Greenwich 26-0241

Complaint Summary

Date Findings Report Sent

December 22, 2025

Case Number

26-0241

School District

Greenwich Public Schools

Person filing complaint

Advocate

Grade Level

Elementary

Allegation(s)

  • 34 CFR § 300.503(b)(7) and RCSA § 10-76d-8(a) failure to provide prior written notice.
  • 34 CFR § 300.116(a)(1) failure to ensure when determining the educational placement of a child with a disability, that the placement decision is made by a group of persons, including the parents, and other person knowledgeable about the child, the meaning of the evaluation data, and the placement options.
  • 34 CFR § 300.501(a) failure to provide parents of a child with a disability, an opportunity to inspect and review all education records with respect to (1) the identification, evaluation, and educational placement of the child; and (2) the provision of FAPE to the child.
  • 34 CFR § 300.501(b)(1) failure to provide parents of a child with a disability an opportunity to participate in meetings with respect to (i) the identification, evaluation, and educational placement of the child; and (ii) the provision of FAPE to the child.
  • 34 CFR § 300.613(a) and RCSA §10-76d-18 failure to provide parents with the right to inspect and review any education records relating to their child which are collected, maintained or used by the board of education. (1) A request to inspect and review a child's records shall be in writing. The board of education shall comply with a request to review and inspect the child's education records without unnecessary delay and before any meeting regarding an IEP or any due process hearing or resolution session held in accordance with the IDEA; otherwise, the board of education shall comply with such request not later than ten days of such request. (2) The parents' right to inspect and review the child's records shall include the right to one free copy of those records. A request for the free copy shall be made in writing. The board of education shall comply with such request not later than ten days of such request.

Conclusion(s)

In a Parent statement to the District, they clearly expressed concern regarding the Student's access to the general education setting. However, the language used in the statement, and the overall discussion during the PPT meeting did not result in a clearly articulated or mutually understood Parent request. Instead, the Parent's expressed desire to "work together on a plan to transition the Student into the general education classroom as his primary placement" suggests a preference for a gradual implementation rather than an immediate change. Without a summarization at the PPT meeting allowing for an unequivocal understanding of a request for a change in placement, it is determined that the District is not in violation of 34 CFR § 300.503(b)(7) and RCSA § 10-76d-8(a).

While there was discussion at the PPT meeting involving all requested areas, it provided only general information, the Student's schedule that was shared was obsolete, and no quantitative evidence was presented on the Student's goals and objectives. Given that the Parent's primary reason for the PPT meeting was to develop a better understanding of the Student's placement in the District program, the District failed to provide information to ensure that the Parent understood the Student's placement in the District program. Therefore, the District is in violation of 34 CFR § 300.116(a)(1), § 300.501(a), and § 300.501(b)(1).

The Parent's written request on was not that they be provided with a copy of the Student's progress monitoring data, but rather that the District be prepared to review this data at the PPT meeting. Additionally, this timeframe only allowed two full school days to prepare, and 34 CFR § 300.613(a) and RCSA §10-76d-18 provide that Districts comply with records requests within ten days; therefore, the District is not in violation.

Corrective Action(s)

The District is to provide a training to all administrators, special education teachers, and related service providers involved on this case regarding the laws and regulations regarding the requirements of parent's access to information and data so they can be meaningful participants in the PPT process.

Recommendation

The District's procedure of holding a PPT meeting for the Student who transferred into a District from an out of state program for the purpose of conducting an annual review and planning a three-year reevaluation does not align with recent CSDE clarifying guidance. The District should review "SWD Enrolls from Out-of-State" in CT-SEDS issued on May 30, 2025. Out-of-state students with an IEP who enroll during the school year must be treated as an initial referral, and "the District must provide the student with FAPE, including services comparable to those described in the out-of-state IEP during the Referral Process."