Complaint Summary

Date Findings Report Sent

September 3, 2026

Case Number

27-0048

School District

Groton Public Schools

Person filing complaint

Parents

Grade Level

High School

Allegation(s)

The Parents allege that on July 7, 2026, the District failed to provide Extended School Year (ESY) services and paraeducator support as required by the Student’s individualized education program (IEP), resulting in the Student being left alone for 90 minutes. (34 CFR §§ 300.106(a)(1), 300.323(c)(2), 300.17, and RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1))

Conclusion(s)

While the District took immediate action and implemented safety measures following the incident on July 7, 2026, the Student was nonetheless left alone in the transition program, as the video shows all other program staff and students departing out the main entrance around 9:30 am. As only one doorway is visible, there is no evidence that any staff did or did not enter the room to engage with the Student for the duration of the video or until program staff returned, which according to the schedule, was at 11:00 am. Consequently, a period of 90 minutes elapsed where it cannot be unequivocally determined that the Student was receiving ESY instruction or any level of paraeducator support. Additionally, the Student’s IEP as written was unable to be implemented as the term ‘enhanced paraeducator’ was not clearly defined. Therefore, the District is in violation of 34 CFR §§ 300.106(a)(1), 300.323(c)(2), and 300.17, and RCSA § 10-76d-1(a)(1). Corrective action will follow.

Corrective Action(s)

• The District must provide the Student with 90 minutes of compensatory education to make up for the ESY summer services missed. 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. 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.
• To ensure the implementation of adult support, the District must revise their document titled “Adult Support in CT-SEDS” to accurately and comprehensively reflect the appropriate types of adult support to be provided and the area(s)/locations where it will be provided, as outlined in the CT-SEDS Office Hours resources. This document must then be disseminated to all District staff to ensure appropriate implementation.
• The District must convene PPT meetings to revise all IEPs improperly outlining adult support to align with corrective action #2. The District must provide a minimum of three revised and finalized IEPs as evidence.