District ordered to reimburse tuition following failure to provide student with appropriate placement

A 12-year-old student with autism and his mother sought relief under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the form of reimbursement for private-school tuition and travel expenses.  The student and mother claimed that the district decided to relocate the student to a regional autism unit without parental input.  The Court agreed, finding that the relocation decision constituted predetermination, in violation of the IDEA.  The Court ordered the district to reimburse the tuition and transportation expenses paid for the student’s private-school placement, totaling more than $77,000.