Stratford 26-0197

Complaint Summary

Date Findings Report Sent:

November 24, 2025

Case Number:

26-0197

Grade Level:

Elementary

Person filing complaint:

Parent

School District:

Stratford Public Schools

Allegation(s):

  • 34 CFR § 300.502(a)(1) and RCSA § 10-76d-9(a) failure to provide parents of a child with a disability with the right to obtain an independent educational evaluation of the child.
  • 34 CFR § 300.502(a)(2) and RCSA §10-76d-9(a) failure to provide to parents, upon request for an independent educational evaluation, information about where an independent educational evaluation may be obtained, and the agency criteria as outlined in 34 CFR § 300.502(e)(1) including the location of the evaluation and the qualifications of the examiner (2) except for the criteria described in paragraph (e)(1) of this section, a public agency may not impose conditions or timelines related to obtaining an independent educational evaluation at public expense.
  • 34 CFR § 300.502(b)(2) failure of the public agency, when the parent requests an independent educational evaluation at public expense, without unnecessary delay (i) file a due process complaint to request a hearing to show that its evaluation is appropriate; or (ii) ensure that an independent educational evaluation is provided at public expense, unless the agency demonstrates in a hearing pursuant to §§300.507 through 300.513 that the evaluation obtained by the parent did not meet agency criteria.

Conclusion(s):

  • Following the Parent’s request for an IEE, the District caused an unnecessary delay by failing to ensure that an IEE was provided at public expense or initiating a due process complaint to request a hearing to substantiate the appropriateness of its evaluation, thereby violating 34 CFR § 300.502 and RCSA §10-76d-9(a). As the District has already agreed to provide an IEE at public expense, limited corrective action will follow.

Corrective Action(s):

  • The District is required to provide training for administrators involved in this case, on all laws and regulations related to IEEs.