Stamford 26-0360

Complaint Summary

Case Number:

  • 26-0360

Date findings report sent:

  • February 20, 2026

Person filing complaint:

  • Parent

School District:

  • Stamford Public Schools

Grade Level:

  • High School

Allegation(s):

  • The Parent alleged that the District failed to implement the Special Education Services, specifically Reading, Mathematics, and Academic Skills (two separate services), as written within the Student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). (34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2), 300.17, RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1))
  • The Parent alleged that the District failed to consistently provide adult support, as written in the Student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), from August 27, 2025, through January 13, 2026. (34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2), 300.17, RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1))
  • The Parent alleged that the District denied them the opportunity to partner in planning for the Student's needs at PPT meetings on October 1, 2025, and December 17, 2025. (34 CFR §§ 300.324(a)(1), 300.501(b)(1), 300.503(b)(7), and RCSA § 10-76d-8(a))

Conclusion(s):

  • An analysis of the Student's required IEP instructional hours and the projected instructional hours, impacted by the adoption of flexible scheduling, indicate that the instructional hours the Student as receiving are not aligned with those written in the IEP. The Student's IEP was not revised to reflect the switch to semester long courses rather than yearlong courses until a PPT meeting on December 17, 2025. Therefore, from August 27, 2025, through the implementation of the new IEP on January 20, 2026, the District was not providing instruction as written in the IEP. Even after revision, the goals and objectives within the new IEP do not align with the Student's schedule and therefore intended instruction for the second semester. Additionally, the District, in making their ESY determination, found that the Student experiences regression when not provided consistent access to instruction; making a schedule that creates semester long gaps between instruction inappropriate for the Student to make meaningful progress or even maintain skills. Therefore, the District is in violation of 34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2) and 300.17, RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1). Corrective action will follow.
  • A review of the Student's grades and progress on IEP goals and objectives indicates that despite the District's admittedly inconsistent provision of paraeducator support, the Student's progress was not substantially impacted. The District states that "2:1 paraprofessional – instructional/behavioral support" was entered in error, but they did not rectify this error until the PPT meeting on October 1, 2025, where Adult Support was entirely removed from the IEP. Additionally, the District acknowledges that staffing shortages. Consequently, the District did not provide Adult Support as required per the Student's IEP from August 27, 2025, through October 15, 2025. Therefore, the District is in violation of 34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2) and 300.17, RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1). Corrective action will follow.
  • The District provided general advance notifications to the community of the adoption of the flexible schedule, maintained frequent communication with the Parent regarding their concerns, and documented those concerns in the IEP in compliance with 34 CFR §§ 300.324(a)(1). However, no PPT meeting was held to revise the IEP to accurately reflect the impact of the schedule changes on the Student's instructional time prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year, and therefore no prior written notice was provided to the Parent. When a PPT meeting was held on October 1, 2025, the Record of Meeting lists that no changes were made to the IEP and PWN only lists the continuation of the IEP; however, revisions were made as paraeducator support was removed from the IEP. Therefore, the District is in violation of 34 CFR § 300.503(b)(7), 300.501(b)(1), and RCSA § 10-76d-8(a). Corrective action will follow.

Corrective Action(s):

  • By March 30, 2026, the District must convene a PPT meeting to:
    • review and analyze data to determine the Student's need for Adult Support and clearly document the specific nature and scope of that support;
    • review the Student's IEP goals and objectives to ensure that all identified areas of need are addressed and that corresponding specialized instruction is appropriately integrated within the Student's schedule.
  • The District is required to provide copies of the Student's Progress Reports for the remainder or the 2025-2026 school year.
  • The District must maintain a daily log for the remainder of the school year to document the Student's paraeducator support in accordance with the Student's IEP. Each month's completed log must be submitted to this investigator by the 15th of the following month.
  • By March 1, 2026, the District is required to complete a corrected Prior Written Notice reflecting all changes made to the IEP at the PPT meeting on October 1, 2025.
  • The District is required to provide training for individuals involved in this case on the laws and regulations relating to the completion of Prior Written Notice. An agenda for the training, along with a list of attendees, must be submitted to this office. The training must be completed no later than March 30, 2026.