Washington v. Katy ISD

Case: 22-20050 Document: 00516678809 Page: 1 Date Filed: 03/16/2023

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED March 16, 2023 No. 22-20050 Lyle W. Cayce Clerk Lori Washington, ex rel. J.W.; J.W., Plaintiffs—Appellants, versus Katy Independent School District, Defendant—Appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 4:21-CV-204

Before Jones, Smith, and Graves, Circuit Judges.

Per Curiam:* Lori Washington is the mother of J.W., a former student of Katy In- dependent School District (“the District”) who suffers from intellectual dis- ability and emotional disturbance. Washington brought claims on behalf of J.W. against the District under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Case: 22-20050 Document: 00516678809 Page: 2 Date Filed: 03/16/2023

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Act (“IDEA”), 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. She appeals an adverse determina- tion by both a state hearing officer and the district court. We AFFIRM.

I. BACKGROUND The district court opinion below thoroughly details the facts underlying this case. See Washington v. Katy Indep. Sch. Dist., 2022 WL 61160, *1–4 (S.D. Tex. Jan. 6, 2022). In short, J.W. transferred to the District in August 2016, at which time the District convened an admission, review, and dismissal (“ARD”) committee to facilitate the creation and implementation of an individualized educational plan (“IEP”) and behavioral improvement plan (“BIP”) for J.W.’s junior year. Washington concedes the plan “worked well” and J.W.’s “grades were excellent.”

In November 2016, J.W. was repeatedly tased by a school resource officer during a confrontation with District staff. Washington subsequently withheld J.W. from school for almost the entire spring 2017 term despite the District’s repeated attempts to provide support and accommodations. An ARD committee was convened in May 2017 to address J.W.’s absenteeism and adjust his individualized educational plan. J.W. attended the first session of extended school year (“ESY”) services in summer 2017. But he again struggled with absenteeism early in the fall 2017 term, this time caused by displacement from Hurricane Harvey. J.W.’s attendance improved in November and December, and he received mostly As and Bs during the 2017–18 school year. He ultimately graduated in May 2018.

In December 2017, Washington requested a special education due process hearing with the Texas Education Agency pursuant to the IDEA. A hearing officer determined the District did not violate J.W.’s procedural rights and provided him a free appropriate public education (“FAPE”) as required by the IDEA. The district court affirmed that determination, granted summary judgment for the District, denied summary judgment for Case: 22-20050 Document: 00516678809 Page: 3 Date Filed: 03/16/2023

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Washington, and dismissed the case with prejudice. Washington appeals that judgment.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW This court reviews de novo, as a mixed question of law and fact, a dis- trict court’s determination that a school district furnished a FAPE under the IDEA. Klein Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Hovem, 690 F.3d 390, 395 (5th Cir. 2012) (quotation marks omitted). “The district court’s findings of ‘underlying fact’ are reviewed for clear error.” Id. (citation omitted).

III. DISCUSSION “To meet its substantive obligation under the IDEA, a school must offer an IEP reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child’s circumstances.” Endrew F. v. Douglas Cnty. Sch. Dist., 580 U.S. 386, 399, 137 S. Ct. 988, 999 (2017). “An IEP need not be the best possible one, nor does it entitle a disabled child to a program that maximizes the child’s potential.” Klein Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Hovem, 690 F.3d 390, 396 (5th Cir. 2012). “Nevertheless, a school district must provide the student with a meaningful educational benefit.” Id. To that end, the court assesses whether a student’s IEP was “reasonably calculated to enable the student to receive educational benefits.” Id. Four factors articulated in Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District v. Michael F. guide this analysis: whether “(1) the program is individualized on the basis of the student’s assessment and performance; (2) the program is administered in the least restrictive environment; (3) the services are provided in a coordinated and collaborative manner by the key ‘stakeholders’; and (4) positive academic and non-academic benefits are demonstrated.” 118 F.3d 245, 253 (5th Cir. 1997).

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Washington challenges the district court’s holding that the first, third, and fourth Michael F. factors favor the District. Washington also contests multiple factual determinations made by the district court. Those challenges are resolved below under the relevant Michael F. factors. 1 As to the first Michael F. factor, Washington argues J.W.’s May 2017 IEP was not sufficiently individualized because it failed to address his absenteeism. 2 The record demonstrates otherwise. The May 2017 ARD committee discussed attendance expectations and J.W.’s expected return date. It adjusted J.W.’s BIP in an explicit effort to address the underlying causes of J.W.’s attendance problems, offered ESY services so that J.W. could recoup credits he lost during the spring 2017 term, and recommended a functional behavioral assessment or counseling evaluation to determine what further support should be provided. Washington agreed that the Case: 22-20050 Document: 00516678809 Page: 5 Date Filed: 03/16/2023

No. 22-20050 services offered by the revised IEP were adequate. These findings reveal J.W.’s May 2017 IEP was appropriately individualized.

As to the third Michael F. factor, Washington contends the District failed to collaborate with her in that it refused to discuss what events occurred prior to the tasing incident and predetermined the outcome of the May 2017 ARD meeting. To the contrary, the District did not refuse to discuss with Washington what led up to the tasing incident. For instance, Assistant Principal Majewski spoke with Washington about the incident on the day it occurred. Majewski attempted to discuss the incident with Washington again in January 2017, but Washington ended the phone call before Majewski could provide a full explanation. Washington met with Principal Edwards, but she did not ask about what led up to the incident. In fact, only during the May 2017 ARD meeting did staff decline to discuss the incident, as they insisted that the ARD committee instead focus on remedying the effects of the incident. They also proposed that Washington schedule a different time to speak with staff about the incident. Moreover, no evidence suggests the outcome of the May 2017 ARD meeting was predetermined. Washington attended the meeting with counsel. Some of her suggestions were incorporated into J.W.’s BIP. And she agreed with the IEP proposed at that meeting.

Washington also argues the District failed to implement J.W.’s IEPs.

She contends the September 2016 IEP was not implemented because the District failed to address J.W.’s absenteeism in a timely manner. “[T]he reasonableness of a delay is not defined by its length but by the steps taken by the district during the relevant period.” Spring Branch Indep. Sch. Dist. v. O.W., 961 F.3d 781, 793 (5th Cir. 2020). Here, the District made multiple attempts, both formal and informal, to transition J.W. back to school and provide him necessary services. The District cannot be faulted for delays caused by Washington’s lack of responsiveness and her refusal to return Case: 22-20050 Document: 00516678809 Page: 6 Date Filed: 03/16/2023

No. 22-20050 necessary paperwork. 3 See Renee J. v. Houston Indep. Sch. Dist., 913 F.3d 523, 532 (5th Cir. 2019).

Washington asserts the May 2017 IEP was not implemented because J.W. missed a substantial portion of the term due to Hurricane Harvey. “[A] party challenging the implementation of an IEP must show more than a de minimis failure to implement all elements of that IEP, and, instead, must demonstrate that the school board or other authorities failed to implement substantial or significant provisions of the IEP.” Houston Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Bobby R., 200 F.3d 341, 349 (5th Cir. 2000). Washington has not pointed to a single provision from the May 2017 IEP that the District was unwilling to implement had J.W. attended school. Simply put, a parent cannot agree that the services her child is receiving are sufficient, prevent the school from administering those services by withholding the child, hinder the school’s ability to provide additional services by failing to file necessary paperwork, then later sue on the basis that the school did not do enough. See Renee J., F.3d at 531–32.

As to the fourth Michael F. factor, Washington first contests the district court’s finding that J.W. received academic and non-academic benefits.

“Whether the student obtained educational benefits from the school’s special education services is a finding of underlying fact.” Hovem, 690 F.3d 3 The district court found Washington declined to sign consent forms that would have allowed the District to speak with J.W.’s outside health care providers. Washington proffers circumstantial evidence as to why this finding was in error. This evidence, however, does not demonstrate the district court clearly erred. Indeed, ample evidence supports the district court’s finding.

The district court also found Washington declined ESY transportation and did not return homebound services paperwork. Washington does not contest the first finding. She instead merely quibbles with the “manner in which the [district court] characterized” the fact. As to the second determination, Washington provides no evidence as to why this finding was in error.

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No. 22-20050 at 395. J.W. attended some school days in January 2017. On the days he attended, he was able to utilize the Positive Approach to Student Success Program (“PASS”) room and meet with the licensed specialist in school psychology (“LSSP”). He participated in the first term of ESY, where he was able to make up an English credit and learn to better interact with others.

He attended class and participated in a work-based learning program, sporadically in August, September, and October, but more consistently in November and December. He also met with the LSSP to learn how to manage his anger and misperception of others. J.W. received passing grades during the 2017/2018 school year 4 and readjusted to the school setting without significant behavioral concerns. His teachers testified that J.W. demonstrated an ability to learn, follow directions, and engage with others; they additionally believed he would be able to hold a job upon graduation.

And J.W. ultimately accrued enough credits to graduate. 5 In sum, the district court did not clearly err in finding J.W. received academic and nonacademic benefits.

Washington also contends the district court failed to apply Hovem’s “holistic approach” when evaluating the academic and non-academic benefits conferred by the IEPs. To the contrary, the district court reviewed J.W.’s overall academic record as opposed to focusing “on disability remediation.” Hovem, 690 F.3d at 398. It thus avoided the precise error Hovem cautioned against.

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In sum, the Michael F. factors weigh in favor of the District, thus supporting the conclusion that J.W.’s IEPs were adequate to confer a FAPE. 6 The district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED.