Meriden 26-0238

Complaint Summary

Date Findings Report Sent

January 9, 2026

Case Number

26-0238

School District

Meriden Public Schools

Person filing complaint

Parent

Grade Level

High school

Allegation(s)

Issue 1: The Parent alleged that the transportation arranged for the Student by the District is inadequate due to the transportation taking over an hour each way and at times an hour and a half to two hours. (RCSA § 10-76d-19(a)) 

Issue 2: The Parent alleged that the District has not implemented the Student's bus plan and that the aide on the bus did not provide support to the Student in accordance with the bus plan resulting in the Student's refusal to ride the transportation. (34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2) and 300.17(d) and RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1))

Conclusion(s)

Issue 1: The GPS data did not confirm that the length of the Student's transportation was ever an hour and a half or two hours long as initially alleged by the Parent. It did however confirm that the Student's transportation was over an hour 23.81% of the morning rides and 33.33% of the afternoon rides from the start of the 2025-2026 school year through October 9, 2025. While the District identified the Student's behavior as a contributing factor to the length of the transportation, there was only one documented incident which occurred on September 24, 2025, in which the Student's behavior resulted in a delay in transportation that resulted in the route being over an hour one way (Fact #9). 

The Student has the right to receive specialized transportation as a related service and in accordance with RCSA § 10-76d-19(a), the total travel time is not to exceed one hour each way to and from a special education facility. Without any delays to the transportation route, the transportation as it is currently scheduled takes 55-65 minutes each way, as it takes 30-35 minutes to pick up all four students and then approximately 25-30 minutes of travel to the school (Fact #7). Based on the frequency that the Student's transportation exceeded one hour each way to and from the Student's special education facility, it is determined that the District was in violation of RCSA § 10-76d-19(a). Corrective action is required. 

Issue 2: The Student's IEPs dated April 21, 2025, and November 7, 2025, indicated that the Student required special transportation as a related service. The required support included a van plan and a monitor. While the plan was reviewed with the driver and monitor and a paper copy of the plan was provided each day with the route paperwork, concerns were noted by the Parent and school staff regarding the monitor's implementation of the van plan as it pertained to her proximity to and engagement with the Student. As the Student's behaviors on the van began to escalate and result in safety concerns including the Student unbuckling and delaying the transportation, the District was obligated to convene a PPT meeting to determine what revisions, if any, were needed to support the Student's participation on the special transportation. Instead, the Parent requested a PPT meeting on October 1, 2025, which was not convened until November 7, 2025. In the meantime, the Parent began transporting the Student to and from school due to his refusal to ride the transportation. The recommendations from the PPT meeting held on November 7, 2025, were to conduct 4 BCBA observations, to reconvene a PPT meeting on December 17, 2025, and to reimburse the Parent for transporting the Student in the meantime. However, by the PPT meeting held on December 17, 2025, only 2 of the 4 BCBA observations were conducted, and no revisions were made to the Student's IEP or van plan at that PPT meeting. This resulted in the Parent continuing to transport the Student to and from school while the District continued to deny the Parent's request for individualized transportation based on the District's recommendation for less restrictive interventions and supports. It is determined that the District is in violation of 34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2) and 300.17(d) and RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1). Corrective action is required.

Corrective Action(s)

  1. The District must provide the remaining two BCBA observations without any further delay. The Student's van plan must be updated to reflect new information, strategies, and interventions gathered from the observations. Documentation of these revisions must be sent to this investigator on or before January 26, 2026. 
  2. The District must consider conducting a functional behavioral assessment and implementing a behavior intervention plan based on the observations of the BCBA at the PPT meeting scheduled for January 20, 2026, in order to ensure the Student reengages on the District provided transportation. Documentation of the consideration of conducting an FBA at the PPT meeting must be sent to this investigator on or before January 27, 2026. 
  3. The District must ensure a commute that does not exceed one hour each way to and from the Student's school in accordance with RCSA § 10-76d-19(a) unless the Parent provides written consent to longer travel time. The District must provide this investigator with GPS data on the Student's transportation to and from school for the next three months to ensure that the travel time is not exceeding one hour each way. GPS data must be sent on February 1, 2026, March 1, 2026, and April 1, 2026. If transportation is exceeding one hour, the District must convene a PPT meeting to review and work with the transportation company to make any necessary adjustments to the Student's transportation. 
  4. The District must provide appropriately trained adult support for the Student's transportation. The person fulfilling this role must be trained to understand the needs of the Student and the requirements of the Student's plan. Verification of the training must be provided to this investigator as soon as possible and no later than February 9, 2026. 
  5. The District must conduct a safety and needs assessment for the Student's special transportation including the potential need for a safety device to limit the Student's ability to unbuckle while the vehicle is moving. Verification of the assessment and revisions made based on the assessment must be provided to this investigator on or before February 9, 2026. 
  6. The District's administrative staff (special education and transportation) involved with this Student from the start of the 2025-2026 school year must review this findings letter and the requirements of Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA) §§ 10-76d-1(a)(1) and 10-76d-19(a) as well as 34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2) and 300.17(d). Signatures and dates following the review must be sent to this investigator on or before February 9, 2026.