Complaint Summary
Date Findings Report Sent:
February 17, 2026
Case Number:
26-0334
Grade Level:
High school
Person filing complaint:
DCF caseworker
School District:
Seymour Public Schools (single student)
Allegation(s):
Issue 1: The Complainant alleged that the District had not ensured the Student’s Surrogate Parent’s meaningful participation in the Student’s special education program, thereby violating the Surrogate Parent’s Procedural Safeguards rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Complainant also alleged that the District had not appropriately noticed the Surrogate Parent for the Student’s PPT meetings. Finally, the Complainant alleged that the District demonstrated a pattern of failing to include the Student’s Surrogate Parent in written and email correspondence where significant communications about the Student’s education, status, and enrollment disputes were occurring. (34 CFR § 300.148, 34 CFR § 300.151, 34 CFR § 300.152, 34 CFR § 300.153, 34 CFR § 300.9, 34 CFR § 300.300, 34 CFR § 300.502, 34 CFR § 300.503, 34 CFR § 300.505 through 34 CFR § 300.518, 34 CFR § 300.530 through 34 CFR § 300.536, 34 CFR § 300.610 through 34 CFR § 300.625, and 34 CFR § 300.322)
Conclusion(s):
Issue 1: The District has appropriately noticed the Surrogate Parent related to Procedural Safeguards and appropriately addressed each component of those safeguards. The main focus of the investigable portion of the complaint related to the District’s alleged pattern of exclusion of the Surrogate Parent in notices and communications resulting in her inability to meaningfully participate in the Student’s educational program. A thorough review of the special education-related correspondence submitted, along with the Student’s CT-SEDS education records indicated that the Surrogate Parent was actually, in all cases, included in correspondence and notifications when the issue was related to the Student’s special education program. It is concluded that the District was not in violation of the Procedural Safeguards or 34 CFR § 300.322. No corrective actions were issued.
Corrective Action(s):
None