Complaint Summary
Date Findings Report Sent:
April 22, 2026
Case Number:
26-0489
Grade Level:
Middle school
Person filing complaint:
Parent
School District:
New London Public Schools
Allegation(s):
- The Parent alleged that, despite their repeated requests beginning in December to convene a Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meeting, the District failed to schedule such a meeting. As a result, the Parent alleged that the District failed to address all of the Student’s needs, specifically the Student’s anxiety related to transportation and consequent accommodations. (34 CFR §§ 300.324(a)(1) and 300.320(a)(4))
- The Parent alleged that the District has failed to provide Resource/Study Skills services and extra time on assignments and assessments as required in the Student’s IEP, since the start of the 2025/2026 school year. (34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2), 300.17, and RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1))
Conclusion(s):
- During the course of this investigation, it was discovered that the Student’s communication goal and objective continue to appear on the IEP without changes since it was initially due to be mastered by April 28, 2023, and the present levels of performance have not been revised since May 16, 2023. Given that the District has failed to annually revise the Student’s IEP, they are in violation of 34 CFR § 300.324(b). Corrective action will follow.
- As outlined in the inquiry letter, Parents have the right to request a PPT meeting at any time. However, under state and federal special education law, the only requirement is for IEP team to review the child’s IEP periodically, and not less than annually. Upon review of the Student’s evaluations, progress on goals and objectives, and teacher reports, there is no evidence that anxiety is adversely impacting the Student’s ability to access her education. Documentation following the most recent PPT meeting on March 16, 2026, indicates that the Student’s parents had conflicting opinions regarding the presence of anxiety and the consequent need for door-to-door transportation, and no changes needed to be made to the Student’s IEP addressing transportation or anxiety. Therefore, the District is not in violation of 34 CFR §§ 300.324(a)(1) and 300.320(a)(4).
- While the District did not reflect Resource/Study Skills services as a separate block on the Student’s schedule, the Student did receive these services during co-taught ELA and math instruction blocks, in alignment with how the services were written on the IEP. Additionally, teacher testimonials reflect that extra time has consistently been provided. Therefore, the District is not in violation of 34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2) and 300.17, and RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1).
Corrective Action(s):
- The District is required to provide training for all staff involved in this case on the federal and state laws and regulations regarding developing, reviewing, and revising IEPs. An agenda for the training and a list of attendees must be submitted to this office.
- The District must convene a PPT meeting to review and revise all present levels of functional performance, and goals and objectives to ensure that current data is utilized and all targeted skills/behaviors are aligned with the evaluation criteria and methods of measurement.