Second Circuit Court of Appeals holds a federal district court reviewing a claim for reimbursement under the IDEA must independently evaluate the equities, without deferring to the state administrative agency’s conclusion

Plaintiff appealed a judgment of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granting summary judgment in favor of Melissa Aviles-Ramos,* in her official capacity as Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and the New York City Department of Education [collectively DOE] on Plaintiff’s claim for reimbursement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [IDEA]. Plaintiff sought reimbursement from the DOE for the cost of her disabled son’s private education during the 2019–2020 school year, alleging that DOE had failed to offer her son a free appropriate public education. 

An Impartial Hearing Officer [IHO], the State Review Officer [SRO], and the federal district court below each found that Plaintiff engaged in a course of conduct that frustrated the DOE’s attempts to develop a suitable education plan for her son. They also concluded that the balance of the equities disfavored reimbursement.

The Circuit Court noted that the factual record as to Plaintiff’s conduct is not in dispute nor is the finding that Plaintiff's conduct impeded the DOE. However, on appeal, said the court, Plaintiff argued that the district court deferred to the IHO’s and SRO’s views of the equities and thus erred. 

In doing so, opined the Circuit Court, Plaintiff raised a question that has split the district courts in this Circuit and that this Circuit Court has "not yet resolved".

The Circuit Court then ruled that a district court reviewing a claim for reimbursement under the IDEA "must independently evaluate the equities, without deferring to the state administrative agency’s conclusion". 

Applying that rule, the Circuit Court concluded that reversal is not warranted in this case because "the district court ultimately did balance the equities and did not abuse its discretion in doing so".

Accordingly, the Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the federal district court's judgment.

* The Circuit Court noted Plaintiff's complaint was originally filed against Meisha Porter in her official capacity as Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education. Dr. Porter stepped down from her position in December 2021. Pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 43(c)(2), the current Chancellor, Melissa Aviles-Ramos, was automatically substituted as a party.

Click HERE to access the Circuit Court's decision posted on the Internet.