Complaint Summary
Date Findings Report Sent
April 15, 2026
Case number
26-0475
School District
Hartford Public Schools
Person filing the complaint
Parent
Grade Level
Elementary school
Allegation(s)
The Parent alleged that the District removed the Student from the cafeteria to eat in a separate room with an administrator from October 9, 2025, through January 29, 2026, and the Student returned home with injuries. (34 CFR Section §§ 300.114(a)(2)), 300.116(a), and 300.324(a)(2))
The Parent alleged that on February 10, 2026, the District secluded the Student for 220 minutes, and the Parent was not notified until she received the report on February 24, 2026. (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 10-236b(d)(1), 10-236b(f), 10-236b(h), and RCSA §§ 10-79b-6, 10-79b-8(d), 10-79b-9(a), and 10-79b-11).
Conclusion(s)
During the course of this investigation, it was discovered that the Student’s three-year reevaluation was overdue and was consequently in violation of CFR § 300.303(b)(2). The due date had been March 9, 2026, but the District reported that the PPT meeting had been “the meeting was scheduled for March 9th, but was rescheduled at parent request to allow the parent additional time to review the draft evaluation reports at her request. It was rescheduled for March 11th but could not be held that day due to inclement weather cancellations which impacted the school schedule. It was next scheduled for March 16th but the parties decided that additional time was needed to collect data for the completion of the FBA to allow that to be reviewed at the same time as the other evaluations.” Prior to the issuance of the findings letter, the District held the PPT meeting on April 2, 2026, to conduct the reevaluation; therefore, no corrective action will be issued.
The Student’s removal from the cafeteria and subsequent placement in a smaller lunch group after May 29, 2025, resulted from a behavioral incident that occurred despite paraeducator support. Although this change did not impede implementation of the IEP, the record does not clearly establish how and when this information was explicitly communicated to the Parent. Therefore, the District is not in violation of 34 CFR Section § § 300.114(a)(2) and 300.116(a); however, recommendations will follow.
Although there were documented behavioral concerns dating back to at least May 29, 2025, the District did not convene a PPT meeting to consider special factors or to ensure that the IEP included appropriate services and supports to address the Student’s behavior until February 11, 2026. Therefore, the District is in violation of 34 CFR § 300.324(a)(2). Corrective action will follow.
The District reported one seclusion for 220 minutes on February 10, 2026. However, a review of information provided by the District clarifies that during this timeframe, the Student was actually secluded three times. First in room 116 for 86 minutes, then he was brought to the nurse for 8 minutes, then a second seclusion occurred when he was brought back to room 116 for 65 minutes, then he was brought back to his classroom for 1 minute, and then he was secluded a third time when he was brought back to room 116 and secluded for 60 minutes. While the Student was continuously monitored during this time, the frequency and ease of movement, given that no additional forcible escorts were needed, leads to the conclusion that the consequent seclusions were not utilized as emergency interventions. Therefore, the District is in violation Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-236b(d)(1) and RCSA § 10-79b-6. Corrective action will follow.
Two of the three seclusions exceeded one hour, but there is no written authorization from the building principal or a designee. Additionally, during the first and third seclusions, there was not an administrator, school health or mental health personnel or a board certified behavioral analyst to making ongoing determinations as to whether continued seclusion was necessary to prevent immediate or imminent injury to the student or to others. Therefore, the District is in violation of RCSA § 10-79b-8(d) and Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-236b(f). Corrective action will follow.
The District called the Parent, but did not explicitly state that the Student had been secluded. Additionally, the District did not complete the incident report to share with the Parent within the required timelines. Therefore, the District is in violation of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-236b(h), RCSA §§10-79b-9(a), and 10-79b-11. Corrective action will follow.
Recommendation
The District should ensure that PPT meetings facilitate transparent communication regarding any changes impacting a student’s schedule and any potential impact on a student’s access to general education settings and peers. PPTs should evaluate the student’s disability and corresponding needs in the least restrictive environment, carefully considering the use of supplementary aids and services to prevent unnecessary limitations on access to general education settings. Additionally, the District should monitor student’s performance and revisit and adjust strategies and scheduling decisions as appropriate.
Corrective Action(s)
The District must provide training to all individuals involved in this case regarding the laws and regulations regarding consideration of special factors. Specifically, appropriate IEP documentation when a student’s behavior impedes their learning or that of others, the use of positive behavioral interventions and supports, and other strategies, to address that behavior no later than June 20, 2026. An agenda for the training and a list of attendees must be submitted to this office.
The District must provide training to all individuals involved in this case regarding the laws and regulations regarding the understanding and use of exclusionary time-outs, restraint, and seclusion. Specifically, the definitions of exclusionary time-outs, restraint, and seclusion as well as all laws around the emergency use of physical restraint and seclusion including the required monitoring and reporting of restraint and seclusion. All staff must be trained on: the definition of seclusion, what may or may not constitute imminent risk and therefore warrants the emergency use of restraint/seclusion; requirements to document a restraint or seclusion incident; verbal defusing or de-escalation strategies; prevention strategies; and parental notification requirements no later than June 20, 2026. An agenda for the training and a list of attendees must be submitted to this office.