Complaint Summary

Date Findings Report Sent:

September 02, 2025

Case Number:

26-0001

Grade Level:

High school

Person filing complaint:

Parent

School District:

Torrington Public Schools

Allegation(s):

• The Parent alleged that the District committed a child find violation by failing to identify and evaluate the Student for special education and related services despite the Student’s significant attendance issues impacting her academic progress and completion of graduation requirements. 34 CFR § 300.111 and RCSA § 10-76d-7

Conclusion(s):

• The District acknowledges that the Student’s attendance was considered unsatisfactory during the 2024-2025 school year. As absences accumulated, the District held internal SST meetings and a SRBI meeting between October 2024 and December 2024. The Student’s annual review of her Section 504 plan meeting was held in November 2024 but was an annual requirement of her Section 504 plan and not solely based on concerns with her attendance. RCSA requires Districts to promptly refer to a PPT a child who has been suspended repeatedly or whose behavior, attendance or progress in school is considered unsatisfactory or at a marginal level of acceptance. The District was obligated to refer the Student to discuss her attendance and its possible impact on her education once it was considered unsatisfactory. It is determined that the Student’s attendance was considered unsatisfactory after her absences continued to accumulate and the Student did not respond to the interventions provided by the building level meetings, SST plans in October and November, and MTSS behavior plan in December. Furthermore, the District was aware of the Student’s diagnoses and was provided doctor’s notes that excused 19 absences between September and January due to anxiety and depression “impacting her ability to consistently attend school.” (Fact #15) While the outcome of the referral to special education may not have been an eligibility determination for special education services, the District was still obligated to refer the Student and convene a PPT meeting to discuss her attendance and determine if the District needed to conduct an initial evaluation. It is concluded that the District violated RCSA § 10-76d-7 as a result of not referring the Student to special education once her attendance was considered unsatisfactory or at a marginal letter. Corrective action is required.

Corrective Action(s):

1. The District must provide building and special education administrators across the District with a comprehensive training on their child find obligations in accordance with 34 CFR § 300.111 and RCSA § 10-76d-7. The training must include this final report as an example with suggested District actions throughout the school year once student attendance becomes a concern. Implications for students when a child find violation occurs must also be a part of the training as it relates to earning credits and meeting graduation requirements. An overview of the training including materials as well as staff signatures, titles, and date indicating the completion of the training must be submitted to this investigator on or before October 17, 2025.