Illinois · special-education accountability
Illinois special-education due-process hearings: who wins, and over what?
Of the 316 Illinois special-education due-process hearing decisions from FY 2008 through FY 2026 that PedsList classified, parents prevailed outright in 20.3% (64), won part of their case in 37.7% (119), and school districts prevailed in 41.8% (132). Parents therefore obtained at least some relief in 57.9% of decided cases.
School districts filed or cross-filed 59 of these hearings (19%), usually to defend an evaluation or a proposed placement. The most common issue was “Placement/LRE” (raised in 154 decisions). Decisions peaked at 44 in FY 2010; FY 2026 has 7 so far, because most disputes now settle through mediation or resolution meetings before a hearing officer rules.
316 decisions on file · 316 classified · 0 not machine-readableSource: ISBE due-process decisionsHow we classified themUpdated November 2, 2026
Why this is statewide, not per district. ISBE removes both the district's and the student's names from every decision ("Student v. District"), so these can't be tied to a specific district. As a body they show how the system works. Summaries and outcome labels were drafted with AI assistance from each decision's full text, checked against the order, and audited on a random sample (details); always rely on the decision PDF itself.
How often do parents win a due-process hearing in Illinois?
20.3%Parent prevailed (64)37.7%Split decision (119)41.8%District prevailed (132)0.3%Dismissed / withdrawn (1)
Outcome shares are of the 316 classified decisions; 0 decisions (mostly older scanned PDFs) could not be read reliably and are listed below as "Not classified".
Which issues do parents win most often?
| Issue in dispute | Decisions | Parent prevailed | Parent won at least part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement/LRE | 154 | 18% | 45% |
| Eligibility/evaluation/child find | 144 | 21% | 65% |
| Compensatory education | 137 | 26% | 80% |
| IEP adequacy/implementation | 128 | 13% | 63% |
| Private/residential placement & reimbursement | 109 | 31% | 72% |
| FAPE denial | 97 | 30% | 71% |
| Procedural/parent-participation | 95 | 13% | 61% |
| Independent educational evaluation (IEE) | 92 | 23% | 73% |
| Related services | 74 | 22% | 73% |
| Behavior/discipline/manifestation | 62 | 21% | 40% |
| Transition/secondary services | 34 | 15% | 82% |
| Extended school year (ESY) | 25 | 12% | 56% |
| Other | 15 | 0% | 40% |
| Bullying/harassment | 7 | 0% | 43% |
A decision can involve several issues, so rows overlap. Some rows, like compensatory education, are remedies that usually come up once a violation is found, so their win rates run higher. Issues raised in fewer than 5 decisions are omitted.
How has the number of hearings changed?
21
37
44
24
20
11
14
15
19
14
18
21
4
11
7
10
9
10
7
08091011121314151617181920212223242526
Decisions per state fiscal year (FY 2008–2026).
Which disabilities are most often involved?
Specific Learning Disability 66Autism 58Emotional Disability 56Other Health Impairment 50Intellectual Disability 25Multiple Disabilities 10Speech or Language Impairment 9Developmental Delay 7Hearing Impairment 4Orthopedic Impairment 1
What happens at a due-process hearing?
A due process hearing is a formal, court-like hearing before an impartial hearing officer appointed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). A parent files a written request with the district superintendent within 2 years of when they knew or should have known about the problem. The district must hold a resolution meeting within 15 days, and the hearing officer's final decision is due 45 days after the 30-day resolution period ends. Either side can appeal to court within 120 days after the decision is mailed.
All 316 decisions
| Case | FY | Outcome | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-0099 | 2026 | District prevailed | The district filed to defend its reevaluation after the parent requested IEEs in several areas, including autism. The hearing officer found the… |
| 2026-0083 | 2026 | District prevailed | The parent challenged the district's decision that the student no longer qualified for special education, alleging inadequate evaluation and failure… |
| 2026-0053 | 2026 | District prevailed | The district filed to defend its supplemental assessments, including an FBA and rating scales, after the pro se parent requested several IEEs at… |
| 2026-0025 | 2026 | Parent prevailed | The parents alleged the district denied FAPE in the least restrictive environment by failing to provide an appropriate general education placement… |
| 2026-0017 | 2026 | District prevailed | The parent challenged the residential facility the district chose to implement the agreed residential placement, later seeking reimbursement for a… |
| 2025-0244 | 2026 | District prevailed | The self-represented parent alleged the district failed to implement the transfer student's IEP and improperly required a pre-start evaluation and… |
| 2025-0204 | 2026 | District prevailed | The self-represented parents challenged the district's executive functioning services, implementation of IEP goals and accommodations, removal of a… |
| 2025-0103 | 2025 | Split decision | The parents alleged the IEP's speech minutes were insufficient and the district missed five months of required speech services; the district's IEE… |
| 2025-0069 | 2025 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the district failed to timely identify dyslexia, provide evidence-based reading instruction, consider independent evaluations… |
| 2025-0042 | 2025 | District prevailed | The self-represented parents argued a separate day school was not the student's least restrictive environment. The hearing officer found general… |
| 2024-0246 | 2025 | Parent prevailed | In an expedited hearing after the student's expulsion for bringing a pocketknife, the parents challenged the manifestation determination for… |
| 2024-0237 | 2025 | Split decision | The parent alleged the district failed to identify autism, provided inadequate programming and behavior supports, and ignored clinicians'… |
| 2024-0228 | 2025 | District prevailed | The pro se parent sought to keep the student at his current private therapeutic day school after the district decided to change the site for his… |
| 2024-0227 | 2025 | District prevailed | The pro se parents challenged the district's decision to graduate the adult student with a regular diploma, arguing she had not met requirements.… |
| 2024-0219 | 2025 | Split decision | Seeking a mutually agreeable therapeutic day school, the parents challenged how the district was locating a private day school. The hearing officer… |
| 2024-0127 | 2025 | District prevailed | After a student's online threats led to homebound instruction, the parent challenged the timeliness and scope of evaluations, the FBA/BIP, and the… |
| 2024-0059 | 2025 | District prevailed | The pro se parent alleged the district failed to implement aide and related services, delayed a more restrictive placement for escalating behavior… |
| 2024-0116 | 2024 | District prevailed | The parents challenged the adequacy of the student's IEP and the proposed private therapeutic day school as the site for his placement. The hearing… |
| 2024-0105 | 2024 | Split decision | The parents raised assistive technology, speech minutes, behavior, parent participation and placement claims and sought funding of their homebound… |
| 2024-0068 | 2024 | District prevailed | A father without educational decision-making authority challenged the student's move to a separate day school; his substantive claims were dismissed… |
| 2024-0049 | 2024 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the district misled her into consenting to a therapeutic day school, concealed evaluation and staffing obligations, and falsified… |
| 2024-0034 | 2024 | District prevailed | The pro se parents challenged a preschool IEP offering only itinerant speech services, arguing the district ignored Early Intervention… |
| 2024-0015 | 2024 | Split decision | The district sought a ruling that its IEP placing the student in a private therapeutic day school provided FAPE, plus an order compelling parental… |
| 2024-0012 | 2024 | District prevailed | The district filed to defend its reevaluation after the parent requested an IEE at public expense; the parent largely did not participate. The… |
| 2023-0199 | 2024 | District prevailed | The district filed to defend its reevaluation after denying the parent's request for an IEE at public expense; the parent also sought an independent… |
| 2023-0186 | 2024 | District prevailed | The parents alleged the district delayed providing the student's hearing assistive device, failed to train staff, and departed from IEP… |
| 2023-0171 | 2023 | District prevailed | In an expedited hearing, the district sought to place a blind student with escalating aggression and self-injury in an interim alternative setting.… |
| 2023-0152 | 2023 | District prevailed | In an expedited hearing the parents did not attend, the district sought to move the student to an interim therapeutic day school because his… |
| 2023-0127 | 2023 | District prevailed | In an expedited hearing, the district sought to keep the student in an interim alternative therapeutic day school for another 45 school days… |
| 2023-0079 | 2023 | District prevailed | The pro se parents argued full-time general education was the student's least restrictive environment and opposed a therapeutic day school. The… |
| 2023-0067 | 2023 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged the district failed to evaluate and identify a specific learning disability, offered inadequate IEPs, failed to implement the IEP… |
| 2023-0055 | 2023 | Parent prevailed | On largely stipulated facts, the parents sought reimbursement for their unilateral placement of the student at an out-of-state non-approved… |
| 2023-0043 | 2023 | Split decision | The parent alleged child find failures, inadequate reading instruction for dyslexia, missing behavior supports and unimplemented IEP services. The… |
| 2023-0036 | 2023 | District prevailed | The parents challenged the timing of the FBA/BIP, the math program, the proposed self-contained placement and consideration of their outside… |
| 2023-0019 | 2023 | Parent prevailed | The parties stipulated the student needed a residential placement and no ISBE-approved facility was available. The hearing officer ordered the… |
| 2023-0015 | 2023 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged the district failed its child find duty after the student aged out of Early Intervention and never evaluated him or offered an… |
| 2022-0175 | 2022 | District prevailed | The district sought an expedited 45-day diagnostic placement for an unevaluated student with aggressive behavior whose parent refused evaluation… |
| 2022-0161 | 2022 | Parent prevailed | The parents sought funding of a non-approved residential placement after the district could not find an approved facility. In a stipulated case, the… |
| 2022-0137 | 2022 | Parent prevailed | The parents sought district funding of a non-approved residential placement because no state-approved facility would accept the student. In a… |
| 2022-0130 | 2022 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the district failed to revise the IEP and behavior plan for sensory needs and opposed a therapeutic day school placement. The… |
| 2022-0099 | 2022 | District prevailed | The district sought an expedited interim placement in a therapeutic day school to evaluate a student suspected of a disability whose behavior was… |
| 2022-0044 | 2022 | Parent prevailed | The parents sought a non-approved residential placement because no state-approved facility would accept the student. The hearing officer found an… |
| 2022-0038 | 2022 | Parent prevailed | The parents sought an out-of-state residential placement after no state-approved facility would accept the student. The hearing officer found an… |
| 2021-0063 | 2021 | District prevailed | The parents alleged the student's placement in a life skills program for two years denied FAPE and sought her retention in third grade as… |
| 2021-0053 | 2021 | District prevailed | The parent alleged late identification, inadequate IEPs, disregard of outside evaluations, and denied participation, seeking private school… |
| 2021-0031 | 2021 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the student's IEP denied FAPE by not including a functional behavior assessment, behavior plan, and ABA services. The hearing… |
| 2021-0022 | 2021 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the district ignored her request to evaluate the student's wandering and created a behavior plan without her consent. The hearing… |
| 2021-0008 | 2021 | Parent prevailed | The parents alleged the 2019 and 2020 IEPs failed to address the student's severe dyslexia and unilaterally placed him in a private therapeutic day… |
| 2020-0207 | 2021 | Split decision | The parents alleged incomplete evaluations, deficient IEPs, exclusion from decisions, an inappropriate cluster classroom, and no remote learning.… |
| 2020-0202 | 2021 | Split decision | The guardian alleged inadequate IEP goals, services, assistive technology, transition planning, and response to bullying. The hearing officer found… |
| 2020-0176 | 2021 | District prevailed | The parent challenged the district's identification timing, the residential placement's ability to implement the IEP, and use of restraint and… |
| 2020-0171 | 2021 | District prevailed | The parent sought to keep the student in his current cooperative program, opposed a move to an emotional disabilities program, and alleged bullying.… |
| 2020-0107 | 2021 | Split decision | The parents alleged failure to evaluate for assistive technology, consider a private evaluation, provide adequate reading IEPs and placement, and… |
| 2020-0080 | 2021 | Parent prevailed | The parents alleged child find failures, incomplete evaluations, disregard of private evaluations, and an inadequate IEP for the student's dyslexia.… |
| 2020-0069 | 2020 | District prevailed | The district sought an expedited change to an interim therapeutic day school because the student's behavior endangered himself and others. The… |
| 2020-0028 | 2020 | District prevailed | The parents alleged years of inadequate IEPs, failure to consider private evaluations, and inadequate ESY and 2019-20 offers, seeking private school… |
| 2019-0212 | 2020 | District prevailed | The parents alleged child find violations, inadequate math and writing goals and services, and denial of ESY. The hearing officer found the district… |
| 2019-0146 | 2020 | District prevailed | The district filed to defend its evaluation against an IEE request; the parent alleged FAPE denials in goals, social work, LRE, and failure to find… |
| 2019-0261 | 2019 | District prevailed | The district sought an expedited diagnostic placement for an unevaluated student after the parent refused consent and his aggression escalated. The… |
| 2019-0213 | 2019 | District prevailed | The parent opposed the district's proposed move to a more restrictive program at another school. The hearing officer found the student's needs could… |
| 2019-0199 | 2019 | District prevailed | The district sought an expedited 45-day interim alternative placement due to the student's escalating aggression. The hearing officer found keeping… |
| 2019-0194 | 2019 | Split decision | The parent alleged the district failed to timely provide an IEP and then offered an inadequate one. The hearing officer ordered reimbursement for… |
| 2019-0153 | 2019 | Split decision | The parents claimed district schools could not meet the student's needs and sought reimbursement and private day school placement. The hearing… |
| 2019-0151 | 2019 | District prevailed | The parent challenged the IEP's therapeutic day school placement and sought to keep the student at his current school. The hearing officer found the… |
| 2019-0143 | 2019 | Split decision | The parent alleged untimely identification and an inadequate IEP lacking a residential placement. The hearing officer found child find was met but… |
| 2019-0141 | 2019 | Split decision | The guardian alleged the district failed to adopt and implement a transfer IEP, report progress, and respond to an IEE request; the district's IEE… |
| 2019-0120 | 2019 | District prevailed | The parents contested the district's proposed full-time therapeutic day school placement and wanted the student kept at the home high school. The… |
| 2019-0058 | 2019 | District prevailed | The parents alleged the district failed to evaluate the student in all suspected areas, including dyslexia, and sought reimbursement for a… |
| 2019-0047 | 2019 | District prevailed | The parents challenged a prior IEP and the district's proposal to move the student from a private therapeutic day school to a district high school… |
| 2018-0504 | 2019 | Split decision | The parents sought reimbursement for a unilateral residential placement and alleged failure to evaluate for autism. The hearing officer rejected the… |
| 2018-0494 | 2019 | Split decision | The parents alleged failure to evaluate and identify the student and to provide residential placement. The hearing officer found eligibility under… |
| 2018-0471 | 2019 | District prevailed | The parents challenged the district's reevaluation and decision that the student with autism was no longer eligible for special education. The… |
| 2018-0470 | 2019 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the district failed to consider ESY, used improper IEP team composition, and predetermined the ESY decision. The hearing officer… |
| 2018-0391 | 2019 | District prevailed | The parent sought IEP accommodations so the student could attend the district's before- and after-school care program. The hearing officer found the… |
| 2018-0340 | 2019 | Split decision | The parents challenged the district's transition program placement, IEP goals, transition assessments, and supports after knee surgery. The hearing… |
| 2018-0277 | 2019 | District prevailed | The parents challenged the student's emergency care plan, paraprofessional support, curriculum modifications, and ESY decisions. The hearing officer… |
| 2018-0219 | 2019 | District prevailed | The student challenged his participation in IEP development, the appropriateness of his IEP and self-contained placement, the lack of a learning… |
| 2018-0165 | 2019 | Split decision | The parents claimed years of inadequate reading instruction for a student with severe dyslexia and sought residential school funding. The hearing… |
| 2018-0164 | 2019 | District prevailed | The district filed to defend its reevaluation after denying the parents' request for an independent educational evaluation. The hearing officer… |
| 2018-0127 | 2018 | Parent prevailed | The parents sought reimbursement for residential placement costs before the district adopted that placement. The hearing officer found the district… |
| 2018-0073 | 2018 | District prevailed | The parent sought funding for a unilateral residential placement, arguing the district's therapeutic day school offer was inadequate. The hearing… |
| 2018-0062 | 2018 | Split decision | The parents challenged a proposed more restrictive placement, predetermination and teaching methods. The hearing officer found predetermination and… |
| 2018-0007 | 2018 | Parent prevailed | The parents argued the student was misidentified as intellectually disabled and inadequately served. The hearing officer found a FAPE denial… |
| 2017-0501 | 2018 | Split decision | The parents alleged inadequate IEPs, evaluations, behavior supports and interpretation, seeking therapeutic day school placement. The hearing… |
| 2017-0498 | 2018 | Split decision | The parent disputed the district's finding that the student was ineligible for special education. The hearing officer found the student eligible… |
| 2017-0490 | 2018 | Parent prevailed | The parents rejected the district's proposed placement and unilaterally enrolled the student in a private therapeutic day school. The hearing… |
| 2017-0471 | 2018 | Split decision | The parents challenged the district's homebound instruction schedule and amount for a medically fragile student. The hearing officer found a FAPE… |
| 2017-0393 | 2018 | Parent prevailed | A student in foster care, through his surrogate parent, alleged years of inadequate evaluations and IEPs. After allowing older claims, the hearing… |
| 2017-0391 | 2018 | Parent prevailed | The parent challenged the adequacy of evaluations, speech services and removal of bus transportation; the district filed to defend its evaluation.… |
| 2017-0370 | 2018 | Parent prevailed | The Spanish-speaking parents alleged lack of qualified interpretation and translation, denial of transportation, and inadequate behavioral supports.… |
| 2017-0368 | 2018 | Split decision | The parents sought full funding of a unilateral residential placement after delays in locating one. The hearing officer found a FAPE denial but… |
| 2017-0282 | 2018 | Split decision | A surrogate parent alleged the district failed to provide the dedicated paraprofessional required by the student's IEP. The hearing officer found a… |
| 2017-0241 | 2018 | Split decision | The parents challenged evaluations, IEPs, service implementation and procedures; the district filed to defend its evaluations. The hearing officer… |
| 2017-0225 | 2018 | Split decision | The parents claimed the district wrongly found the student, who had a Section 504 plan, ineligible for special education. The hearing officer found… |
| 2017-0102 | 2018 | Split decision | The parents sought tuition and transportation reimbursement for a private special school after the district never re-evaluated or offered an IEP.… |
| 2016-0459 | 2018 | Split decision | The parent challenged evaluations, IEPs and transition services for an older student; the district filed to defend its evaluations. The hearing… |
| 2015-0518 | 2018 | Split decision | The parents challenged the district's programming, staffing, transition services and IEP process for a student with multiple complex needs. The… |
| 2017-0292 | 2017 | Parent prevailed | In an expedited hearing, the district sought to move the student to a therapeutic day school as an interim setting due to aggressive behaviors. The… |
| 2017-0281 | 2017 | District prevailed | In an expedited hearing, the district sought to move a first-grader with escalating aggression to an interim alternative setting. The hearing… |
| 2017-0246 | 2017 | Split decision | The parents sought a different therapeutic day school placement and argued the student lacked needed supports and progress. The hearing officer… |
| 2017-0193 | 2017 | Split decision | The parent challenged the district's proposed move to a private therapeutic day school. The hearing officer found it was not the least restrictive… |
| 2017-0133 | 2017 | District prevailed | The parent objected to moving the student into co-taught classes and adding pull-out reading instruction, arguing regular general education was the… |
| 2017-0123 | 2017 | District prevailed | The district filed to defend its reevaluation after the parents requested an independent educational evaluation at public expense. The parents did… |
| 2016-0487 | 2017 | District prevailed | The parents sought reimbursement for a unilateral out-of-state residential school. The hearing officer found the district denied FAPE through flawed… |
| 2016-0486 | 2017 | Split decision | The parent alleged the district failed to timely evaluate and serve the student and to consider independent evaluations. The hearing officer found… |
| 2016-0445 | 2017 | Split decision | The parents sought reimbursement for private schools and therapy and prospective private placement. The hearing officer found a FAPE denial from… |
| 2016-0425 | 2017 | District prevailed | The parents challenged the district's program, services, goals and proposed middle school placement, alleging it fostered prompt dependence, and… |
| 2016-0183 | 2017 | Split decision | The parent alleged she could not meaningfully participate in an IEP meeting and the district refused to address wheelchair adjustments. The hearing… |
| 2016-0152 | 2017 | Split decision | The parent claimed the student was improperly graduated without transition services and sought diploma rescission and three years of compensatory… |
| 2016-0011 | 2017 | Split decision | The parents alleged the district failed its child find duty in kindergarten and first grade. The hearing officer found a child find and… |
| 2015-0410 | 2017 | District prevailed | The parent raised numerous claims about placement, evaluations, IEP goals, related services, transportation, ESY and behavior plans for a student on… |
| 2016-0182 | 2016 | District prevailed | In an expedited hearing, the district sought to move the student from a therapeutic day school to a residential facility due to dangerous behaviors.… |
| 2016-0176 | 2016 | Parent prevailed | The guardians challenged a finding that drug possession was not a manifestation of disability and a prolonged alternative placement. The hearing… |
| 2016-0135 | 2016 | Split decision | The parent challenged IEP goals, meeting participation, and an 11-day interim removal after conduct was found to be a manifestation of disability… |
| 2016-0077 | 2016 | Split decision | A noncustodial parent alleged the district failed to send her required IDEA notices and procedural safeguards and denied her access to records. The… |
| 2016-0063 | 2016 | Parent prevailed | The parents claimed the district's IEPs and general-education placement failed a student with severe dyslexia and sought reimbursement for a… |
| 2016-0002 | 2016 | Split decision | The parents sought reimbursement for a unilateral out-of-state residential placement and challenged IEPs, ESY, and handling of a private evaluation… |
| 2015-0498 | 2016 | Parent prevailed | The parents requested IEEs and challenged the evaluations, IEP and placement; the district filed to defend its evaluation. The hearing officer found… |
| 2015-0495 | 2016 | District prevailed | The parents, who were home schooling the student, rejected the IEP placement in a public therapeutic day school and challenged child find and staff… |
| 2015-0466 | 2016 | Split decision | The parents alleged child find failures, inadequate IEPs and transition services, and missing prior written notice. The hearing officer found the… |
| 2015-0427 | 2016 | Parent prevailed | The parents sought private day school tuition reimbursement and placement, alleging inadequate IEPs, AT evaluation and placement. The hearing… |
| 2015-0388 | 2016 | Split decision | The parents sought full reimbursement for a private therapeutic day school, continued placement there, and compensatory services. The hearing… |
| 2015-0383 | 2016 | District prevailed | The parent challenged the district's transfer of the student from one therapeutic day school to another. The hearing officer found the move was a… |
| 2015-0370 | 2016 | District prevailed | The parents sought an out-of-state residential placement, arguing the therapeutic day school could not provide needed intensity. The hearing officer… |
| 2015-0350 | 2016 | District prevailed | The parent disputed three IEP goals, including a reading goal and homework-completion transition goals, and claimed the reading goal was not… |
| 2015-0332 | 2016 | District prevailed | The parents disputed the district's proposed partly separate placement and argued the student was progressing in general education. The hearing… |
| 2015-0316 | 2016 | Split decision | The parents challenged a recommended distant residential-school placement and alleged inadequate continuum of services and nondisclosure of an… |
| 2015-0261 | 2016 | Split decision | The parents challenged implementation of related services, removal of conductive education from the IEP, predetermination and delayed records. The… |
| 2015-0242 | 2016 | Split decision | The parent alleged inadequate evaluations and IEPs and sought IEE reimbursement, compensatory services and a therapeutic day school; the district… |
| 2015-0031 | 2016 | District prevailed | In a bifurcated hearing on consolidated complaints, the district defended seven triennial evaluations after the parent requested IEEs in all areas.… |
| 2015-0315 | 2015 | Parent prevailed | The district sought an expedited order placing the student in an out-of-state residential program as a 45-day interim setting due to injury risk.… |
| 2015-0263 | 2015 | Parent prevailed | The parent challenged the expulsion, the manifestation determination, and the adequacy of evaluations, IEPs, transition services and the BIP. The… |
| 2015-0143 | 2015 | Split decision | The parents alleged inadequate evaluations, stagnant IEPs and unprovided services. The hearing officer found procedural and substantive FAPE denial… |
| 2015-0068 | 2015 | District prevailed | The guardian sought to have the student, placed at a private therapeutic day school, take driver's education and attend extracurricular activities… |
| 2015-0056 | 2015 | Split decision | The parents alleged a late early-childhood transition, inadequate evaluation and IEP, and sought private preschool reimbursement and a full year of… |
| 2015-0045 | 2015 | Split decision | The parents challenged the district's proposed therapeutic day school placement and IEP, and alleged procedural violations. The hearing officer… |
| 2014-0511 | 2015 | Parent prevailed | The parent challenged a new district's proposed placement for a student with severe disabilities and sought continued placement at the prior… |
| 2014-0396 | 2015 | Split decision | The parent alleged the district denied FAPE by refusing the student's service dog, not evaluating assistive technology, denying an aide, and… |
| 2014-0385 | 2015 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the district failed to identify autism, provide appropriate services and placement, and protect the student from injury, seeking… |
| 2014-0375 | 2015 | Split decision | The parent alleged the district failed to implement a transfer student's IEP, predetermined placement and denied ESY; the district defended its… |
| 2014-0263 | 2015 | Dismissed / withdrawn | A grandmother filed on the student's behalf; the only question heard was who holds educational decision-making authority. The hearing officer found… |
| 2014-0250 | 2015 | Split decision | The parents challenged a proposed move to a separate social-emotional program, evaluations, stay-put, predetermination and reimbursement of… |
| 2014-0230 | 2015 | Split decision | After eligibility ended at age 22, the parent sought an IEE and compensatory services, and the district defended its evaluation. The hearing officer… |
| 2014-0189 | 2015 | District prevailed | The parents objected to the district's proposed move to an instructional therapeutic day school and alleged inadequate evaluation, IEP and behavior… |
| 2013-0496 | 2015 | District prevailed | The parents challenged the district's proposed move of the student from general education to a special education autism program, and sought staff… |
| 2014-0357 | 2014 | Split decision | The parent sought to keep the student in an out-of-district autism program rather than a proposed district cross-categorical classroom. The hearing… |
| 2014-0179 | 2014 | District prevailed | The district filed to defend its triennial reevaluation after the parent requested an IEE. The hearing officer found the evaluation appropriate… |
| 2014-0170 | 2014 | District prevailed | The family alleged child find and evaluation failures and sought IDEA eligibility, an IEE and compensatory education for a student with ADHD served… |
| 2014-0157 | 2014 | Parent prevailed | The district defended its evaluation against an IEE request, and the parent alleged inadequate evaluation, IEP, services and ESY. The hearing… |
| 2014-0001 | 2014 | District prevailed | The district filed to defend its psychological and social work reevaluations after the parent requested IEEs. The hearing officer found both… |
| 2013-0515 | 2014 | Parent prevailed | The parent challenged the district's proposed transfer of the student from an out-of-district program to a district school. The hearing officer… |
| 2013-0470 | 2014 | Split decision | The parents alleged inadequate evaluations, goals, services and transition planning, and sought private day school reimbursement. The hearing… |
| 2013-0468 | 2014 | Parent prevailed | The parents challenged the manifestation determination, the student's expulsion, and the lack of special education services during the expulsion.… |
| 2013-0447 | 2014 | Parent prevailed | The parents claimed the IEP failed to address the student's basic math deficits and a laptop was not provided. The laptop issue was resolved by… |
| 2013-0440 | 2014 | District prevailed | The district defended its reevaluation finding the student no longer eligible for an IEP, and the parent alleged FAPE denial, missed therapy… |
| 2013-0418 | 2014 | District prevailed | The parents sought reimbursement for and prospective funding of a unilateral residential placement, alleging the therapeutic day school IEP, goals… |
| 2013-0358 | 2014 | Split decision | The parent alleged the district failed to evaluate the student, write appropriate goals, provide depression-related services, and protect him from… |
| 2013-0256 | 2014 | District prevailed | The parents challenged the district's evaluation, its finding the student was no longer eligible, failure to implement the IEP during the dispute… |
| 2012-0511 | 2014 | Split decision | The parent challenged the district's evaluation, IEPs, a transfer to another district program, and procedures. The hearing officer found the… |
| 2013-0220 | 2013 | Split decision | The parents alleged the district's reading and writing services did not remediate the student's language-based learning disability, and sought… |
| 2013-0107 | 2013 | Parent prevailed | The parents alleged the district's IEP failed to address the student's worsening social-emotional needs and placed him unilaterally in a residential… |
| 2013-0040 | 2013 | Split decision | The parents of a student with severe OCD sought a specific residential program, transportation and compensatory education. The hearing officer found… |
| 2013-0031 | 2013 | Split decision | The parents challenged the student's placement and move to a new location, his behavior plan and goals, and alleged predetermination. The hearing… |
| 2013-0030 | 2013 | Split decision | The parents challenged the student's move from a therapeutic day school to a new district autism program, the transition plan, and handling of… |
| 2012-0561 | 2013 | District prevailed | The parents of a 20-year-old in a private transition program alleged the district's small-bus transportation caused anxiety and motion sickness, and… |
| 2012-0536 | 2013 | Parent prevailed | The parents challenged a proposed move of their five-year-old from a blended preschool to a separate self-contained program, and alleged evaluation… |
| 2012-0523 | 2013 | District prevailed | The parent of an expelled general education student alleged procedural violations, untimely and incomplete evaluation, and lack of a timely IEP… |
| 2012-0310 | 2013 | District prevailed | The parents (pro se) alleged the district ignored their concerns, gave defective notice of an IEP meeting, proposed an inappropriate placement, and… |
| 2012-0246 | 2013 | Split decision | The district sought a ruling that its evaluation was appropriate; the parent counterclaimed on child find, evaluation, IEP design and placement. The… |
| 2011-0478 | 2013 | Split decision | The parents alleged the district ignored their evaluation request and violated child find and procedural rules, seeking reimbursement for private… |
| 2012-0489 | 2012 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the district denied FAPE by refusing ESY for the summer and by not providing a paraprofessional in the student's general… |
| 2012-0405 | 2012 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the school's discipline policy and a proposed more restrictive placement denied FAPE and were retaliatory, and sought… |
| 2012-0234 | 2012 | Parent prevailed | The surrogate parent alleged the district left the student in general education over a year despite a prior IEP requiring a therapeutic day school… |
| 2012-0223 | 2012 | Split decision | In a bifurcated hearing on the parent's request for six IEEs at public expense, the hearing officer upheld the district's evaluations in four areas… |
| 2012-0138 | 2012 | District prevailed | The parents unilaterally placed their daughter in a private therapeutic day school and sought reimbursement for tuition, transportation, services… |
| 2012-0126 | 2012 | District prevailed | After a disciplinary incident, the parent alleged procedural violations around a proposed placement change; the district cross-filed seeking a… |
| 2012-0121 | 2012 | Split decision | The parents unilaterally placed their son in a private therapeutic day school and alleged predetermination and IEP failures. The hearing officer… |
| 2012-0085 | 2012 | Split decision | The parents of a medically fragile kindergartner sought a full-time 1:1 nurse at school and on the bus, full inclusion at the neighborhood school… |
| 2012-0040 | 2012 | Split decision | The parents raised three procedural issues: participation in IEP meetings, handling of an IEE, and consideration of their concerns, including a… |
| 2012-0035 | 2012 | District prevailed | After a prior case, the parent sought to keep the student at a private therapeutic day school and raised several FAPE claims. The hearing officer… |
| 2012-0025 | 2012 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the district failed to implement outside evaluators' recommendations, denied ESY, and refused a private therapeutic day school.… |
| 2012-0020 | 2012 | Split decision | The parents challenged the student's homebound placement and a finding of ineligibility, and sought private school placement and IEE reimbursement.… |
| 2012-0017 | 2012 | Parent prevailed | The parents alleged inadequate assessments, services, behavior planning and IEPs for a seven-year-old, seeking therapeutic day school placement… |
| 2011-0451 | 2012 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the student was taught by unqualified substitutes, his IEP was not implemented and progress reports were not provided for part of… |
| 2011-0390 | 2012 | Split decision | The parent alleged inadequate evaluation, IEP goals, assistive technology, ESY transportation and teacher qualifications, and sought IEE… |
| 2011-0365 | 2012 | Split decision | The parents alleged the district failed to evaluate and serve their son by his third birthday and wrote an IEP lacking sufficient therapy, ESY and… |
| 2011-0298 | 2012 | Split decision | The parent alleged inadequate assessment and IEPs for a 17-year-old. The hearing officer found a denial of FAPE and ordered IEEs, reading and speech… |
| 2011-0276 | 2012 | District prevailed | The parent challenged placement in a public therapeutic day school and sought compensatory tutoring for time out of school after a suspension and… |
| 2011-0094 | 2012 | District prevailed | The guardian challenged the district's move of the student to a more structured behavior program and IEP meeting notice. The hearing officer found… |
| 2010-0273 | 2012 | Split decision | The parent challenged the design and implementation of the student's IEP and his placement. The badly scanned decision indicates a therapeutic day… |
| 2011-0399 | 2011 | Parent prevailed | In an expedited hearing, the parent challenged a disciplinary change of placement to in-school suspension and a therapeutic day school after conduct… |
| 2011-0313 | 2011 | District prevailed | The parent sought only an order placing the student in a private therapeutic day school. The hearing officer found the student could be educated in… |
| 2011-0259 | 2011 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged inadequate assessments, related services, methodology, assistive technology and IEP goals. The hearing officer found a denial of… |
| 2011-0237 | 2011 | Split decision | The guardians sought a regular classroom with a dedicated 1:1 aide and challenged IEP timeliness and evaluation. The hearing officer upheld the… |
| 2011-0209 | 2011 | Parent prevailed | The parent of a functionally illiterate eighth grader challenged evaluation, IEPs, progress reporting, records and placement. The hearing officer… |
| 2011-0177 | 2011 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged failures in records, evaluation, IEPs, progress reporting, services, assistive technology and discipline procedures; the district… |
| 2011-0176 | 2011 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the IEPs did not challenge the student in reading, writing and spelling, and that the district evaluated without consent. The… |
| 2011-0168 | 2011 | Split decision | The parents alleged inadequate evaluations, IEPs, placement and social work services. The hearing officer found a denial of FAPE and ordered private… |
| 2011-0123 | 2011 | District prevailed | Pro se parents wanted the student to stay at the regular high school rather than move to a cooperative public day school. The hearing officer found… |
| 2011-0104 | 2011 | Parent prevailed | The guardian alleged the district violated child find by not completing a requested evaluation within the required timeline. The hearing officer… |
| 2011-0063 | 2011 | Parent prevailed | The parent and district disagreed on whether a student with post-concussion syndrome should be taught at home or in a school alternative classroom.… |
| 2011-0024 | 2011 | Split decision | The parent sought general education placement with a full-time aide, an AT evaluation and compensatory ABA therapy. The hearing officer denied the… |
| 2010-0512 | 2011 | District prevailed | The parents sought to keep a preschool student with hearing loss in a private program for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and to be reimbursed.… |
| 2010-0498 | 2011 | Split decision | The parents claimed the district delayed evaluating and identifying the student and sought compensatory tutoring. The hearing officer found an… |
| 2010-0429 | 2011 | Split decision | The parent challenged IEP implementation, transition services, testing accommodations and the high school placement, seeking a different school and… |
| 2010-0415 | 2011 | Split decision | The parents challenged three years of IEPs and sought a residential placement at district expense. The hearing officer upheld most IEPs and denied… |
| 2010-0382 | 2011 | Split decision | The district filed to defend its evaluation against the guardian's IEE request. The hearing officer found the district's OT, AT and speech… |
| 2010-0381 | 2011 | Split decision | A pro se parent challenged the district's evaluation, termination of speech therapy and refusal of door-to-door transportation. The hearing officer… |
| 2010-0375 | 2011 | District prevailed | Parents who unilaterally placed the student in a private school sought tuition reimbursement and a compensatory year there, arguing he needed… |
| 2010-0299 | 2011 | Split decision | The parents alleged child find failures, inadequate evaluations and IEPs lacking services. The hearing officer found a denial of FAPE, ordered IEEs… |
| 2010-0286 | 2011 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged inadequate evaluations, ineffective IEPs and lack of progress, seeking a private learning disabilities school, IEEs and… |
| 2010-0234 | 2011 | Split decision | The district filed to contest an IEE request and the parents counter-filed over eligibility and evaluation requests. The hearing officer ordered the… |
| 2010-0129 | 2011 | District prevailed | On cross motions for summary judgment, the parent argued the district had to enroll the student at the neighborhood high school rather than a… |
| 2009-0501 | 2011 | Split decision | The parent alleged years of inadequate evaluation, delayed eligibility and deficient IEPs. The hearing officer found a denial of FAPE and ordered a… |
| 2010-0317 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged inadequate assessments, deficient IEPs and services, and procedural failures for a student with learning and health needs. The… |
| 2010-0287 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The guardian alleged inadequate evaluations, services, IEPs and transition planning, seeking a private therapeutic placement, IEEs and compensatory… |
| 2010-0281 | 2010 | District prevailed | The parent claimed the transition plan for a young adult did not address his food-service vocational interest and sought compensatory education and… |
| 2010-0265 | 2010 | District prevailed | Parents of a privately schooled student alleged child find and eligibility failures and sought reimbursement for a residential therapeutic school… |
| 2010-0255 | 2010 | District prevailed | In an expedited hearing after the parent challenged a disciplinary placement, the district sought an interim alternative setting for a young student… |
| 2010-0238 | 2010 | Split decision | The parent alleged inadequate evaluation, no IEP and inappropriate placement, seeking evaluations, a private therapeutic day school and compensatory… |
| 2010-0225 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | In an expedited hearing, the parents challenged a determination that a threatening online message was not a manifestation of the student's… |
| 2010-0223 | 2010 | District prevailed | A pro se parent challenged the district's decision to move the student from a self-contained emotional disability classroom to a public therapeutic… |
| 2010-0219 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged child find failures and a deficient IEP for a student with serious emotional needs. The hearing officer ruled for the parent on… |
| 2010-0209 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The district filed to defend its initial evaluation and deny the parent's IEE request. The hearing officer found the evaluation was not a full and… |
| 2010-0171 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged delayed evaluation, no IEP or transition plan, and no appropriate placement for a hospitalized student out of school most of a… |
| 2010-0158 | 2010 | District prevailed | A pro se parent challenged the IEP team's move of the student from a self-contained class to a therapeutic day school. The hearing officer found the… |
| 2010-0144 | 2010 | Split decision | The parents sought a private therapeutic placement and more services. The hearing officer found the district's IEPs and placement appropriate but… |
| 2010-0112 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | An adult student challenged a reclassification and placement change, inadequate evaluation, missing IEPs and transition plans, and sought private… |
| 2010-0097 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The dispute was whether the district could unilaterally replace parent-provided, reimbursed transportation with district bus transport. The hearing… |
| 2010-0096 | 2010 | District prevailed | The parent alleged untimely identification, inadequate evaluation, failure to provide assistive technology and exclusion from IEP development… |
| 2010-0077 | 2010 | District prevailed | Pro se parents raised five issues on placement, registration, ESY services, eligibility category and IEE reimbursement for a transfer student. The… |
| 2010-0076 | 2010 | District prevailed | Pro se parents challenged the district's developmental kindergarten placement for a transfer student, ESY service delivery, registration and IEP… |
| 2010-0040 | 2010 | Split decision | The parents alleged failures in behavior planning, methodology, placement, staff training and IEPs. The hearing officer agreed and ordered a… |
| 2010-0038 | 2010 | District prevailed | The parent wanted the student kept at an outside placement, while the district proposed moving her to its own new program. The hearing officer… |
| 2010-0029 | 2010 | Split decision | The parent sought a private therapeutic day school with sign-language instruction, IEEs, added services and compensatory education. The hearing… |
| 2010-0005 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The parents rejected the district's proposed multi-disability self-contained placement and sought funding of their home-based ABA program. The… |
| 2009-0478 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The father challenged the district's finding that the student, who had a Section 504 plan, was ineligible. The hearing officer found the district's… |
| 2009-0475 | 2010 | Split decision | After a partial settlement on placement, the parent alleged inadequate evaluations, IEPs, behavior plan implementation, staff training, homebound… |
| 2009-0431 | 2010 | Split decision | The parent alleged inadequate evaluations, services and IEPs and sought private day school placement for a high school student with speech and… |
| 2009-0392 | 2010 | Split decision | The father of an adult student with an emotional disability sought reimbursement for an out-of-state residential placement, citing delayed… |
| 2009-0369 | 2010 | Split decision | Spanish-speaking parents alleged years of inadequate assessments and related services and sought relief back to 2004. The hearing officer found… |
| 2009-0368 | 2010 | District prevailed | The parent alleged evaluation delays and errors and sought a private therapeutic day school and a compensatory year for a student with emotional… |
| 2009-0320 | 2010 | Split decision | The district defended its evaluation finding a student with ADHD ineligible; the parent counter-filed for eligibility, compensatory education and… |
| 2009-0318 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged the district failed its child find duty and wrongly found a struggling student ineligible. The hearing officer found child find… |
| 2009-0302 | 2010 | District prevailed | The parents alleged the district failed to implement IEP accommodations, related services and resource minutes, and mishandled transition planning… |
| 2009-0298 | 2010 | Split decision | The parent alleged child find, evaluation, occupational therapy, assistive technology and IEP violations and sought IEE funding and a private… |
| 2009-0296 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The parents alleged the district's program failed to address the communication, behavior and toileting needs of a student with severe disabilities… |
| 2009-0227 | 2010 | Split decision | The parents sought reimbursement for a unilateral private placement and prospective placement there, challenging the district's proposed program and… |
| 2009-0223 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The parent opposed moving the student from an inclusion program to a self-contained autism classroom and alleged IEP implementation failures. The… |
| 2009-0215 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged inadequate evaluations, IEPs, assistive technology and transition planning, plus procedural violations; the district filed to… |
| 2009-0206 | 2010 | Split decision | The parent alleged inadequate math and writing services, procedural violations and inadequate evaluations; the district filed to defend its… |
| 2009-0160 | 2010 | District prevailed | The parents unilaterally placed the student in a private special education day school and sought reimbursement, prospective placement, a… |
| 2009-0035 | 2010 | Split decision | After the district funded an IEE and moved the student to a therapeutic day school, remaining claims were heard. The hearing officer rejected most… |
| 2008-0499 | 2010 | District prevailed | The district filed to defend its evaluation against the parent's request for four independent evaluations at public expense; the parent's own… |
| 2008-0366 | 2010 | Split decision | The parent alleged inadequate evaluation, programming and assistive technology, and sought IEE funding and appropriate placement. The hearing… |
| 2008-0362 | 2010 | Parent prevailed | The parents alleged inadequate services, assistive technology, IEP and placement for a student nearing age 22. The hearing officer found procedural… |
| 2008-0342 | 2010 | Split decision | The parent alleged inadequate evaluation, services, participation and IEP. The hearing officer upheld the eligibility and placement but found… |
| 2008-0132 | 2010 | Split decision | The parents raised many IEP formation and implementation claims; the district defended its evaluations against an IEE request. The hearing officer… |
| 2009-0376 | 2009 | Split decision | The parents alleged the district failed to evaluate, provide an appropriate IEP or behavior plan, and improperly exited the student from special… |
| 2009-0370 | 2009 | District prevailed | The parents sought school nursing services and assistive technology for a student with a suspected mitochondrial disorder. The hearing officer found… |
| 2009-0232 | 2009 | District prevailed | The pro se parent challenged an IEP that changed the student's eligibility from learning disability to emotional disability and moved him to a… |
| 2009-0228 | 2009 | Split decision | The district filed to defend its initial evaluation after the parent requested IEEs. The hearing officer upheld the speech and health evaluations… |
| 2009-0208 | 2009 | District prevailed | After a partial settlement placed the student in a therapeutic day school, the parents sought residential placement. The hearing officer found the… |
| 2009-0198 | 2009 | Split decision | The district filed to defend its reevaluation after the parents requested IEEs; several evaluation areas settled. The hearing officer found the… |
| 2009-0190 | 2009 | District prevailed | The guardian disputed a secondary emotional disability eligibility, behavior records, and a proposed move to a more restrictive language arts and… |
| 2009-0172 | 2009 | Split decision | The parent alleged the district failed to deliver IEP services, transition services and assistive technology. The hearing officer found missed… |
| 2009-0133 | 2009 | Split decision | An adult student and her mother alleged inadequate IEPs, evaluations, services and transition planning. The hearing officer found FAPE denied and… |
| 2009-0126 | 2009 | Split decision | Pro se parents sought a private day school for students with learning disabilities, transportation, and reimbursement for private evaluations… |
| 2009-0110 | 2009 | Split decision | The parent alleged failures to implement stay-put and IEP services, transportation supports and assistive technology for a medically fragile… |
| 2009-0076 | 2009 | Split decision | A parent of a student served under a Section 504 plan sought autism and math-disorder eligibility, services, transportation and grade changes. The… |
| 2009-0064 | 2009 | District prevailed | The district sought approval of an IEP placing the student in a therapeutic day school after escalating behavior, while the parent revoked consent… |
| 2009-0058 | 2009 | Parent prevailed | The parents challenged the district's proposed IEP and sought reimbursement and continued funding for a private school for students with learning… |
| 2009-0049 | 2009 | District prevailed | The parent challenged the district's move of the student to an alternative day program and its disciplinary actions, seeking return to regular… |
| 2009-0040 | 2009 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged delayed identification and inadequate reading instruction and services for a student with a learning disability. The hearing… |
| 2009-0039 | 2009 | District prevailed | The pro se parent sought the student's full-time return to the district's main school with aides, an end to alleged harassment, and enforcement of a… |
| 2009-0031 | 2009 | Parent prevailed | The parent moved for summary judgment, claiming the district failed to implement compensatory tutoring and speech services written into an agreed… |
| 2009-0027 | 2009 | District prevailed | The parents argued the student, served under a Section 504 plan, was IDEA-eligible for emotional or health impairments and sought therapeutic… |
| 2009-0013 | 2009 | Split decision | The parents alleged inadequate evaluations, reading instruction and related services, seeking a private therapeutic day school and IEEs. The hearing… |
| 2008-0573 | 2009 | District prevailed | The parent of a nonverbal student with autism challenged the district's autism program, staff training and methodology, and sought reimbursement for… |
| 2008-0572 | 2009 | District prevailed | The parents sought reimbursement for a unilateral residential placement and residential placement going forward, alleging child find failures and an… |
| 2008-0547 | 2009 | Parent prevailed | The parents of a young child with autism challenged his IEPs and sought a therapeutic day placement. The hearing officer found the IEPs denied FAPE… |
| 2008-0538 | 2009 | Parent prevailed | The foster parent alleged the district refused to evaluate a failing student despite a written request. The hearing officer found the district… |
| 2008-0496 | 2009 | Split decision | The parent alleged inadequate evaluations, services and reading instruction. The hearing officer found faulty evaluations and an inadequate IEP… |
| 2008-0494 | 2009 | District prevailed | The parents removed the student from an agreed private therapeutic day school after 20 days and sought reimbursement for a residential placement.… |
| 2008-0488 | 2009 | Split decision | The parent kept the student home over bus-safety concerns and sought a new transportation company, home services and compensation. The hearing… |
| 2008-0424 | 2009 | District prevailed | After a private therapeutic day school terminated the student, the parent unilaterally placed him elsewhere and sought reimbursement. The hearing… |
| 2008-0423 | 2009 | District prevailed | The guardian sought reinstatement of school social work services that had been discontinued. The hearing officer found the district followed… |
| 2008-0419 | 2009 | Split decision | Per the cover summary, the parent sought private placement for a student with severe physical and cognitive impairments. Private placement was… |
| 2008-0396 | 2009 | Split decision | The parents opposed a therapeutic day school placement and the emotional disability category, seeking a regular classroom. The hearing officer found… |
| 2008-0376 | 2009 | Parent prevailed | The parents opposed the district's change from consultation-only services to special education reading classes. The hearing officer found the… |
| 2008-0325 | 2009 | District prevailed | The parents of a preschooler with a feeding disorder challenged an earlier ineligibility finding and sought feeding and nutrition therapy. The… |
| 2008-0247 | 2009 | Split decision | The grandmother sought additional services, an aide and extensive compensatory services. The hearing officer found the district provided most… |
| 2008-0216 | 2009 | Split decision | The parents sought private school tuition reimbursement, arguing the district's IEP required a specific staffing ratio. The hearing officer rejected… |
| 2008-0047 | 2009 | Split decision | The parents alleged the district's IEP failed to address the student's needs and sought private school reimbursement plus a compensatory year. The… |
| 2007-0030 | 2009 | District prevailed | The adult student claimed IEP deficiencies, an improper disciplinary change of placement and manifestation determination, and destroyed test… |
| 2008-0428 | 2008 | District prevailed | The parent sought homebound instruction and compensatory services after keeping the student out of school. The hearing officer found the IEP… |
| 2008-0289 | 2008 | Split decision | The parents opposed a move to an emotional disability program outside the neighborhood school. The hearing officer upheld the district's placement… |
| 2008-0261 | 2008 | District prevailed | The parents alleged failure to implement the IEP and accommodations, discipline for disability-related behavior, and an inadequate proposed IEP and… |
| 2008-0258 | 2008 | District prevailed | The district sought to confirm the student's placement and to reevaluate without parental consent; the parent alleged inadequate accommodations… |
| 2008-0245 | 2008 | District prevailed | The parent alleged the district mishandled her evaluation requests and sought reimbursement for a private auditory processing evaluation. The… |
| 2008-0212 | 2008 | Split decision | The parent alleged inadequate assessments, services and IEPs. The hearing officer found FAPE denied through insufficient speech, assistive… |
| 2008-0211 | 2008 | Split decision | The parent sought residential placement, IEEs and compensatory services for a student with cognitive and hearing impairments. The hearing officer… |
| 2008-0144 | 2008 | District prevailed | The parent claimed the district failed in child find and wrongly found the student ineligible, and requested IEEs; the district filed to defend its… |
| 2008-0136 | 2008 | Split decision | The parents alleged child find and IEP failures for a student with trauma-related disorders on homebound instruction, seeking private school… |
| 2008-0127 | 2008 | District prevailed | The parent challenged the district's proposal to move the student from a self-contained class to a separate public special education day school. The… |
| 2008-0124 | 2008 | District prevailed | The parent sought to move the student from a self-contained emotional disability classroom to a regular classroom. The hearing officer found the… |
| 2008-0105 | 2008 | District prevailed | The district sought to implement a transfer student's IEP calling for a self-contained learning disabilities classroom at a cooperative program; the… |
| 2008-0085 | 2008 | Parent prevailed | The parent alleged the district failed to evaluate and serve the student over several years. The hearing officer found a denial of FAPE, ordered… |
| 2008-0078 | 2008 | District prevailed | The parents sought reimbursement for their unilateral residential school placement. The hearing officer found the district's offered program… |
| 2008-0052 | 2008 | Parent prevailed | This clarified order found the district failed to properly identify the student's disabilities, denying FAPE. The hearing officer ordered… |
| 2008-0046 | 2008 | District prevailed | Both parties filed over the student's placement; the parents sought a regular classroom and reimbursement for a unilateral private placement. The… |
| 2008-0040 | 2008 | District prevailed | The parent claimed peer bullying denied the student FAPE and sought placement in a different public school. The hearing officer found the parent did… |
| 2008-0039 | 2008 | Split decision | The adult student alleged the district never fully evaluated her or provided adequate services. The hearing officer found a denial of FAPE and… |
| 2008-0021 | 2008 | Split decision | The parent challenged the student's transportation, IEPs, reevaluation and alleged exclusion from IEP meetings. The hearing officer ordered… |
| 2008-0018 | 2008 | Split decision | The parents alleged the district failed to address the student's severe reading and writing deficits. The hearing officer found a two-year denial of… |
| 2007-0075 | 2008 | District prevailed | The parent sought to return the student from a self-contained cooperative program to the local school. The hearing officer found the self-contained… |
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file for due process in Illinois?
You must file within 2 years of the date you knew or should have known about the events behind the request. Some disputes, such as a denied evaluation, can also be raised through a state complaint, which has a 1-year limit.
Is there a form to request due process in Illinois?
Yes. ISBE's Form 19-86A is the parent request form. You give it to the superintendent of your child's resident district, who must forward it to ISBE within 5 days. A letter with the same information also works.
How long does an Illinois due process hearing take?
The resolution period can last up to 30 days after the district receives your request. Then the hearing officer's final decision is due within 45 days, unless the hearing officer grants an extension at a party's request. Extensions are common, so many cases take longer.
Does my child keep services during due process?
Yes. Under stay-put, your child stays in the current placement with current services until the case is finished, unless you and the district agree to a change. If mediation fails, file for due process within 10 days to keep this protection.
Who has the burden of proof in an Illinois due process hearing?
Illinois law requires the school district to present evidence that your child's needs were properly identified and that its proposed program and services are adequate, appropriate and available. How this applies in a particular case is a legal question for your attorney and the hearing officer.
How long do I have to appeal to court in Illinois?
In Illinois, either side has 120 days after the hearing officer's decision is mailed to file a civil action in state or federal court. Filing an appeal suspends the decision while the case is pending.
Can I see past Illinois due process decisions?
Yes. ISBE posts decisions through its Due Process Decisions search. PedsList has also decoded Illinois due process decisions so you can see outcomes by district.