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20.3%Parent prevailed (64)37.7%Split decision (119)41.8%District prevailed (132)0.3%Dismissed / withdrawn (1)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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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… |
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.