Stamford 26-0407

Complaint Summary

Date Findings Report Sent:

March 24, 2026

Case Number:

26-0407

Grade Level:

Middle School

Person filing complaint:

Parent

School District:

Stamford Public Schools

Allegation(s):

  • The Parent alleged that the District exited the Student from special education and related services at a Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meeting on December 4, 2025, without conducting an evaluation. (34 CFR § 300.305(e)(1))
  • The Parent alleged that the District failed to consider the Parent’s concerns prior to finding the Student ineligible for special education and related services, and that the District did not document the Parent’s disagreement with the ineligibility determination in Prior Written Notice (PWN). (34 CFR § 300.324(a)(1)).

Conclusion(s):

  • The District did not provide the Parent with notice of an upcoming reevaluation, nor did it provide an opportunity to discuss or plan an evaluation before determining that the Student was no longer a child with a disability. Therefore, they are in violation of 34 CFR § 300.305(e)(1). Corrective action will follow.
  • The December 4, 2025, PPT Record of Meeting documents the Parent’s concern regarding the Student no longer having an IEP; however, this disagreement was not formally documented in PWN. It is notable that two PWNs reflecting seemingly conflicting determinations were generated. Although the District and the Parent differ in their views on the significance of the ineligibility disagreement, a Parent’s disagreement with an ineligibility decision is not required to be documented in PWN. Therefore, the District is not in violation of 34 CFR § 300.324(a)(1) or 34 CFR § 300.503(b)(7) and RCSA § 10-76d-8(a), but recommendations will follow.

Recommendation(s):

  • The District should ensure that District staff involved in this case are familiar with laws and regulations relating to the completion of PWN to promote consistent practice and eliminate potential ambiguity.

Corrective Action(s):

  • The District is required to provide training to the PPT members who are school employees on the legal requirements and processes for exiting students from special education and related services.
  • The District will submit a new referral for special education services and schedule a PPT to review Parent concerns and current functioning, and discuss if a comprehensive evaluation is warranted in order to determine eligibility for special education services.