The task of the CSE is inherently speculative or predictive

School districts oftentimes argue that a parent position is speculative. I have argued that CSE recommendations are inherently speculative. In a case decided 11/18/08, the NDNY noted that

The requirement that defendant's CSE annually develop an IEP that is reasonably calculated to benefit plaintiff's educational development necessarily implies the CSE must make rational predictions about what will be best for plaintiff in the future. A school district's CSE will never have the benefit of knowing for certain how a student would perform if allowed to continue his education pursuant to an un-modified IEP. Although the IDEA permits the consideration of evidence outside the administrative record, see 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2)(C), the statute is silent as to whether courts may consider a student's performance subsequent to the development of the challenged IEP.

J.S. ex rel. Y.S. v. North Colonie Central School Dist., --- F.Supp.2d ----, 2008 WL 4917881(N.D.N.Y. Nov 18, 2008)