Complaint Summary

Date Findings Report Sent:

May 26, 2026

Case Number:

26-0566

Grade Level:

Elementary school

Person filing complaint:

Parent

School District:

New Haven Public Schools/Charter School

Allegation(s):

• The Parent alleges that the District failed to provide an IEP that was reasonably calculated to enable the Student to make meaningful progress in the areas of communication and gross motor skills. (34 CFR §§ 300.320(a) and 300.324(b)(1)(ii))

Conclusion(s):

The Student’s IEPs implemented between April 9, 2025, and April 9, 2026, document the progression of communication strengths, concerns, needs, and goals and objectives, but evidence of the progression of gross motor strengths, concerns, needs, and goals and objectives is limited because this area has been identified as a need for less than one year. Based upon the available evidence, the District is not in violation of 34 CFR § 300.320(a); the IEPs were reasonably calculated to enable the Student to make progress. No corrective action will be ordered.

However, the progress reports consistently provide identical notes and reflect minimal or no objective data. In the area of gross motor skills, two objectives have been marked as mastered since November, while no progress has been documented toward the remaining two objectives. Therefore, the District is in violation of 34 CFR § 300.324(b)(1)(ii) for failing to reconvene a PPT meeting to revise the IEP to address any lack of expected progress. Corrective action will follow.

Additionally, although not outlined in the inquiry letter, a review of the Student’s educational record revealed that Progress Reports were not issued for November 19, 2025, and February 4, 2026, until April 29, 2026, despite the IEP requirement that progress toward meeting goals and objectives be provided to the parent consistent with general education grade-level report cards. Therefore, the District is in violation of 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3) which requires that periodic reports on the progress towards meeting annual goals be provided. Corrective action will follow.

A further concern also not addressed in the inquiry letter, but identified during the investigation, involves the District’s potential failure to ensure delivery of IEP services, as required per 34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2) and 300.17, RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1). Although session logs and the absence of such logs, in conjunction with the seeming lack of progress, may indicate a potential violation, these factors do not conclusively refute the District’s assertion that these services were provided. Rather, they suggest that Student progress may have been limited and documentation of the services may not have been maintained. Therefore, recommendations will follow.

Corrective Action(s):

• The District must convene a PPT meeting to update the Student’s present levels to ensure that they are reflective of current performance and areas of need, and to revise goals where objectives are mastered or when expected progress is not being made across all areas as required under 34 CFR §§ 300.324(b)(1). This meeting must be held no later than June 30, 2026.
•  The District is required to issue a memorandum to all contracted related service providers clearly articulating IDEA requirements for IEP progress reporting requirements. A copy of this memorandum must be shared with this office no later than June 15, 2026.

Recommendation:

The District should reinforce with all contracted related service staff the importance of maintaining detailed service logs to ensure compliance with progress monitoring requirements under IDEA.