Medford Public Schools 5823

Date

8/20/21

LEA

Medford Public Schools

5823

Issue

(1) District’s Proposal to Act denying parent’s requests made at the IEP meeting did not include all of the information required by the notice provisions of federal special education law.

(2) District failed to implement Child Find to identify children with reading disorders, to include the student.

* DESE did not investigate complaint that district’s reading program is not aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks as that is a local matter and PRS will not investigate it.

Finding

Noncompliance:

(1) District acknowledged noncompliance with requirement to include information about whether other options were considered by the IEP Team and, if so, why those options were rejected. DESE requires further action because district’s notices did not meet all regulatory requirements.

Compliance:

(2) District provided documentation that it locates, identifies, and evaluates students suspected of having a specific learning disability (included a record review of other students).

Corrective Action

District must review with IEP Team chairpersons and other appropriate staff the specific notice regulatory content requirements, specifically, if other options were considered and the reasons why those options were rejected. District must send DESE names of reviewer/participants and agenda by 9/17.