California Hearing Officer Decisions

In this article, Professor Colker presents her analysis of 101 cases decided by California Hearing Officers in special education matters decided between May 3, 2010 and June 20, 2011. She argues that the burden of proof placed on parents often made it difficult for them to prevail even when it appeared they had some strong arguments. She also argues that parents had particular difficulty prevailing when they sought to argue that the school district's proposed educational program was inadequate. Finally, she argues that parents have an overly difficult time persuading a hearing officer that a remedy should be ordered for a procedural violation.