New Haven 26-0021

Complaint Summary

Date Findings Report Sent:

September 04, 2025

Case Number:

26-0021

Grade Level:

Middle

Person filing complaint:

Advocate

School District:

New Haven Public Schools

Allegation(s):

  • The complainant alleged that the District did not have the proper staff present at the PPT meeting held on May 20, 2025, when the PPT meeting was paused without determining the Student’s eligibility due to the PPT Chair allegedly needing guidance from the District’s central office. 34 CFR § 300.321(4)
  • The complainant alleged that the District did not meet the requirements of the initial evaluation timeline for the referral to special education submitted on March 4, 2025. RCSA §10-76d-13
  • The complainant alleged that the District did not fulfill a request for records submitted in writing on April 28, 2025. RCSA Section 10-76d-18

Conclusion(s):

  • Issue 1: By definition of staff roles, the District satisfied the requirements of 34 CFR § 300.321(4) by inviting a PPT chair/administrative designee as well as an assistant principal. However, it seems that while these two PPT attendees satisfied the requirement based on their title/role within the District, they were unable to satisfy the requirement by their actions in the PPT meeting. The representative of the public agency who is knowledgeable about the availability of resources of the public agency cannot adjourn the PPT to consider a request or to get guidance from central office. It is clear that there was confusion on both the District and the Parent and Advocate’s parts regarding the eligibility determination process and the response to a request for an IEE when made at a PPT meeting. The Parent’s request for an IEE did not stop the eligibility determination process at the PPT meeting. The District was still required to determine eligibility based on the District’s evaluations. The request for an IEE then needed to be addressed outside of the PPT. While the Parent and Advocate appeared to be adamant that the request for an IEE would stop the eligibility determination process, the administrator and/or the administrative designee were responsible for clearly explaining the process to the Parent and Advocate. It is determined that the District’s actions at the PPT meeting on May 20, 2025, violated 34 CFR § 300.321(4) as the statements made around pausing the meeting and seeking guidance do not meet the criteria of the required PPT members. Corrective action is required.
  • Issue 2: The referral for special education was received on March 4, 2025. The District reached out to the Parent on May 7, 2025, and offered May 16, 2025, as the first possible date for the PPT meeting to review evaluations and determine eligibility. PPT meetings were held on May 20, 2025, and June 12, 2025, and eligibility was determined on June 12, 2025. The District violated RCSA §10-76d-13, as the eligibility determination made on June 12, 2025, was beyond the required 45-day timeline. Corrective action is required.
  • Issue 3: The Parent’s email to the Director on April 28, 2025, satisfied the requirements of a record request. The District’s failure to act upon the request until August 7, 2025, violated RCSA Section 10-76d-18. Corrective action is required.

Corrective Action(s):

  1. The District must review with all PPT chairs/administrative designees across the District the process of responding to a request for an IEE at a PPT meeting as well as the impact, or lack thereof, that a request for an IEE would have on a PPT meeting proceeding with the purpose of the PPT meeting. An outline of the review including staff signatures and date must be sent to this investigator no later than November 5, 2025.
  2. The District must review with the staff members on the Student’s team during the 2024-2025 school year who were responsible for scheduling PPT meetings the 45-day timeline for an initial evaluation in accordance with RCSA §10-76d-13 and review the District’s suggested timeline for staff to reach out to Parents prior to required PPT meeting dates to ensure that the PPT meetings are scheduled in accordance with the required timelines. An outline of the review including staff signatures and date must be sent to this investigator no later than November 5, 2025.
  3. The Director must review the requirements of RCSA §10-76d-18 to ensure that all requests for records in writing are fulfilled within the required time period and institute, if not already in place, a system for District staff to receive and process such requests. Signature and date of this review must be sent to this investigator no later than November 5, 2025.