Complaint Summary
Date Findings Report Sent:
April 29, 2026
Case Number:
26-0470
Grade Level:
Elementary school
Person filing complaint:
Advocate
School District:
Bridgeport Public Schools (single student)
Allegation(s):
Issue: The Advocate alleged that the Student had not been provided with one-to-one paraeducator support in accordance with his IEP dated January 12, 2026. The Advocate further alleged that the Student had not been provided with occupational therapy in accordance with his IEPs dated January 12, 2025, and January 12, 2026 (34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2) and 300.17 and RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1)).
Conclusion(s):
After the IEP is written, the District is obligated to provide the Student with the special education and related services listed in the IEP. That includes all supplementary aids and services and program modifications that the IEP team has identified as necessary for the Student to advance appropriately toward the established IEP goals, to be involved in and progress in the general curriculum, and to participate in other school activities.
As it relates to the Student’s one-to-one paraeducator support, the paraeducator recommended at the PPT meeting held on January 12, 2026, did not start working with the Student until March 17, 2026, which was after the filing date of this state complaint. The Student’s IEP dated January 12, 2026, went into effect on February 3, 2026, leaving the Student without the recommended one-to-one paraeducator support from February 3, 2026, through the filing of this state complaint on March 3, 2026. Therefore, the District was in violation of 34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2) and 300.17 and Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA) § 10-76d-1(a)(1) for failing to provide paraeducator support in accordance with the Student’s IEP. Corrective action is required.
As it relates to the Student’s occupational therapy services, the Student’s IEPs dated October 1, 2025, November 12, 2025, and January 12, 2026, all recommended 120 minutes one time per month of fine motor skills group (occupational therapy) in site 2b, small group instructional service delivery. The District did not provide occupational therapy services in accordance with the Student’s IEPs from November 2025 through the filing of this state complaint on March 3, 2026. From November 2025 through February 2026, the Student missed 340 minutes of occupational therapy. Therefore, the District was in violation of 34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2) and 300.17 and Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA) § 10-76d-1(a)(1). Corrective action is required.
Corrective Action(s):
- The District must provide a daily log through the remainder of the school year confirming the Student’s one-to-one paraeducator support in accordance with the Student’s IEP. Logs must be sent to this investigator on June 1, 2026, for the month of May, and on or before June 30, 2026, for the month of June.
- The District must create and provide a compensatory education plan for the Student to provide 340 minutes of occupational therapy services. A copy of this plan must be provided to this investigator, no later than May 22, 2026. The District must provide this office with monthly updates on the delivery of services until the compensatory education hours are delivered in full beginning on June 1, 2026. All services must be delivered on or before October 31, 2026.
If the Parent feels that such compensatory services would be overly burdensome or stressful to the student, the Parent, in collaboration with the District, through the PPT process, may determine an alternate number of compensatory service hours or identify alternative compensatory service strategies, methods or programs to compensate the Student which must be reported to the CSDE.