Ojai Unified School District v. Jackson

This appeal involves a dispute over the appropriate educational placement for Bion Jackson under the Individuals with Disabili- *1469 20 U.S.C. ties Education Act (“IDEA”), § 1400 et seq. 1 The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the Ojai Unified School District (“School District”) and the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools (“Superintendent”) (collectively “the school officials”). In so doing, the district court overruled an administrative' hearing officer’s decision that required Bion to be placed in a private school at public expense. We reverse and remand.

I. STATUTORY FRAMEWORK

Because this appeal requires us to interpret a complex web of federal and state statutes and regulations, a brief summary of the legal framework is necessary. The IDEA provides federal 'funds to assist state and local agencies in educating children with disabilities, but conditions such funding on compliance with certain goals and procedures. 20 U.S.C.A. § 1412 .(West 1990 & Supp.1993); Board of Educ. of Hendrick Hudson Cent. Sch. Dist. v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176, 179-80 , 102 S.Ct. 3034, 3037 , 73 L.Ed.2d 690 (1982), (describing evolution and major provisions of the act). The…