3rd Circuit finds for district on reimbursement claim despite failure to have IEP in place prior to start of school year

C.H. v. CAPE HENLOPEN SCHOOL DISTRICT, 08-3630 (3rd Cir. 5-25-2010): Parent placed the child at the Gow School, but did not give the requisite notice of intent to make a reimbursement claim. The district proceeded with the evaluation process and the CSE met prior to the start of the school year. The CSE process was not completed prior to the start of the school year, however. The Court attributed the delay to the parents and declined “to hold that a school district is liable for procedural violations that are thrust upon it by uncooperative parents.” Further, in rejecting the parents’ claim of inadequate notice of the CSE meeting, the Court stated that “the Parents have been their own greatest impediment to participation in the evaluation of C.H.'s disabilities and the development of an appropriate IEP.” Finally, the Court also denied the parents’ claim on equitable grounds for failure to give proper notice of the intent to make a reimbursement claim and for disregarding “their obligation to cooperate and assist in the formulation of an IEP.”