Hearing Officer Decisions 2022-2023

Print
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option

Refer also to Index of Issues

July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023

Case – Reference #23-001 (PDF)

  • Whether the removal of the Student to a virtual format was a disciplinary change constituting a change in placement? 
  • Whether the removal of the student to a virtual format triggered the requirement to conduct a manifestation determination review (MDR)? 
  • Whether the Parents are entitled to compensation for enrolling the Student in a private school? 

Case – Reference #23-016 (PDF)

  • Whether the LEA failed to identify the Child’s Special Education Needs in accordance with IDEA for school year 2020-2021? 
  • Whether the LEA failed to identify the Child’s Special Education Needs in accordance with IDEA for school year 2021-2022? 
  • Whether the LEA failed to identify the Child’s Special Education Needs in accordance with IDEA for school year 2022-2023? 
  • Whether the LEA provided FAPE during school year 2020-2021? 
  • Whether the LEA provided FAPE during school year 2021-2022? 
  • Whether the LEA provided FAPE during school year 2022-2023? 
  • Whether the LEA provided the Child with an appropriate placement in accordance with IDEA for school year 2020-2021? 
  • Whether the LEA provided the Child with an appropriate placement in accordance with IDEA for school year 2021-2022? 
  • Whether the LEA provided the Child with an appropriate placement in accordance with IDEA for school year 2022-2023? 
  • For 2021-2022 school year, whether the Parent Child should be reimbursed for costs arising from private placement? 
  • Whether the Parent/Child should be reimbursed for costs for private evaluations described in the Due Process Request? 
  • Whether the issues raised by the Due Process Request are barred, in whole or in part, by the statute of limitations? 
  • Whether the IEP team, assembled for the IEP meeting conducted on June 6, 2022, was consistent with IDEA and, if not, was the Child denied FAPE as a result? 
  • Whether the IEP team, assembled for the IEP meeting conducted on August 18, 2022, was consistent with IDEA and, if not, was the Child denied FAPE as a result?

Case – Reference #23-023 (PDF)

  • Whether parents are the prevailing party? 
  • Whether the Hearing Officer should award Parents compensatory education and/or compensatory services for the period when LEA denied FAPE by not providing Student with in-person services during the 2020-2021 school year? 
  • Whether the Hearing Officer should award Parents compensatory education and/or compensatory services to remedy the regression suffered by Student resulting from the denial of in-person services during the 2020-2021 school year.  
  • Whether the Hearing Officer should order that the compensatory services, if ordered, be delivered by qualified private providers in a nature and frequency based on Student’s demonstrated and ongoing needs. Parents further ask that the Hearing Officer direct LEA to deposit funds into an escrow account for Student’s benefit to pay for such services and that such account be maintained until the earlier of: (a) all funds are utilized (b) Student turns age 21.  
  • Whether Parents are entitled to reimbursement from LEA for the transportation costs reasonably incurred to obtain the compensatory education services from private providers? 
  • Whether the Hearing Officer should impose the IRS mileage rate if the Hearing Officer orders LEA to reimburse the Parents for transportation costs? 
  • Whether Parents are entitled to reimbursement for private occupational therapy, speech language therapy, and behavioral services, and/or other private educational support services incurred expenses resulting from or relating to the denial of FAPE during the 2020-2021 school year? 
  • Whether Parents are entitled to any other additional relief?

Case – Reference #23-030 (PDF)

  • Whether LEA denied the student a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) when it refused to provide the student with an IEP designed to provide her with sufficient accommodations, special education, and services that would allow her to access her curriculum.  
  • Whether LEA denied the student a FAPE when it failed to provide the student with Extended School Year services.  
  • Whether LEA denied the student a FAPE when it failed to conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment.
  • Whether LEA denied the student a FAPE when it failed to investigate previous claims of bullying by other students. 
  • Whether LEA denied the student a FAPE when it did not treat the student’s parent as an essential attendee at the various meetings.  
  • Whether the hearing officer should award compensatory education or any other accommodations. 

Case – Reference #23-034 (PDF)

  • Whether Student was denied a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)? 
  • Whether the hearing officer should order implementation of the September 2022 IEP? 
  • Whether the Student’s Placement is appropriate at Public Elementary School? 
  • Whether the student should be allowed to take the Standards of Learning test at another school or location? 

Case – Reference #23-037 (PDF)

  • Whether LEA denied the student a free appropriate public education (FAPE) by not ensuring that an appropriate Individualized Education Program (IEP) was developed for the student in the Fall of 2020 in that this IEP did not address the student’s alleged lack of meaningful progress in reading, writing and communication and did not provide for a private day placement as Student’s educational placement; 
  • Whether LEA denied the student a FAPE by not ensuring that an appropriate IEP was developed for the student in January of 2021 in that this IEP did not address the student’s alleged lack of meaningful progress in reading, writing and communication and did not provide for a private day placement as Student’s educational placement; 
  • Whether LEA denied the student a FAPE by not providing the student in-person special education services during the 2020-2021 school year; 
  • Whether LEA denied the student a FAPE by not convening an IEP team meeting to review the student’s IEP after January of 2021. 
  • Whether the Parents are entitled to reimbursement for tuition, fees, and costs for Student’s enrollment at Private School during the 2020-2021; 2021-2022, 2022-2023 school years, including travel expenses. 
  • Whether the LEA should be ordered to pay for Student’s future tuition, fees, costs and expenses to attend Private School, including transportation and the provision of any other appropriate related and supplemental services. 
  • Whether the Parents are entitled to reimbursement for any tutoring or other private educational support services they incurred for the student during the two years preceding the filing of their due process complaint. 
  • Whether the LEA must provide compensatory education to the student for denials of FAPE established at the due process hearing. 

Case – Reference #23-038 (PDF)

  • Whether the LEA has provided Student with physical therapy (“PT”), occupational therapy (“OT”), and speech therapy (“ST”) services in accordance with Student’s Individualized Education program (“IEP”), and if so, whether these failures amounted to a denial of a free appropriate public education (“FAPE”). 
  • Whether LEA instructional assistants and/or other LEA staff or contractors have failed to provide Student with services in accordance with his IEP if (a) they are not present at Student’s school upon his arrival; or (b) they are present at Student’s school upon his arrival or departure but fail to assist Parent with removing Student from Parent’s vehicle or getting Student into Parent’s vehicle; and (c) if so, whether these failures amounted to a denial of FAPE. 
  • Whether LEA instructional assistants and/or other LEA staff or contractors have failed to provide Student with services in accordance with his IEP if Student is moved from one class to another, not in his gate trainer, but in his activity/positioning chair, and if so, whether these failures amounted to a denial of FAPE. 
  • Whether LEA instructional assistants and/or other LEA staff or contractors have failed to provide Student with services in accordance with his IEP if (a) they fail to take notes on Student’s behalf when he is not present in class because he is receiving other services; (b) they fail to take notes on Student’s behalf when he is not present in class for reasons other than an absence resulting from him receiving other services; or (c) they fail to submit Student’s work to his teachers; and (d) if so, whether these failures amounted to a denial of FAPE. 
  • Whether the LEA has provided Student with services in accordance with his IEP and denied Student FAPE if the LEA fails to provide Student with any service as delineated in his IEP on a day that High School is open, but the LEA is closed, and if so, whether these failures amounted to a denial of FAPE. 
  • In any instance where the undersigned has determined that the LEA has denied Student FAPE, what relief is Student entitled to, to include but not be limited to whether Student is entitled to compensatory education services, and if so, in what amount or duration.

Case – Reference #23-046a (PDF)

  • Did the LEA wrongly decide the child’s behavior was not a manifestation of his disability?

Case – Reference #23-046b (PDF)

  • Did the LEA deny the parents meaningful participation by requiring the parents to come to the school to review the child’s educational records?