NICHOLAS G. GARAUFIS, District Judge.
Plaintiffs B.K. and Y.K. (the "Parents") bring this action against the New York City Department of Education ("Defendant" or "Department") on behalf of their son, G.K. (collectively with Parents, "Plaintiffs"), who is diagnosed as having an Autism Spectrum Disorder and presents with significant delays in cognitive, adaptive, and interpersonal skills. Plaintiffs contend the Department failed to offer G.K. a
Before addressing the merits of the parties' competing motions for summary judgment, a brief introduction to the IDEIA's statutory landscape and plentiful array of acronyms is beneficial.
In New York, the responsibility for developing IEPs has been assigned to local Committees on Special Education ("CSEs"), the members of which are appointed by the local school board or the trustees of school district. N.Y. Educ. Law § 4402(1)(b)(1); Walczak, 142 F.3d at 123. To ensure that a student's "level of achievement and specific needs" is appropriately taken into account when determining his or her educational program, R.E., 694 F.3d at 175, a CSE team will include the student's parents, his or her regular or special education teachers, a school psychologist, a representative of the school district knowledgeable about the general curriculum and availability of resources in the school district, and a parent representative, among others, see N.Y. Educ. Law.
If a student's parents believe that the IEP prepared by the CSE is inappropriate for their child, or otherwise fails to conform to the procedural and substantive requirements of the IDEIA, they may place their child in an appropriate private school and seek retroactive tuition reimbursement from the state. See Sch. Cmte. of Burlington v. Dep't of Educ., 471 U.S. 359, 370, 105 S.Ct. 1996, 85 L.Ed.2d 385 (1985). Under New York's administrative review system, parents challenge an IEP and seek tuition reimbursement by filing a "due process complaint" before an impartial hearing officer ("IHO"). N.Y. Educ. Law § 4404(1). The IHO will conduct an impartial hearing and issue a decision on the merits of the challenge, which may be appealed by either the parents or the school district to a state review officer ("SRO"). Id. § 4404(2); see also 20 U.S.C. § 1415(g) (requiring availability of appeal in certain contexts). Finally, as required by the IDEIA, either party may bring a civil action in state or federal court to review the SRO's decision. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2)(A); Murphy v. Arlington Cent. Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 297 F.3d 195, 197 (2d Cir.2002). In effect, therefore, the instant suit functions as an appeal from the administrative decisions below.
G.K., who currently is eight years old, has been diagnosed as having an Autism Spectrum Disorder and presents with significant delays in cognitive skills, adaptive skills, and interpersonal skills. (Pls. 56.1 ¶ 2.) According to an evaluation performed on behalf of the Department in 2009, G.K. displays similar deficits in his motor, communication, daily living, and socialization skills. (Id. ¶ 5.) When he was approximately eighteen months old, G.K. began receiving home-based therapy using an applied behavior analysis ("ABA") approach, as well as other support services, through the state's Early Intervention Program. (SRO Op. at 2.)
In September 2009, G.K. was enrolled by his parents at Reach for the Stars Learning Center ("RFTS"), where he remains a student principally at the Department's expense. (See Def. 56.1 ¶ 1; Pls. 56.1 Resp. ¶ 1; Compl. (Dkt. 1) at ¶ 41 & Ex. C (Interim Order on Pendency).) According to the testimony of RFTS staff, the Center provides G.K. with all-day ABA instruction on a 1:1 student-teacher basis. (Pls. 56.1 ¶¶ 43-44.) During the 2011-2012 school year, for example, he reportedly
On May 3, 2011, the Department convened an annual meeting of the CSE to create a new IEP for then-six-year-old G.K. in anticipation of the 2011-2012 school year. (Def. 56.1 ¶ 2; Pls. 56.1 ¶ 9.) In attendance were G.K.'s parents, District Representative and Special Education Teacher Melody Fuchs, a Department school psychologist, a Department social worker, a parent member, and three or four representatives from RFTS, including G.K.'s then-current teacher and the Center's Assistant Director. (Def. 56.1 ¶ 2; Pls. 56.1 ¶ 9.) Prior to the CSE meeting, Ms. Fuchs conducted an on-site evaluation of G.K. at RFTS, during which time he was supported 1:1 by a RFTS teacher. (Pls. 56.1 ¶ 7; Tr. at 47, 49.)
Ultimately, the IEP prepared by the CSE recommended a "12-month school year for G.K. in a special class with a 6:1:1 ratio" in a special school in District 75. (Id. ¶ 3; see also Administrative Record ("Record") (Dkt. 14) (filed under seal) at 1048.) All related services, however, were to be provided on an individualized basis, including: 1:1 speech and language therapy ("Speech") for five 45-minute sessions per week; 1:1 occupational therapy ("OT") for five 30-minute sessions per week; and 1:1 physical therapy ("PT") for two 30-minute sessions per week. (Def. 56.1 ¶ 3; Pls. Resp. ¶ 3; Tr. at 34-35.) The IEP further provided that G.K. would receive full-time support on a 1:1 basis from a dedicated health paraprofessional, both in and out of the classroom. (Def. 56.1 ¶ 3.) The IEP set forth seventeen long-term goals for G.K. across a variety of skill categories — as well as sixty-three subsidiary short-term objectives — for G.K.'s 2011-2012 school year. (Id. ¶ 11.) The CSE also considered a special class in a community school for G.K. — though the parties dispute whether that class was a 1:1 program like RFTS — but elected not to place the student in such a program. (Id. ¶ 7; Pls. Resp. ¶ 7; Tr. at 68-70.) The IEP did not provide for parent counseling or training, however. (See SRO Op. at 22-23.)
Recognizing that G.K. "demonstrated behaviors that significantly interfered with
In a notice dated June 8, 2011, the Department offered G.K. placement at P4 @ P852 ("P4") for the 2011-2012 school year. (Pls. 56.1 ¶ 30.) Located in Brooklyn, New York, P4 is a public school with a total enrollment of 30 students. (Def. 56.1 ¶ 15; Pls. 56.1 ¶ 30.) Before the IHO, the lead teacher at P4, Ms. Debbie Henry, testified that P4 has two speech and language therapists on staff, as well as an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, and a vision therapist. (Def. 56.1 ¶ 16; Tr. at 134-35, 140-41.) She further testified that for the 2011-2012 school year, P4 had three 6:1:1 classes with students in kindergarten through second grade. (Id. at 134-35.) However, the placement notice received by the Parents did not indicate to which class their son would be assigned. (Id. at 169-70.) Indeed, while Ms. Henry testified that a 6:1:1 class run by Ms. Meredith Williams would have been the likeliest class placement for G.K., the student was never formally assigned to Ms. Williams' class and there is no indication that the Parents were aware of that slot at the time of their placement decision. (Def. 56.1 ¶¶ 22-26; Pls. 56.1 ¶¶ 33-34; Tr. at 141-42, 169-70.)
On June 23, 2011, the student's father, Y.K., and a teacher from RFTS, Ms. Barnett, visited P4 to determine whether the proposed placement would be appropriate for G.K. (Pls. 56.1 ¶ 31.) Later the same day, Y.K. sent a letter to the Department formally rejecting the proposed placement. (Id. ¶ 32; Tr. at 527-30.) The rejection letter outlined several reasons why the Parents believed P4 to be inappropriate for their child, including: "(a) P4 did not offer sufficient 1:1 instruction from ABA-trained professionals; (b) G.K. would not be grouped based on his individual needs; (c) P4 lacked a sensory gym and could not meet G.K.'s OT needs; and (d) G.K. would be required to eat lunch with approximately 35 students, which would be overwhelming for him." (Pls. 56.1 ¶ 32; see also Def. 56.1 ¶ 27.) The letter further indicated that unless the Department proposed an appropriate placement, the Parents planned to enroll G.K. at RFTS for the 2011-2012 school year and provide him with additional home-based ABA services, and that they would look to the Department for reimbursement and direct funding under the IDEIA. (Def. 56.1 ¶ 27; Tr. at 527-30.)
On October 18, 2011, the Parents filed a due process complaint alleging that the May 2011 IEP denied G.K. a FAPE and requested as relief, among other things, reimbursement for tuition paid to RFTS for the 2011-2012 school year and direct
Citing the IDEIA's pendency or "stay put" provision, the Parents also argued that G.K. should remain enrolled at RFTS at the Department's expense during the pendency of their challenge to the 2011 IEP. (Id.) That request was granted on November 9, 2011, by the IHO's Interim Order on Pendency. (See Compl., Ex. C.) To the best of the court's knowledge, G.K. has remained a student at RFTS during the intervening two and a half years.
An impartial hearing was held before an IHO over five non-consecutive days between November 9, 2011, and February 7, 2012. (Def. 56.1 ¶ 29; Pls. 56.1 ¶ 61; SRO Op. at 4.) Melody Fuchs, a special education teacher and district representative who attended the CSE meeting (IHO Op. at 4-7; Tr. at 32-122), and Debbie Henry, the lead teacher at P4 (IHO Op. at 7-91; Tr. at 133-222), testified on behalf of the Department. For the Plaintiffs, the IHO heard testimony from Y.K., the student's father (IHO Op. at 9-11; Tr. at 517-57), Helene Wasserman, the Educational Director at RFTS (IHO Op. at 11-19; Tr. at 235-393), Carol Fiorile, a board certified behavior analyst who examined G.K. in 2009 and again in 2011 (IHO Op. at 19-22; Tr. at 393-428), Hope Rice, a speech and language pathologist at RFTS (IHO Op. at 22-23; Tr. at 428-50), Efrat Nakash, an occupational therapist at RFTS (IHO Op. at 23-25; Tr. at 462-94), and Nicole Barnett, the lead teacher at RFTS (IHO Op. at 25-27; Tr. at 494-517). The court has reviewed transcript of proceedings before the IHO and will, where pertinent, discuss the content of each witness's testimony in subsequent sections.
By order dated March 2, 2012, the IHO determined that the Department had offered G.K. a FAPE for the 2011-2012 school year, and denied the Plaintiffs' requested relief. (IHO Op. at 30-32.) After summarizing the testimony of each witness presented at the hearing (id. at 3-27), the IHO concluded that the 6:1:1 program recommended by the May 2011 IEP was appropriate for a first-grade student who demonstrates the capacity to begin academic instruction and can make his needs known, and that G.K.'s specific behavioral issues were "not a basis for continuing a program that is isolating and controlled." (Id. at 31.) The IHO's opinion also found, albeit unnecessarily, that the "extraordinarily restrictive setting" and "lack of an academic base" at RFTS was no longer appropriate for G.K. during the 2011-2012
On April 3, 2012, Plaintiffs appealed from the IHO's decision to an SRO in the New York State Education Department's Office of State Review. (Pls. 56.1 ¶ 66; SRO Op. at 5.) Maintaining that the IHO's determination that the CSE had offered G.K. a FAPE for the 2011-2012 school year was incorrect, Plaintiffs encouraged the SRO to reverse the IHO's March 3, 2012, decision and award them appropriate relief. (Id.) The Parents argued that May 2011 IEP was inappropriate for G.K. because, inter alia, their son required 1:1 ABA instruction and that by predetermining G.K.'s placement in a 6:1:1 program, the CSE had denied them an opportunity to meaningfully participate in the generation of G.K.'s IEP. (Id.) In addition, Plaintiffs maintained that the district representative lacked sufficient familiarity with G.K. to appreciate his individual educational needs, including his need for assistive technology. (Id.) The Parents also claimed that the IEP failed to provide a FAPE because it did not provide for extra-curricular instruction, did not include a provision for parent counseling and training, and contained goals and objectives that were inappropriate for G.K. and lacked requisite measurement criteria. (Id.) Finally, Plaintiffs contested the sufficiency of the FBA and BIP developed for their son, as well as the substantive adequacy of P4 as a proposed placement. (Id.) The Department countered that it had indeed afforded the student a FAPE and appropriate placement, asserting that the IHO's decision rejecting each of the above objections to the IEP and proposed placement should be affirmed in its entirety. (Id. at 5-6.)
In a decision dated October 26, 2012, the SRO upheld the IHO decision in all respects, agreeing that the Department had offered G.K. a FAPE for the 2011-2012 school year and rejecting Plaintiffs' requests for reimbursement and direct funding. (SRO Op. at 28.) The SRO found the Plaintiffs' claim that the CSE had predetermined G.K.'s placement in in a 6:1:1 program, as well as their objections to the BIP prepared for G.K. and to the appropriateness of the academic goals contained in the IEP, were unsupported by the hearing record. (Id. at 9-12, 17-21.) The SRO further held that any procedural deficiencies that were present in the IEP — including the absence of parental training and counseling — did not amount to the denial of a FAPE, either individually or collectively. (Id. at 16-17, 22-23.) With regard to Plaintiffs' argument that a 6:1:1 environment was inappropriate for G.K., the SRO concluded that:
(Id. at 14-17.) The IHO's findings regarding the proposed placement similarly were upheld. Noting that Plaintiffs' arguments that the IEP could not have been implemented at P4 were unduly speculative, the SRO nevertheless concluded that "the evidence in the hearing record does not support the conclusion that the district would
On January 23, 2013, Plaintiffs timely filed the current action seeking independent review of the SRO's decision under 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2)(A). (See Compl.) Pursuant to the court's April 9, 2013, scheduling order (Dkt. 11), the parties filed their cross-motions for summary judgment on June 28, 2013.
In the current context, a motion for summary judgment functions as an appeal from the SRO's administrative decision below. See M.H. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., 685 F.3d 217, 226 (2d Cir. 2012) ("Though the parties in an IDEA action may call the procedure `a motion for summary judgment,' the procedure is in substance an appeal from an administrative determination, not a summary judgment [motion]." (citation omitted)); E.F. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., No. 12-CV-2217 MKB, 2013 WL 4495676, at *10 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 19, 2013) ("Summary judgment in this context is effectively an appeal of the State's decision."). In considering the instant summary judgment motions, the court is called upon to conduct an independent review of the administrative record, along with any additional evidence submitted by the parties — of which there is none — and to determine by a preponderance of the evidence whether the IDEIA's strictures have been satisfied. See 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2)(C); M.H., 685 F.3d at 240; Gagliardo v. Arlington Cent. Sch. Dist., 489 F.3d 105, 112 (2d Cir.2007) (stating that federal courts "must engage in an independent review of the administrative record and make a determination based on a `preponderance of the evidence'" (citation omitted)). The parties' motions therefore "serve[] as a `pragmatic procedural mechanism' for reviewing a state's compliance with the procedures set forth in [IDEIA] and determining whether the challenged IEP is reasonably calculated to enable the child to receive educational benefits." Lillbask v. Conn. Dep't of Educ., 397 F.3d 77, 83 n. 3 (2d Cir.2005) (citations omitted).
For the reasons set forth below, the court concludes that the SRO's decision should be upheld and that the May 2011 IEP and proposed placement constituted a FAPE for the 2011-2012 school year.
The standard by which a district court reviews the final determination of the SRO has been characterized as "modified de novo review." See P.K. ex rel. S.K. v. New York City Dep't of Educ. (Region 4), 819 F.Supp.2d 90, 103 (E.D.N.Y.2011), aff'd 526 Fed.Appx. 135 (2d Cir.2013). While a district court must "engage in an independent review of the administrative record and make a determination based on a preponderance of the evidence," the district court's role in reviewing state decisions under the IDEIA is "circumscribed."
"To the contrary, federal courts reviewing administrative decisions must give `due weight' to these proceedings, mindful that the judiciary generally `lacks the specialized knowledge and experience necessary to resolve persistent and difficult questions of educational policy.'" Gagliardo, 489 F.3d at 113 (quoting Rowley, 458 U.S. at 206, 208, 102 S.Ct. 3034) (brackets omitted); see also Walczak, 142 F.3d at 129 ("While federal courts do not simply rubber stamp administrative decisions, they are expected to give `due weight' to these proceedings ..."). Courts may not make "subjective credibility assessment[s]," nor may they "ch[oose] between the views of conflicting experts on ... controversial issue[s] of educational policy ... in direct contradiction of the opinions of state administrative officers who had heard the same evidence." M.H., 685 F.3d at 240 (quoting Grim v. Rhinebeck Cent. Sch. Dist., 346 F.3d 377, 383 (2d Cir.2003)). Rather, the district court must show "substantial deference to state administrative bodies on matters of educational policy," Cerra, 427 F.3d at 191, particularly where the SRO's review has been "thorough and careful," Walczak, 142 F.3d at 129. Factual findings by the administrative decision-makers likewise warrant deference provided they are "reasoned and supported by the record." Gagliardo, 489 F.3d at 114. However, this "due weight" is not implicated with respect to issues of law, such as "the proper interpretation of the federal statute and its requirements." Mrs. B. v. Milford Bd. of Educ., 103 F.3d 1114, 1122 (2d Cir. 1997). Ultimately, "the persuasiveness of a particular administrative finding, or lack thereof, is likely to tell the tale." M.H., 685 F.3d at 244.
In considering claims for tuition reimbursement under the IDEIA, courts are directed to apply the three-step Burlington/Carter inquiry. Cerra, 427 F.3d at 192. First, the district court must examine whether the school district's proposed plan will provide the student with a FAPE. See C.F. ex rel. R.F. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., 746 F.3d 68, 72-73 (2d Cir.2014). Embedded in the court's evaluation of this threshold requirement are inquiries into "whether the state has complied with the procedures set forth in the IDEA" and "whether the proposed IEP is substantively appropriate in that it is `reasonably calculated to enable the child to receive educational benefits.'" A.C. ex rel. M.C. v. Bd. of Educ. of The Chappaqua Cent. Sch. Dist., 553 F.3d 165, 171-72 (2d Cir.2009) (quoting Cerra, 427 F.3d at 192.). Only if the IEP is procedurally or substantively deficient will the court reach the final two steps of the Burlington/Carter test and consider "whether the parents' private placement is appropriate to the child's needs" and whether the equities favor reimbursement. C.F., 746 F.3d at 73; see also A.C., 553 F.3d at 171: T.Y. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., 584 F.3d 412, 417 (2d Cir.2009).
As the party initiating review of the SRO's administrative decision, Plaintiffs
The procedural inquiry under the IDEIA "is no mere formality, as adequate compliance with the procedures prescribed would in most cases assure much if not all of what Congress wished in the way of substantive content in an IEP." Id. at 252-53 (quoting Walczak, 142 F.3d at 129). However, unlike substantive deficiency, procedural violations only entitle a parent to tuition reimbursement if they "`impeded the child's right to a FAPE', `significantly impeded the parents' opportunity to participate in the decisionmaking process,' or `caused a deprivation of educational benefits.'" R.E., 694 F.3d at 190 (quoting 20 U.S.C. § 1415(f)(3)(E)(2)). Accordingly, it is not the case that "every procedural error in the development of an IEP renders that IEP legally inadequate under the IDEA." A.C., 553 F.3d at 172; E.F., 2013 WL 4495676, at *11.
Plaintiffs allege five procedural deficiencies in the development of G.K.'s May 2011 IEP, which individually and cumulatively render the IEP defective under the IDEIA. (Pls. Mot. at 10-20.) Specifically, they claim that: (1) the CSE predetermined G.K.'s placement in a 6:1:1 program and therefore denied the Parents meaningful participation in the development of their child's IEP; (2) the CSE failed to develop appropriate and objectively measurable goals and objectives for G.K.; (3) the CSE failed to consider assistive technology for G.K.; (4) the CSE failed to prepare an appropriate FBA or BIP for G.K.; and (5) the CSE failed to offer the Parents individualized parent counseling and training.
Plaintiffs first allege that the CSE predetermined G.K.'s placement in a 6:1:1 program and "failed to consider the full continuum of programming that may have been appropriate for G.K." (Pls. Mot. at 10-13.) Specifically, they aver that the CSE failed to consider the Parents' and RFTS staff's recommendations that G.K. be placed in a 1:1 program with additional at-home ABA instruction. (Id.) This failure allegedly denied G.K.'s parents meaningful participation in the development of their child's IEP, as required by the IDEIA. (Id.) The SRO found insufficient evidence to support Plaintiffs' predetermination argument, noting instead that the "hearing record reflects meaningful and active parental participation in the development of the student's May 2011 IEP, and willingness among the CSE members to consider different program options for the student." (SRO Op. at 10.) The court sees no basis in the hearing record to disturb this conclusion.
Predetermination of a child's IEP amounts to a procedural violation of the IDEIA if it deprives the student's parents of meaningful participation in the IEP process. See D.D-S. v. Southold Union Free Sch. Dist., No. 09-CV-5026 (JS)(WDW), 2011 WL 3919040, at *10 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 2, 2011); J.G. v. Kiryas Joel Union Free Sch. Dist., 777 F.Supp.2d 606, 648-49 (S.D.N.Y.2011) ("The `core of the statute' is that the development of the IEP be a [cooperative process] between the parents and the district, and predetermination... undermines the IDEA's fundamental goal to give parents a voice in the educational upbringing of their children." (citation omitted)); see also Nack ex rel. Nack v. Orange City Sch. Dist., 454 F.3d 604, 610 (6th Cir.2006). However, a district's consideration of potential educational programs in anticipation of a CSE meeting does not itself amount to predetermination provided the district maintains the requisite "open mind" during the meeting. See T.P., 554 F.3d at 253-54; M.W. ex rel. S.W. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., 869 F.Supp.2d 320, 333-34 (E.D.N.Y.2012); A.G. v. Frieden, No. 08-CV-1576 (LAK), 2009 WL 806832, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 26, 2009); see also M.M. ex rel. A.M. v. New York City Dep't of Educ. Region 9 (Dist. 2), 583 F.Supp.2d 498, 506 (S.D.N.Y.2008) (noting "draft IEPs are not impermissible under the IDEA"). Courts also regularly reject claims of predetermination where the record reflects active and meaningful participation by the student's parents in the formulation of the IEP. See M.W., 869 F.Supp.2d at 334; Kiryas Joel, 777 F.Supp.2d at 648 (collecting cases).
In contending that the CSE failed to consider the "full continuum of programming," namely 1:1 instruction, Plaintiffs place great reliance on Ms. Fuchs' testimony before the IHO that a 6:1:1 program is the most restrictive program available in the Department's public schools. (Pls. Mot. at 11; see also Tr. at 106-07.) But this fact alone is insufficient to establish predetermination. In M.H. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., the Second Circuit rejected a nearly identical argument concerning the Department's reliance on 6:1:1 programming, noting that "[i]n light of the district's broad discretion to adopt programs that, in its educational judgment, are most pedagogically effective, we cannot
The record likewise reflects "meaningful and active" parental participation in the formulation of the May 2011 IEP. Relying on the IEP and testimony adduced at the IHO hearing, the SRO reasonably found that "both parents participated in the CSE meetings" along with various RFTS officials, that both G.K.'s father and the RFTS teachers requested that the CSE "continue the student's program at RFTS for the upcoming school year," and that the Department "sought the parents' input to formulate program recommendations for the student" at and in anticipation of the CSE meeting. (SRO Op. at 10; see also Def. Mot. at 16-17.) The court concurs in the SRO's assessment. G.K.'s parents were afforded a meaningful opportunity to participate in the CSE's development of the 2011-2012 IEP, of which they took full advantage. The mere fact that the CSE's ultimate recommendation deviated from their express request that G.K. be permitted to remain at RFTS does not render the Parents "passive observers" or evidence any predetermination on the part of the CSE. See, e.g., P.K. ex rel. P.K. v. Bedford Cent. Sch. Dist., 569 F.Supp.2d 371, 383 (S.D.N.Y.2008) ("The fact that the District staff ultimately disagreed with the opinions of plaintiffs and their outside professionals does not mean that plaintiffs were denied the opportunity to participate in the development of the IEP's, or that the outcomes of the CSE meetings were `pre-determined.' A professional disagreement is not an IDEA violation."); see also Walczak, 142 F.3d at 132 ("What the [IDEIA] guarantees is an `appropriate' education, `not one that provides everything that might be thought desirable by loving parents.'").
Accordingly, the court declines to reverse the SRO's persuasive conclusion that the hearing record does not support Plaintiffs' predetermination claim.
Plaintiffs also challenge the May 2011 IEP on the grounds that the CSE failed to develop appropriate and objectively measurable goals and objectives for G.K. (Pls. Mot. at 13-17.) An IEP must contain a statement of "measurable annual goals, including academic and functional goals" designed to meet that child's individual needs. 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A)(i)(II). New York regulations further require that such goals include "evaluative criteria, evaluation procedures
Generally, "courts are `reluctant to find a denial of a FAPE based on failures in IEPs to identify goals or methods of measuring progress.'" E.F., 2013 WL 4495676, at *19 (quoting J.L. v. City Sch. Dist. of N.Y.C., No. 12-CV-1516 (CM), 2013 WL 625064 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 20, 2013)) (brackets omitted); R.B. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., No. 12-CV-3763 (AJN), 2013 WL 5438605, at *14 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 27, 2013); P.K. ex rel. S.K., 819 F.Supp.2d at 109. As the Second Circuit has stated, "[t]he sufficiency of goals and strategies in an IEP is precisely the type of issue upon which the IDEA requires deference to the expertise of the administrative officers." Grim, 346 F.3d at 382; A.M. ex rel. Y.N. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., 964 F.Supp.2d 270, 284 (S.D.N.Y. 2013). Here, deference is particularly apt where the IHO and SRO decisions are in agreement and are based on the same record as that before the district court. (SRO Op. at 11-12; IHO Op. at 30-32.) See A.M., 964 F.Supp.2d at 283-85.
Plaintiffs' primary contention is that the academic goals included in the May 2011 IEP were based on G.K.'s chronological age, rather than his individual needs, and are therefore inappropriate. (Pls. Mot. at 14-15; Pls. Memo. of Law in Opp'n to Def.'s Cross-Mot. ("Pls. Reply") (Dkt. 24) at 5-6.) In developing the seventeen goals for the IEP, the CSE included Speech and OT goals provided by RFTS but omitted the school's suggested pre-academic goals. (Pls. Mot. at 14; Tr. at 64-67.) Instead, the CSE added academic goals that, in the Department's estimation, were "more appropriate" for G.K. (Tr. at 67.) The mere fact that Plaintiffs' disagree with the CSE's pedagogical judgment does not necessarily render the goals inappropriate. In rejecting Plaintiffs' challenge to the IEP's goals and objections, the SRO clearly appreciated the contours of the professional disagreement at issue. (See SRO Op. at 11-12.) On one hand, Ms. Barnett of RFTS testified that G.K. was "not yet at academic level" because he was "still evolving language-wise." (Id. at 505-506.) Ms. Fuchs, by contrast, left her evaluation of G.K. feeling "disturbed" by the low level of academic instruction G.K. received at RFTS. (IHO Op. at 4; Tr. at 88-90.) Indeed, even Ms. Wasserman acknowledged that G.K. was in the "very beginning stages" of developing math and reading skills. (Id. at 323-27; see also id. at 325-26 (noting that G.K. had already met some of the academic short-term objectives in the IEP).) Faced with competing opinions on G.K.'s readiness and capacity for academic instruction, both administrative officers — like the CSE before them — drew on their considerable expertise in parsing the relevant testimony and evidence in order to resolve this dispute. As such, their complimentary decisions are entitled to considerable deference, see Grim, 346 F.3d
Plaintiffs similarly contest the IEP's goals on the grounds that they lack sufficient evaluative criteria, procedures, and schedules. (Pls. Mot. at 15.) Specifically, they argue that "[t]he DOE's Goals fail to identify a method of tracking G.K.'s progress, how often progress would be measured, and who would be responsible for implementing the Goals." (Id.) The SRO acknowledged that the IEP included some "academic goals that lacked evaluative criteria or schedules," but concluded that this omission did not result in the denial of a FAPE. (SRO Op. at 12.) In the court's view, both Plaintiffs and the SRO overstate the magnitude of this deficiency. First, with regard to evaluative schedules, each page of the IEP on which the goals and objectives are listed provides that "[t]here will be 4 progress reports per year." (Record at 1054-61, 1063-64.) This is sufficient under the IDEIA. See R.B., 2013 WL 5438605, at *14. Second, all but G.K.'s two PT goals are accompanied by a numerical code indicating the method by which the student's progress will be measured (i.e., teacher made materials, class activities, teacher/provider observations). (Def. Mot. at 4 & n. 2; Record at 1054-61, 1063-64.) Further, the IEP provides that G.K.'s progress toward the two PT goals, which are hand-written and contain granular evaluative criteria, will be measured "as seen" through the student's "improved ball play and balance skills" and his "improved jumping skills." (Id. at 1061.) The court finds that, between the 15 coded goals and 2 "as seen" goals, the IDEIA's requirement that an IEP contain "evaluative procedures" is met.
With regard to evaluative criteria, the SRO acknowledged that some of the IEP's goals appeared to be deficient but that any such deficiency did not amount to the denial of a FAPE. (SRO Op. at 12.) While the SRO's reasoned determination that any deficiencies in the goals' evaluative criteria did not violate the IDEIA is entitled to due weight, the court also believes the SRO likely overestimated the severity of the technical deficiency. As a preliminary matter, of the seventeen long-term goals set forth in the IEP, sixteen were accompanied by subsidiary short-term objectives that may be relied upon to remedy any top-level deficiency. (Def. Mot. at 4 n. 2.) See, e.g., E.F., 2013 WL 4495676, at *18-19 (recognizing that short-term objectives may remedy deficiencies in vague or overly broad goals); D.A.B., 973 F.Supp.2d at 359, 2013 WL 5178267, at *11 (same). Ten of the seventeen goals (or their subsidiary objectives) included express and quantifiable evaluative criteria, such as performing a task with "80% accuracy" or in "3 consecutive sessions." (Record at 1054-57, 1061.) Of the remaining seven sets of goals and objectives, five goals (or their subsidiary objectives) set forth specific tasks for G.K. to complete
Finally, Plaintiffs argue that some of the IEP's goals and objectives were developed after the CSE meeting and without the involvement of G.K.'s parents. (Id. at 16.) Relying on testimony from both parties' witnesses, the SRO reasonably found that "hearing record demonstrates that all of the goals and short-term objectives were reviewed with the committee members, including the parents, during the May 2011 meeting." (SRO Op. at 11.) Ms. Fuchs testified that that the goals included in G.K.'s IEP were discussed at the CSE meeting, which appears to be corroborated by Ms. Wasserman's account of the meeting. (Tr. at 67, 111, 323-27.) Accordingly, as the SRO concluded, Plaintiffs have not credibly shown that any of the goals or objectives included in the IEP were not discussed during the CSE meeting. See S.F. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., No. 11-CV-870 (DLC), 2011 WL 5419847, at *11 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 9, 2011) (rejecting plaintiffs contention that goals were drafted after CSE meeting where record showed extensive discussion of same).
Thus, while recognizing that the IEP's recitation of goals and objectives is not perfect, the court defers to the reasoned judgment of the SRO and concludes that Plaintiffs have failed to establish that the plan's goals were inappropriate or so procedurally deficient so as to deny G.K. a
Plaintiffs also claim that the CSE's "failed to evaluate G.K. for assistive technology and failed to recommend[] assistive technology services or support," rendering the May 2011 IEP inappropriate. (Pls. Mot. at 16.) After reviewing G.K.'s current speech and communication skills and the related goals set forth in the IEP, the SRO concluded:
(SRO Op. at 17.) The SRO further noted that G.K.'s current speech-language therapist at RFTS, who participated in the CSE meeting, did not recommend that an augmentative communication evaluation be performed. (Id.; see also Def. Mot. at 19-21.) Plaintiffs object to this determination, insisting that it is the Department's obligation to recommend assistive technology, if necessary, and that the SRO wrongly relied on retrospective testimony offered by Ms. Fuchs explaining why an evaluation was not performed. (Pls. Mot. at 16.)
In developing an IEP, the IDEIA requires that a CSE "consider whether the child needs assistive technology devices and services." 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(3)(B)(v). As the SRO correctly noted, the CSE relied on the Parents and RFTS staff — including and especially his then-current speech therapist — for information on and evaluations of the student's current skills and needs. See E.F., 2013 WL 4495676, at *20. Yet, according to Ms. Fuchs uncontroverted testimony, nobody at the CSE meeting recommended that G.K. should be evaluated for assistive technology. (Tr. 49-51) The record suggests that had such a request been made, the Department would have taken appropriate steps. (Id.) As such, the court concurs in the SRO's reasonable conclusion that the evidence does not support Plaintiffs' position that "a formal assistive technology evaluation was required for the student to receive a FAPE." (SRO Op. at 17.)
Even in the absence of a formal evaluation, the record reflects that the CSE did, in fact, account for G.K.'s reliance on certain types of assistive technologies when crafting his 2011-2012 IEP. Plaintiffs fault the CSE for not accounting for his use of "communication boards" to augment his communication skills. (Pls. Mot. at 16; Pls. Reply at 7.) However, as the SRO correctly noted, the IEP acknowledges G.K.'s use of such aides and provides for their continued use in the 6:1:1 program by incorporating them into the short-term objectives associated with his expressive language goal. (SRO Op. at 17; Record at 1050, 1055.) The court finds no evidence in the record to suggest that the Department would have deviated from the IEP in this regard.
Accordingly, Plaintiffs' contention that the IEP lacks provisions for assistive technology is not supported by the hearing record and is otherwise insufficient to establish the denial of a FAPE. The court likewise rejects Plaintiffs' argument that Ms. Fuchs' testimony was impermissibly retrospective. (Pls. Mot. at 16-17.) The contested testimony was not offered to supplement or cure a defective IEP, but to explain or justify the CSE's decision not to complete a formal evaluation. See R.E., 694 F.3d at 186-87 ("While testimony that
Plaintiffs also premise their reimbursement claim on the CSE's alleged failure to develop an appropriate BIP for G.K. (Pls. Mot. at 17-19.) The IDEIA requires that in generating an IEP for "a child whose behavior impedes the child's learning," the CSE must "consider the use of positive behavioral interventions and supports, and other strategies, to address that behavior." 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(3)(B)(i); see also A.C., 553 F.3d at 172. The resulting BIP is based upon an FBA, which will identify and define the problem behaviors in concrete terms, identify the contextual factors that contribute to those behaviors, and formulate a theory as to the conditions in which they occur, their function, and the consequences that serve to maintain them. See N.Y. Comp.Codes R. & Regs. tit. 8 § 200.4(b)(1)(v). Plaintiffs do not contest that the CSE developed both an FBA and BIP for G.K. during the IEP meeting. Instead, they argue that the proposed BIP was inappropriate, as it was "vague," "not based on any data," "failed to include baselines" or "any expected behavior changes," and that the "CSE failed to discuss the proposed BIP." (Pls. Mot. at 18.)
During the May 2011 CSE meeting, the Department's school psychologist prepared an FBA for G.K. based on information in Ms. Fuchs' on-site evaluation, progress reports from the student's therapists at RFTS, verbal input from the various RFTS individuals who participated in the CSE meeting, and Dr. Fiorile's April 2011 education service report. (SRO Op. at 20; Record at 1068(FBA).) The FBA indicated that G.K.'s disruptive behaviors include "body tensing, flopping, crying, vocal protests, and biting his clothing," and identified the immediate antecedents to such behaviors, the setting in which they occurred, relevant background information, and several possible explanations for their function. (Id.; id. at 1051 (identifying additional maladaptive behaviors, including aggression and non-contextual speech); see also SRO Op. at 20 (summarizing relevant portions of FBA).) Based on the FBA, the CSE concluded that G.K.'s maladaptive behaviors interfered with his learning and accordingly developed a BIP to ensure he received the "highly intensive supervision" he required. (Record at 1051.) The BIP set out three behavioral goals for G.K. to achieve over the course of his 2011-2012 school year, including that he seek an adult's help when frustrated, that he be better prepared to transition between activities and therefore minimize related frustration, and that he use a "tension ball" instead of biting his clothing. (See Record at 1067(BIP).) To achieve those ends, the BIP set forth an array of strategies and supports to be employed by his instructors in the 6:1:1 program, including: positive and immediate reinforcement of appropriate behavior; short, high interest activities; structured socialization; a small, structured academic environment; a predictable routine; redirecting his attention; and individual paraprofessional support, among others. (Id.; see also SRO Op. at 20 (summarizing relevant strategies and supports).) The IEP also identified G.K.'s teachers, related service providers, and the designated 1:1 paraprofessional as being responsible for providing the required support. (Record at 1051, 68.)
As a preliminary matter, the SRO rightly rejected Plaintiffs' argument that the BIP was not "based on any data." (Pls. Mot. at 18.) New York regulations require that an FBA be "based on multiple sources of data including, but not limited
The court likewise rejects Plaintiffs' contention that the "CSE failed to discuss the proposed BIP." As the SRO aptly noted, Ms. Wasserman testified that the CSE participants discussed G.K.'s maladaptive behaviors with her (SRO Op. at 21 n. 12; Tr. at 328-31), and Ms. Fuchs similarly testified that the FBA was discussed and developed during the May 2011 meeting (Tr. at 53-54.) Indeed, the only evidence cited by Plaintiffs is Ms. Wasserman's testimony that she did not recall whether the FBA or BIP were discussed when she was on the phone. (Pls. Mot. at 18.) Based on the hearing record, the court believes the SRO's decision to reject this argument was supported by a preponderance of the relevant evidence and should not be disturbed.
For similar reasons, the SRO rejected Plaintiffs argument that the BIP is "too vague" to be appropriate to G.K. (Pls. Mot. at 18.) According to the SRO's opinion, the BIP detailed the behaviors in question, identified environmental triggers that bring on the disruptive behaviors and the contexts in which they occur, and laid out specific strategies and supports to be employed in mitigating them. (SRO Op. at 21.) Further, a careful review of Ms. Wasserman's testimony on this issue, which is the only evidence cited by Plaintiffs, illustrates that her overriding objection to the BIP was that she believed his behaviors could be best addressed in a 1:1 environment. (Tr. at 331.) It appears that this was the same reason RFTS's staff did not provide G.K.'s then-current BIP to the CSE team. (Tr. at 328-30.) As discussed in more detail with regard to Plaintiffs' substantive objections to the proposed placement, see infra at Part III.C.1, and after reviewing the evidence cited by both parties, the court concurs in the SRO's reasoned judgment that the BIP prepared in conjunction with G.K.'s IEP "provided sufficient information to advise district staff about the student's problematic behaviors and strategies to manage them." (SRO Op. at 21.)
Finally, Plaintiffs fault the May 2011 IEP for failing to provide for parental counseling and training. (Pls. Mot. at 19-20.) The Department does not dispute that the IEP is procedurally defective in this regard. (Def. Mot. at 23.) Nevertheless, relying on recent Second Circuit precedent, the SRO concluded "that the district's failure to incorporate parent counseling and training into the May 2011 IEP, while such was a violation of State regulation, did not rise to the level of a denial of a FAPE to the student." (SRO Op. at 22-23.) Based on the testimony of Ms. Henry, the SRO also found that the district was willing and able to provide the required services to the Parents.
New York law requires that an IEP provide for counseling and training for the parents of autistic children. See R.E., 694 F.3d at 190 (citing N.Y. Comp.Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 8, § 200.13(d)). This counseling is intended to "assist[] parents in understanding the special needs of their child; provid[e] parents with information about child development; and help[] parents to acquire the necessary skills that will allow them to support the implementation of
Thus, while the omission of parent counseling and training is a technical deficiency in the May 2011 IEP, the court concurs in the SRO's logical and persuasive judgment that, based on the facts of this case and prevailing law, it did not result in the denial of a FAPE.
The minor procedural violations identified in the preceding sections are insufficient to render the May 2011 IEP inappropriate, even when considered cumulatively. See R.E., 694 F.3d at 191 ("[Even minor [procedural violations] may cumulatively result in a denial of a FAPE].") Based on the preceding discussion, the court has identified two deficiencies in the IEP: (1) the omission of parent counseling and training, and (2) the omission of express evaluative criteria in two of the IEP's seventeen goals. See supra at Parts III.B.2 & III.B.5. But as previously discussed, the first error is mitigated by the Department's background legal obligation to provide such services and the second is insufficient to establish the "loss of educational opportunity" or the infringement of the Parents'"participation in the creation or formulation of the IEP" when considered against the remaining goals and objectives, much less the IEP as a whole. E.C. v. Bd. of Educ., No. 11-CV-9429 (ER), 2013 WL 1091321, at *19 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 15, 2013); Werner v. Clarkstown Cent. Sch. Dist., 363 F.Supp.2d 656, 659 (S.D.N.Y.2005). These minor technical deficiencies therefore do not, as the SRO rightly held, amount to the denial of a FAPE when considered cumulatively. See, e.g., E.F., 2013 WL 4495676, at *23-25 (holding that absence of parent counseling and deficiencies in some goals were "procedural errors of `form over substance' and did not render the IEP legally inadequate under the IDEA as they did not rise to the level ... warranting a conclusion that the IEP was fundamentally deficient" (citation omitted)); FB, 923 F.Supp.2d at 586 (finding lack of parent counseling and other procedural errors did not warrant finding denial of a FAPE, as they were "more formal than substantive"); see also R.E., 694 F.3d at 193 (concluding that IEP's failure to provide for parent counseling and deficiencies in FBA did not cumulatively amount to violation of IDEIA).
Having determined that the May 2011 IEP was procedurally adequate, the court turns to the substantive adequacy of the IEP and considers whether it
At its core, the Parents' objections to the May 2011 IEP revolve around their firmly held belief that G.K. requires intensive 1:1 instruction of the type he received at RFTS, rather than the 6:1:1 program recommended by the CSE. To wit, they argue that the SRO's determination that "the record does not suggest that [G.K.] required an intense ABA program on a 1:1 basis in order to receive education benefits" — which affirmed the IHO's findings below — was erroneous, poorly reasoned, and deserving of reversal. (Pls. Mot. at 21; see SRO Op. at 15; IHO Op. at 31.) While the court sympathizes with the Parents' desire to see their son educated in the environment they feel best suits his needs, the court nonetheless concludes that, based on the hearing record below, the 6:1:1 program prescribed in the May 2011 IEP was substantively adequate to provide a FAPE.
It is important to note that while the IDEIA guarantees that each child be afforded a FAPE, it "does not guarantee that the `district provide [] everything that might be thought desirable by loving parents.'" D.B. ex rel. K.B. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., No. 10-C6183, 2011 WL 4916435, at *12 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 12, 2011) (quoting Walczak, 142 F.3d at 132). Nor must a CSE furnish "every special service necessary to maximize each handicapped child's potential." B.P. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., 841 F.Supp.2d 605, 614 (E.D.N.Y.2012) (quoting Rowley, 458 U.S. at 199, 102 S.Ct. 3034). Instead, when reviewing an IEP's substantive adequacy, the court is mindful that the IDEIA prescribes a "basic floor of opportunity consisting of services that are individually designed to provide educational benefit to a child with a disability." Grim, 346 F.3d at 379 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Rowley, 458 U.S. at 201, 102 S.Ct. 3034 (IDEA provides for a "basic floor of opportunity ... consist[ing] of access to specialized instruction and related services which are individually designed to provide educational benefit to the handicapped child.").
The testimony adduced before the IHO revealed the stark disagreement among the parties' respective experts as to whether
Based on their respective evaluations of the hearing record, both the IHO and SRO reasonably concluded that the 6:1:1 program would be a substantively appropriate placement for G.K. Relying on the testimony of Ms. Fuchs and other record evidence, the IHO determined that G.K.'s behavioral issues did not justify "continuing a program that is isolating and controlled" — referring to the "extraordinarily restrictive" RFTS 1:1 program — and that he should instead be "transitioned to a program that offers academics and socialization," as argued by the district representative. (IHO Op. at 31.) The IHO reasoned that a 6:1:1 program with full-time 1:1 paraprofessional support and individualized related services was substantively appropriate for G.K., notwithstanding his significant, though not atypical, behavioral issues. (Id.) In the IHO's view, G.K. had demonstrated a capacity to begin academic instruction and would likely benefit from increased socialization opportunities, which were not sufficiently available at RFTS. (Id.) Based on its review of the evidence, the IHO concluded that the Department had credibly shown the 6:1:1 program to be appropriate for G.K. (Id.) The SRO agreed. Affirming the decision below, the SRO determined that the hearing record did not support Plaintiffs' position that G.K. could only make progress in a 1:1 environment. (SRO Op. at 15-16.) Rather, the SRO concluded that the record illustrated that IEP's provision of a 6:1:1 program and designated 1:1 health paraprofessional, along with daily related services provided on an individualized basis, was substantively adequate to provide a FAPE. (Id.)
The court likewise is unconvinced by Plaintiffs' argument that G.K.'s behavioral needs render the IEP's recommendation of a 6:1:1 program inappropriate. In addition to the base 6:1:1 educational program, which is designed for students who "require[e] a high degree of individualized attention and intervention," N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 8, § 200.6(h)(4)(ii)(a), the IEP also provided for full-time 1:1 support from a designated health paraprofessional and twelve 1:1 therapy sessions per week. (Record at 1066(IEP); SRO Op. at 16.) Plaintiffs contend this degree
Presented with the competing opinions of the parties' respective education professionals concerning the appropriateness of a 6:1:1 program for G.K., the court defers to the professional judgment of the SRO, whose well-reasoned and persuasive determination in the Department's favor was suitably supported by the hearing record. Deference is particularly appropriate with regard to SRO's finding that the IEP's prescribed 6:1:1 program with 1:1 paraprofessional support was sufficient to address G.K.'s behavioral needs. See R.E., 694 F.3d at 192 ("The adequacy of 1:1 paraprofessional support as opposed to 1:1 teacher support is precisely the kind of educational policy judgment to which we owe the state deference if it is supported by sufficient evidence...."); D.J. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., No. 12-CV-7009, 2013 WL 4400689, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 15, 2013) ("[C]lass size and student-teacher ratios `involve questions of methodology more appropriately answered by the state and district decision-makers' than by federal judges." (citation omitted)); see also F.L. ex rel. F.L., No. 12-4575-CV, 553 Fed. Appx. 2, 8, 2014 WL 53264, at *5 (2d Cir. Jan. 8, 2014); D.A.B., 973 F.Supp.2d at 361-62, 2013 WL 5178267, at *13. Both administrative officers plainly appreciated G.K.'s individual developmental and behavioral needs, and reasonably concluded based on the same record before the court that the IEP's recommended program was likely to result in progress, rather than regression, and afforded G.K. with important educational benefits in the areas of academic instruction and socialization. That a more restrictive 1:1 program may also have been appropriate for the student is immaterial. See E.F., 2013 WL 4495676, at *15 (noting that once the CSE found a 6:1:1 program appropriate, it was not required to consider a more restrictive program).
The court accordingly finds the SRO's decision in this regard was both thorough and premised on the officer's expertise and educational judgment, and does not find sufficient evidence in the hearing record to support the Parents' contrary assertion that a 6:1:1 program with designated paraprofessional support was inappropriate for their son.
Finally, Plaintiffs maintain that the proposed placement offered by the Department was substantively inadequate to meet G.K.'s needs. (Pls. Mot. at 23-27.)
Plaintiffs' assertion that G.K. would not have been appropriately grouped at P4 is, by their own admission, predicated on the assumption that he would be placed in a particular class. (Pls. Mot. at 23 ("Assuming G.K. were placed in Ms. Williams' class, he would not have been appropriately grouped at P4.").) Yet the parties do not dispute that G.K. was never actually placed in Ms. Williams' or any other class at P4. (Tr. at 140-41, 169-71.) Plaintiffs' functional grouping argument therefore falls squarely within the realm of impermissible "speculative" objections to an unimplemented IEP, which the court need not and will not entertain as grounds for establishing the denial of a FAPE. See R.B., 2013 WL 5438605, at *17 ("Pursuant to Second Circuit precedent, `courts are prohibited from evaluating the adequacy of an unimplemented IEP based on evidence about the particular classroom in which a student would be placed.'") (quoting N.K. v. New York City Dep't of Educ., 961 F.Supp.2d 577, 590-91 (S.D.N.Y.2013)); see also R.E., 694 F.3d at 186-87; A.M., 964 F.Supp.2d at 286 ("[W]here a parent enrolls the child in a private placement before the time that the district would have been obligated to implement the IEP placement, the validity of proposed placement is to be judged on the face of the IEP, rather than from evidence introduced later concerning how the IEP might have been, or allegedly would have been, implemented."). Nonetheless, relying on Ms. Henry's testimony on the age and functional ranges of students' in Ms. Williams' class, the SRO reasonably concluded that G.K. would have been functionally grouped in Ms. Williams' class. (SRO Op. at 24-25.)
The court similarly will not assume that the staff at P4 lacked the training or experience necessary to implement the student's BIP. Even if such an allegation were not wholly speculative, the evidence adduced at the due process hearing, which the SRO carefully and thoughtfully considered, does not support such a finding. (SRO Op. at 26-27 ("[T]he evidence does not support a conclusion that staff at [P4] lacked the necessary experience and training to address the student's behavioral
Finally, the court concurs in the SRO's judgment that the proposed placement was capable of meeting G.K.'s sensory needs. (See SRO Op. at 27-28.) Plaintiffs argue that P4 was an inappropriate placement for G.K. because it lacked, among other things, "various suspended equipment" called for in the IEP. (Pls. Mot. at 26-27.) However, Plaintiffs are unable to show that the Department was unwilling or unable to obtain any equipment necessary for G.K.'s instruction under the IEP, should he have been enrolled at P4. To the contrary, as the SRO acknowledged, the record demonstrates that just the opposite was true. (See SRO Op. at 27; Tr. at 212-13.) The mere fact that Y.K. did not observe "various suspended equipment" when he visited P4 is insufficient to establish that the IEP would not have been properly implemented. See N.K., 961 F.Supp.2d at 592 ("The fact that Plaintiffs did not observe any sensory equipment on their site visit is insufficient to demonstrate that [the proposed placement] lacked such equipment or that the school would not obtain the equipment necessary to implement J.K.'s IEP should J.K. attend the school."); see also R.B., 2013 WL 5438605, at *16; Reyes ex rel. R.P. v. N.Y.C. Dep't of Educ., No. 12-CV-2113 (WHP), 2012 WL 6136493, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 11, 2012).
In sum, Plaintiffs' objections to the proposed placement are either impermissibly speculative or otherwise unsupported by the hearing record. The court defers to and concurs in the reasoned and persuasive determination of the SRO that the proposed placement would have been substantively appropriate had G.K. been formally enrolled, and does not therefore provide adequate grounds to find denial of a FAPE.
For the reasons discussed above, Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is DENIED in its entirety and the Department's cross-motion is GRANTED. The court concludes that the May 2011 IEP was procedurally and substantively adequate under the IDEIA to provide G.K. with a free and appropriate public education. Having found no violation of the IDEIA, the court need not consider the remaining two steps of the Burlington/Carter inquiry. See A.C., 553 F.3d at 173.
The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to enter judgment and close the case.
SO ORDERED.
