Bd. of Educ. v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176, 206-07 (1982)). The Court applies "an intermediate standard of review . . . which, because it is characterized by independence of judgment, requires a more critical appraisal of the agency determination than clear-error review entails, but which, nevertheless, falls well short of complete de novo review." Lenn v. Portland Sch. Comm., 998 F.2d 1083, 1086 (1st Cir. 1993); see also id. ("[T]he statute 'is by no means an invitation to the courts to substitute their own notions of sound educational policy for those of the school authorities which they review.'" (quoting Rowley, 458 U.S. at 206).) Review is tempered by the "'due weight' [given] to the Hearing Officer's findings." Lt. T.B. ex rel. NB v. Warwick Sch. Comm., 361 F.3d 80, 83 (1st Cir. 2004) (citing Roland M. v. Concord Sch. Comm., 910 F.2d 983, 989 (1st Cir. 1990)).
In reviewing the evidence, "the burden rests with the complaining party to prove that the agency's decision was wrong."Roland M., 910 F.2d at 991. After appropriate consideration, the Court may accept or reject the agency's factual findings in whole or in part. Town of Burlington v. Mass. Dep't of Educ., 736 F.2d 773, 792 (1st Cir. 1984), aff'd, 471 U.S. 359 (1985). Conclusions of law are subject to de novo review, and any determinations on mixed questions of fact and law, including the sufficiency of an IEP, cannot stand if predicated on a legal error. Ross v. Framingham Sch. Comm., 44 F. Supp. 2d 104, 111-12 (D. Mass. 1999), aff'd, 229 F.3d 1133 (1st Cir. 2000).
Where, as here, state law requirements are also at issue, a federal court's review is "asymmetrical" and "more circumspect."Town of Burlington, 736 F.2d at 792. A federal court should accord the findings deference where a state administrative decision rules that a school district has not met the state's substantive or procedural requisites. Id.
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Procedural Compliance
1. Proper AssessmentsDracut argues that the Hearing Officer erred when he concluded that Dracut failed to comply with the IDEA's procedural requirements by not conducting appropriate transition assessments. He found that "Dracut did not conduct appropriate transition assessments. . . . [and] did not utilize Parents' transition assessments, which were appropriate." (AR at 230.) Without adequate assessments, "it was not possible for Dracut to understand the nature and scope of Student's deficits as [they] . . . pertained to his transition from High School to postsecondary education, employment, and independent living." (Id. at 221.) Consequently, he concluded that "Dracut's IEPs did not include any goals to effectively address Student's vocational needs and independent living skills deficits[,]" undermining the quality and relevance of the transition services provided. (Id. at 222.)
The IDEA requires that Dracut provide "appropriate measurable postsecondary goals based upon age appropriate transition assessments related to training, education, employment, and where appropriate, independent living skills." 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A)(i)(VIII)(aa); see also 34 C.F.R. § 300.320(b)(1). While the IEP itself must be "updated annually," 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A)(i)(VIII), there is no requirement that transition assessments be conducted annually, only that they be "age appropriate". 34 C.F.R. § 300.320(b)(1).
A procedural violation constitutes a denial of FAPE only if the hearing officer finds that the violation "(I) impeded the child's right to a [FAPE]; (II) significantly impeded the parents' opportunity to participate in the decisionmaking process . . .; or (III) caused a deprivation of educational benefits." 20 U.S.C. § 1415(f)(3)(E)(ii). A procedural fault rises to this level when a school fails to conduct proper assessments and then provides inadequate services. N.B. v. Hellgate Elementary Sch. Dist., 541 F.3d 1202, 1210 (9th Cir. 2008) ("[W]ithout evaluative information that C.B. has autism spectrum disorder, it was not possible for the IEP team to develop a plan reasonably calculated to provide . . . meaningful educational benefit. . . .").
It is undisputed that Dracut did not conduct any assessments prior to the first two IEPs, though Dracut points out that it did employ a vocational assessment for the last IEP. The state defendants argue that this assessment was faulty in multiple ways. First, they argue that it was "stale," because it was completed in August 2007, six months before the implementation of the third IEP in February 2008. There is no evidence that C.A.'s needs changed in the following six months or that the assessment was no longer age appropriate, so this argument is unpersuasive.
Second, defendants note that the Hearing Officer found this vocational assessment flawed because it "was insufficient even for the purpose of determining Student's vocational needs because it was only a formal (and not also a situational) assessment." (Id. at 221.) The record flatly contradicts this finding, indicating that Mr. Brooks administered multiple tests over a two-day evaluation period, including a situational assessment. The Hearing Officer does not explain why the tests or situational assessment were inadequate.
The Court agrees that this assessment was untimely, however, because it was not applied to C.A.'s services until the spring of his senior year, only then at P.A.'s insistence, and nearly a year after her initial request. (See id. at 221 n. 34.) Although Dracut ultimately offered C.A. a five-month long internship at a credit union located in the high school, a four-month technology internship, and a gym class mentoring program, it passed most of the relevant two year window without action, failing to assess or provide services to address C.A. vocational skills, despite its obligation to do so throughout this period.
Third, the Hearing Officer found Mr. Brooks unpersuasive because he did not have sufficient "depth or breadth of knowledge and experience" in contrast to plaintiff's experts. (AR at 230.) However, because the expert was qualified, the Court disagrees that the vocational assessment was so inadequate as to constitute a procedural flaw per se. The Hearing Officer indicated no specific reason why Mr. Brooks, who holds a Masters in Education, was unqualified to evaluate C.A.
Finally, the Hearing Officer faulted the assessment because it did not address "other areas important to Student — that is, post-secondary education and independent living skills." (Id. at 221.) The IDEA requires transition assessments "related to training, education, employment and where appropriate, independent living skills." 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A)(VIII)(aa). As Dracut argues, the statute does not require separate assessments in these four discrete silos. While the vocational assessment performed by Mr. Brooks certainly had relevance to cross-cutting issues like social behavior, which affects education, employment, and independent living, the evidence supports the Hearing Officer's conclusion that the assessment and resulting plan failed to provide measurable goals in these separate areas. This failure to provide proper assessments and benchmarks for functional language pragmatics, which is relevant to all four areas, is particularly egregious in light of Ms. Abele's reports, which spoon-fed Dracut with the needed services. 2. Transition Goals
The Hearing Officer found that Dracut's failure to provide an IEP containing appropriate transition goals denied C.A. a FAPE. Dracut's final IEP addressed organizational deficits and disruptive behavior in class (e.g., recording assignments properly and learning relaxation techniques to control outbursts). (AR at 1419-20.) It argues that, because it facilitated C.A.'s ultimate goal of attending college, it met its obligation even if it failed to provide adequate benchmarks along the way. Dracut's argument impermissibly conflates enabling C.A.'s broad vision statement (i.e., the long term goal of attending college and working with computers) with its statutory obligation to provide appropriate, measurable goals developed according to timely transition assessments.
In sum, Dracut operated without meaningful assessments for most of the two year period in question and never provided appropriate, measurable goals related to C.A.'s needs. The Hearing Officer concluded that this "led directly to Dracut's failure to propose appropriate transition plans and services." (Id. at 221.) As noted below, the record supports this conclusion, particularly regarding the failure to address C.A.'s pragmatic language deficits, which are key to his postsecondary academic, social, and vocational success. Accordingly, the Court concludes that the record supports the Hearing Officer's findings of a procedural violation of state and federal law.
B. Substantive Adequacy of the IEPs
Dracut argues that the Hearing Officer erred in several respects with regard to the legal standard by which he evaluated the IEPs. The governing standard for FAPE originated in Rowley, where the Supreme Court held that an "appropriate" education is one "reasonably calculated to enable the child to receive educational benefits." 458 U.S. at 207; see also Lenn, 998 F.2d at 1090 (noting that an IEP must be "reasonably calculated to provide effective results and demonstrable improvement in the various educational and personal skills identified as special needs.") (quotations omitted). It is plain that, absent state law heightening the standard, a school need not provide an ideal education or deliver "the maximum educational benefit possible."Lessard, 518 F.3d at 23; see also N. Reading Sch. Comm. v. Bureau of Special Educ. Appeals, 480 F. Supp. 2d 479, 489-90 n. 12 (D. Mass. 2007). Furthermore, a student's progress must be evaluated in light of his or her own unique educational potential. Rowley, 458 U.S. at 202; Lessard, 518 F.3d at 29. Beyond that, however, the standard is hardly a model of clarity.
Rowley held that an appropriate IEP must be reasonably calculated to provide "some educational benefit." 458 U.S. at 200. Subsequent caselaw has referred to a "federal basic floor of meaningful, beneficial educational opportunity." Town of Burlington, 736 F.2d at 789; see also Rowley, 458 U.S. at 192 ("[I]n seeking to provide . . . access to public education, Congress did not impose upon the States any greater substantive educational standard than would be necessary to make such access meaningful."). The Third Circuit has adopted a "meaningful" benefit test expressly. See, e.g., T.R. v. Kingwood Twp. Bd. of Educ., 205 F.3d 572, 577 (3d Cir. 2000) (Alito, J.); Cf. Sytsema v. Acad. Sch. Dist. No. 20, 538 F.3d 1306, 1313 n. 7 (10th Cir. 2008) ("Admittedly, it is difficult to distinguish between the requirements of the 'some benefit' and the 'meaningful benefit' standards."); Blake C. ex rel. Tina F. v. Dep't of Educ., State of Haw., 593 F. Supp. 2d 1199, 1206 n. 7 (D. Haw. 2009) ("If 'some' means 'more than minimal' but real progress, then there might be no difference."). In any case, it is settled law that a parent may not dictate specific services, provided the IEP is reasonably calculated to confer meaningful benefit. Lachman v. Ill. State Bd. of Educ., 852 F.2d 290, 297 (7th Cir. 1988).
While the Hearing Officer acknowledged this caselaw explicitly(see, e.g., AR at 215 n. 8), Dracut argues that his opinion effectively required a perfect solution when he adopted hook-line-and-sinker the views of P.A.'s experts. 1. Pragmatic Language Skills
The Hearing Officer determined that, while Dracut offered a social skills class and counseling services, "these services . . . were not the systematic, step-by-step instruction required to address Student's underlying pragmatic language deficit." (Id. at 224 n. 39.) Dracut points to no assessment that addressed this need directly and offers no evidence that it provided meaningful instruction in this area. Dracut explained that it offered a social skills class in the first IEP, but that he had improved to the point that he did not require removal from the classroom to address this issue. The weight of the evidence does not support this position, which relied upon anecdotal observations by Dracut staff and was contradicted persuasively by the considerably more detailed classroom observations by Ms. Abele.
The overwhelming evidence in the record indicates that C.A.'s pragmatic language deficits are a central component of his disability, affect his ability to transition from high school to other settings in a critical way, and were well known to Dracut as early as 2005, well before the IEPs in question. The Court observed this deficit when C.A. blurted out an inappropriate statement in court. A preponderance of the evidence demonstrates that Dracut's IEPs were not reasonably calculated to confer any meaningful educational benefit in this critical area. 2. Vocational Skills
The Hearing Officer found that Dracut failed to provide training "reasonably calculated to enable Student to develop vocation skills . . . after High School." (Id. at 231.) In his view, the services were inadequate because they did not expose C.A. to the "full range of situations involving interaction with the public and peers, with the result that Student did not experience all of the communication and social skills typically found with a job in the community." (Id. at 227.) The Hearing Officer found specifically that while "Dracut's work internships undoubtedly assisted Student by providing him with employment-like experiences, there is no basis for concluding that the skills that he learned . . . are transferable to . . . actual work sites in the community." (AR at 227 (emphasis added).) "To provide minimally useful transition services regarding employment," he found, Dracut should provide community-based internships. He found support for this conclusion in the testimony of plaintiffs' experts, Ms. Mayer and Ms. Hart. (Id.; see also Pl.'s Statement of Facts ¶¶ 48-49.)
Dracut argues that the Hearing Officer erred when he found that it provided no meaningful vocational services. As the First Circuit held, the lack of extensive community-based services does not necessarily render a transition plan inappropriate where an IEP encapsulates "a wide array of other transition services."Lessard, 518 F.3d at 30 (finding field trips into community sufficient in context of myriad other services). Otherwise, parents could "endlessly parse IEPs into highly particularized components and circumvent the general rule that parents cannot unilaterally dictate the contents of their child's IEP." Id. (citing Rowley, 458 U.S. at 207-08).
The placements may not have been the ideal internships in the eyes of C.A.'s experts because they were not in the community, but the evidence indicates that they provided some benefit. (See, e.g., AR at 213 (noting that he "flourished" in the role of a gym mentor).) While these services might otherwise have been sufficient, the individual defendants are correct that there were no placements or experiences in the community, and the statute refers to "community experiences" specifically. 20 U.S.C. § 1401(34)(C). Indeed, Lessard made a point of noting that the student there had received at least one placement in the community, however inefficacious in practice. 518 F.3d at 30. While C.A. had an internship in the school credit union, it was not located off of school grounds. As such, it was not erroneous for the Hearing Officer to conclude that Dracut's vocational services were inadequate. (See AR at 226-27.)
3. Independent Living Skills
The Hearing Officer also determined that Dracut had not made sufficient effort to address independent living skills, and criticized Dracut for failing to address C.A.'s social, organizational, and travel skills. Dracut points out that it offered a social skills class, and his track team experience provided further help. The IEPs also offered direct services delivered by a special education teacher to address the student's organizational deficits. (AR at 226.) The Hearing Officer acknowledged that he received meaningful academic benefit from this support, but reasonably determined that the services were not reasonably calculated to supporting independent living outside of high school, such as maintaining self-hygiene and learning transportation skills. (Id.) Indeed, C.A.'s action plan for daily skills addresses only his independence in the school environment.
C. Appropriate Relief
1. Compensatory Education
Having found that C.A. did not receive a FAPE, the Hearing Officer ordered Dracut to provide two additional years of transition services with the following parameters:
* Systematic, step-by-step pragmatic language instruction taught with consistency over a period of time . . . with the addition of a significant amount of practice with a language pragmatics teacher within a variety of contexts, including higher education and employment.
* Development of organizational skills that can be utilized within a variety of settings, including postsecondary education, employment, and independent living (including, for example, personal hygiene).
* Vocational training that includes placement and support within three or four work sites in the community, with each work site lasting for three or four months. Work placements may be part-time, so that Student may continue to pursue part-time postsecondary education and receive other transition services at the same time.
* Travel instruction for the purpose of Student's learning to use the public transportation system and to understand the Massachusetts driver's manual.
* A comprehensive social skills assessment (part of which would include interviews of others who have encountered Student) by someone with substantial experience and expertise working with older students diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and social skills training to be developed and provided on the basis of this assessment.
The Hearing Officer noted that, while another public entity, like the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, might provide some services, Dracut ultimately would be responsible for ensuring that C.A. received them. (Id. at 235 n. 59.)
(AR at 235.) The Hearing Officer reasoned that the scope of the services required and the need to continue adapting them to C.A.'s evolving needs "argues in favor of continued [IDEA] eligibility in order that the various substantive and procedural requirements relevant to transition services will continue to apply to Student." (Id. at 233.) Since he concluded that he "may extend Student's eligibility for two years for the purpose of receiving appropriate and sufficient compensatory services," the Hearing Officer ordered that "Dracut may (and should) grant Student his high school diploma at this time." (Id. at 234.) Finally, he ordered Dracut to hire Ms. Abele and Ms. Mayer or their designees, in order to
(1) provide consultation to Dracut to assist in the development of the transition plan that complies with the instant Decision, (2) advise Dracut during the two-year period of extended eligibility regarding the need for any modifications to Dracut's proposed transition plan, and (3) advise Dracut regarding the appropriate implementation of its transition plan.
(Id. at 236.)
Dracut argues that the Hearing Officer's decision to grant C.A. his high school diploma terminated his eligibility for services under the IDEA. Dracut is correct that under both federal and state law, a disabled student who has graduated with a "regular" high school diploma is no longer eligible for services. 34 C.F.R. § 300.102(a)(3)(i) (stating that the obligation to provide FAPE does not apply to "[c]hildren with disabilities who have graduated from high school with a regular high school diploma."); 603 Mass. Code Regs. 28.02(9) ("Eligible student shall mean a person aged three through 21 who has not attained a high school diploma or its equivalent. . . .").
Defendants argue that the Hearing Officer has the equitable power to extend eligibility as a compensatory measure even after graduation from high school. The parties cite no caselaw authorizing such relief, and the Court can find none. The Hearing Officer's discretion in fashioning a compensatory remedy does not permit him to ignore the clear regulatory language.
As a fallback, the state defendants argue that a Hearing Officer has broad equitable discretion in fashioning and awarding compensatory education to remedy a FAPE denial, even if a student has become ineligible for services because of the issuance of a diploma. In a similar context, the First Circuit held that, as a matter of common sense, compensatory education is appropriate for a student deprived of services to which he was entitled under the IDEA, regardless of his eligibility for current or future services under the statute. Otherwise, a school could simply cease providing services to an older student, counting on the IDEA's lengthy adjudication procedures to "time out" the student's eligibility and obviating the need for any further obligation by the school. Pihl, 9 F.3d at 189; see also Stock v. Mass. Hosp. Sch., 392 Mass. 205, 210 n. 8, 467 N.E.2d 448, 453 n. 8 (1984) (noting expulsion as a similar potential loophole).
Compensatory education is an equitable remedy fashioned to fit an individual student's needs. C.G. v. Five Town Community Sch. Dist., 513 F.3d 279, 290 (1st Cir. 2008). Such services are a surrogate for the education that a student should have received "during periods when his IEP was so inappropriate that he was effectually denied a FAPE."Reid v. District of Columbia, 401 F.3d 516, 525 (D.C. Cir. 2005). A school must provide compensatory services "equal in time and scope" with what a student would have received while eligible. Puffer v. Raynolds, 761 F. Supp. 838, 853 (D. Mass. 1988).
Dracut argues that this caselaw is distinguishable because the Hearing Officer himself determined that it should award C.A. his diploma, unlike the more typical situation where the issuance of the diploma was flawed because the school district issued a diploma prematurely before a disabled student could receive a FAPE. Dracut's argument is unpersuasive. Here the issuance of the diploma was improper because C.A. was denied a FAPE. If the Hearing Officer had wanted to continue eligibility, he should have continued the "stay put" order, issued pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § 1415(j), which would have prohibited Dracut from giving C.A. his diploma. Now that Dracut has issued the diploma, the proper remedy is compensatory services.
The P.A. and C.A. urge remand so they can challenge the issuance of the diploma. Dracut contends that C.A. waived his right to do so by failing to appeal that order and opposes the request for a remand to make such a challenge. The Court agrees that any challenge now would be untimely.
Dracut contends that the "compensatory services" are excessive because they are not limited in time and scope and require an ideal, potential-maximizing solution rather than simply compensating C.A. for those services to which he was entitled under Rowley. Because the Hearing Officer determined that he could extend eligibility, the record is unclear as to the standard he applied in ordering this compensatory relief. For example, he ordered three to four four-month internships in the community over two years. When deferring to the pedagogical expertise of the Hearing Officer, the Court agrees with all the experts that some community vocational experience is appropriate. However, the Hearing Officer seemed to ignore the significant vocational services already provided in fashioning a compensatory remedy. The Hearing Officer must provide a surrogate for what services should have been provided to comply with Rowley's "some benefit" standard rather than adopting an ideal menu of programs desired by parents or recommended as optimal by their private experts.
Moreover, while the Hearing Officer acknowledged that Dracut had made some efforts with its transition services to develop C.A.'s organizational and social skills, he appears to have accorded that benefit little weight in determining what compensatory services were appropriate in the area of services to enhance independent living skills. Because the Hearing Officer extended eligibility improperly and did not seem to follow the correct federal standard in awarding compensatory services, I must remand to the Hearing Officer to determine what compensatory services are needed in the area of employment and independent living. He also made a passing reference to the requirement of two years of services for older students under Massachusetts special education requirements. (AR at 235.) However, he did not explain how services might be justified under state law rather than federal law. I do not remand, however, with respect to the order requiring pragmatic language instruction which the Hearing Officer properly found was not provided at all.
2. Hiring and Compensating C.A. and P.A.'s Experts
Dracut disputes the Hearing Officer's orders that it hire and compensate Ms. Mayer and Ms. Abele for two years of "consultation" at their private rates of pay in order to formulate the new transition plan, arguing that state law vests exclusive authority over hiring and compensation with school superintendents. See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 71, § 59B. In the second administrative decision at issue here, the Hearing Officer ruled on Dracut's attempt to pay these experts $32.15 per hour, a rate it claimed was mandated by the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy regulations, 114.3 Mass. Code Regs. 30.04. The Hearing Officer held that the state law cited by Dracut did not support Dracut's position, and noted that Dracut acknowledged that it had never used this rate before. (Id. at 148.) In his view, his equitable discretion in fashioning an appropriate compensatory remedy justified paying Ms. Abele and Ms. Mayer at $125 per hour, their private rates for school consultation.
This provision sets forth an extensive schedule of allowable fees for "[s]pecific services performed as part of a TEAM evaluation," as described within the special education statute. 114.3 Mass. Code Regs. 30.04. The specific provision in question allows a fee of $32.15 for "[p]articipation in TEAM Meeting by authorized social worker, nurse, or counselor." Id.
Some courts have ordered schools to hire independent consultants to remedy deficiencies. See, e.g., Elizabeth M., 2003 WL 25514791 at *5; Bell v. Bd. of Educ. of Albuquerque Pub. Schs., No. 06-1137, 2008 WL 5991062, at *35 (D.N.M. Nov. 28, 2008). Defendants cite only one unpublished case where a school district was ordered to employ another party's experts to aid in developing a new IEP. See Alba-Golden Indep. Sch. Dist., 45 IDELR 291, slip op. at 6 (Aug. 19, 2005). Because Dracut has not shown that it has employees with the necessary skills to provide compensatory services, regardless of state law, the Hearing Officer had the equitable power to order that the district hire an independent consultant with appropriate credentials at a reasonable rate of pay, particularly with respect to a compensatory award. The Court concludes, however, that it was an abuse of discretion to require Dracut to hire defendants' experts in this case even though they seem to be highly qualified. The IDEA requires the school district to work as a team with parents' experts, but the IDEA does not require a school district to hire them. Cf. Arlington Cent. Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ. v. Murphy, 548 U.S. 291, 298-99 (2006) (holding that IDEA does not permit courts to award expert services fees to prevailing parents).
The Court does not address the Hearing Officer's interpretation of the state regulations at issue, which seemed reasonable.
Thus, the Court reverses the order to the extent it requires Dracut to hire defendants' consultants or their designees. However, it does not reverse the order to the extent it requires the school district to hire independent consultants with sufficient expertise at a reasonable rate of pay. The Hearing Officer concluded properly that state law does not require Dracut to provide outside consultants who provide services other than assessments with compensation at $32.15 an hour. Dracut offers no argument and the record yields no facts undermining his conclusion that $125 per hour is a reasonable rate.
Of course, these experts should be compensated fairly for any services already provided pursuant to the Hearing Officer's order.
ORDER
Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment [Docket No. 83] is ALLOWED IN PART, and the individual defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment [Docket No. 77] is ALLOWED IN PART. The motions are otherwise DENIED. The order requiring Dracut to hire plaintiffs' experts is reversed. The Hearing Officer's order extending statutory eligibility is reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.