Complaint Summary

Date Findings Report Sent

August 7, 2026

Case Number

26-0799

School District

Stratford Public Schools/Magnet School

Person filing complaint

Parent

Grade Level

Middle School

Allegation(s)

  • The Parent alleges that the District and the Magnet did not provide special education services for the Student from May 20, 2026, through the end of the 2025-2026 school year (34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2), 300.17, and RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1)).
  • The Parent alleges that the District and the Magnet inappropriately placed the Student in a homebound-type situation from May 20, 2026, through end of the 2025-2026 school year (The Parent alleges that the District and the Magnet inappropriately placed the Student in a homebound-type situation from May 20, 2026, through end of the 2025-2026 school year (34 CFR §§ 300.114(a)(2), 300.115(a), 300.530(g)(3), and RCSA §§ 10-76d-15).

Conclusion(s)

  • The District was not required to provide the Student with any educational services during the initial ten-day suspension period; however, on May 27, 2026, the PPT determined the behavior in question was a manifestation of the Student’s disability which concluded the Student’s suspension period. As no services were provided for the thirteen-day period from May 28, 2026, through June 15, 2026, the District is in violation of 34 CFR §§ 300.323(c)(2) and 300.17 and RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1). Corrective action will follow.
  • Under 34 CFR § 300.530(g)(3), the District could have unilaterally removed the Student to an interim alternative educational setting (IAES) for no more than 45 school days, regardless of whether the behavior was determined to be a manifestation of their disability, as it was determined that the Student inflicted serious bodily injury upon another individual while at school. Instead of pursuing that course of action, documentation reflects that the District stated it would allow the Student to return to the Magnet but simultaneously placed the Student on homebound instruction without any verified medical reason, which was never provided. During this period, the only education that the Student received consisted of two assignments from the Magnet provided on May 22, 2026, and May 27, 2026. Further documentation and communication following the PPT meeting on May 27, 2026, reveal inconsistent accounts and misunderstandings that resulted in no clear determination or IEP revisions regarding what instruction the Student would receive for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year. Additionally, there was no evidence that the PPT discussed the least restrictive environment that would have been appropriate for the Student or considered the continuum of placements options under the IDEA. Therefore, the District is in violation of 34 CFR §§ 300.114(a)(2), 300.115(a), and RCSA § 10-76d-15. Corrective action will follow.

Corrective Action(s)

  • The District and Magnet must provide the Student with compensatory education to make up for the services missed (13 days or 2.6 weeks) when the Student was at home. The total number of minutes awarded for this compensatory education is as follows: 585 minutes for mathematics, 156 minutes for literacy (special education teacher/paraeducator), 234 minutes for literacy (special education teacher), 2,041 minutes for executive functioning, 52 minutes for counseling (individual), and 65 minutes for counseling (group). This provision aims to ensure that the Student receives the necessary support to address any gaps in his education and to facilitate his continued progress and development. Compensatory education can be conducted at the determination of the Parent. If the District and the Parent encounter a disagreement about the scheduling of services, the District shall contact this office and the investigator will decide. The Parent is free to decline the offer of compensatory education in whole or in part. The District shall provide this office with monthly reports documenting the delivery of these services. The District shall deliver all the services on or before December 1, 2026.
  • The PPT team must reconvene a PPT meeting prior to the start of the 2026-2027 school year, but no later than September 1, 2026, to review the Student’s IEP, make revisions as necessary while considering all options to support the Student in the less restrictive environment, and determine placement for the 2026-2027 school year.
  • The PPT team must reconvene a PPT meeting no later than October 15, 2026, to review the completed FBA and consequent BIP, and incorporate recommended services and supports into the Student’s IEP.
  • The District and Magnet are required to provide training to all PPT members who are school employees on legal requirements under 34 CFR §§ 300.114(a)(2), 300.115(a), and RCSA § 10-76d-15, to include least restrictive environment, continuum of alternative placements, and homebound instruction. Included in the content of the training should be a review of Chapters 6 and 7 of the Special Education Procedures and Practices Manual (Chapter 6: Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and Placement, Chapter 7: Students Unable to Attend School for Medical Reasons). 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 September 30, 2026.