Complaint Summary
Date Findings Report Sent
July 20, 2026
Case Number
26-0696
School District
Waterbury Public Schools (single student)
Person filing complaint
Advocate
Grade Level
Elementary School
Allegation(s)
Issue 1: The Advocate alleged that the District did not convene the Student’s annual review PPT meeting on or before May 7, 2026. (34 CFR § 300.324)
Conclusion(s)
The Student’s annual review PPT meeting was required to be held on or before May 7, 2026. After the filing of this state complaint, the Student’s annual review was held on June 9, 2026, more than one month beyond the required annual review date. Although the District cited an inadvertent oversight related to the special education teacher’s intermittent leave, the documentation reflected that the teacher was absent for only four days in the two months preceding the due date of the PPT meeting. The District remained responsible for ensuring compliance with all IDEA timelines regardless of staff availability. Therefore, the District was in violation of 34 CFR § 300.324 which requires a LEA to ensure that a Planning and Placement Team (PPT) reviews a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) periodically, but not less than annually. Corrective action is required.
Required Correction Action:
- The District must provide training to all relevant special education staff on the Student’s team for the 2025-2026 school year, including the Student’s special education teacher, on the requirements of 34 CFR § 300.324. The content of the training and staff signatures and date must be sent to this investigator on or before September 1, 2026.
- The District must develop or revise written procedures to ensure that annual review PPT meetings are scheduled and conducted no later than one year from the prior annual review date. These procedures must identify a secondary person responsible for monitoring due dates and initiating scheduling when the primary staff member is unavailable. A copy of the written procedure must be reviewed and implemented with all relevant special education staff, including case managers and special education teachers, responsible for scheduling annual review PPT meetings. Confirmation of the written procedure and staff signatures confirming its review and implementation must be provided to this investigator on or before September 1, 2026.