Westport Public Schools 5943

Date

8/13/21

LEA

Westport Public Schools

5943

Category

TIMELINES

NOTICE

IEP IMPLEMENTATION

Services: Social Skills

IEP MEETING

Issue

(1) District did not schedule the IEP Team meeting until after the previous IEP lapsed.

(2) District held the Team meeting without the parent and did not change the time to accommodate their schedule.

(3) District did not inform the parent that the student was failing until the end of the school year or reconvene the Team to address the lack of progress in student’s IEP academic goals.

(4) District did not provide individual speech therapy required by IEP required by the IEP.

(5) District failed to provide the proposed IEP to the parent immediately following the Team meeting.

(6) A Team member was not present for the meeting.

Finding

Noncompliance:

(1) District acknowledged it did not conduct the Annual Review meeting within the required timeframe due to oversight stemming in part from a change of staff. Furthermore, the District failed to provide all evaluation summaries 2 days prior to the meeting.

(2) District held the Team meeting without the parent or parental input. (6) District did not follow protocol by obtaining parent’s signature excusing the absence of the missing Team member.

Compliance:

(3) Review of the student’s report card and progress reports in specific areas showed significant progress. (4) District provided small group and individual speech services which was what was required by the IEP.

(5) District complied and mailed the complete IEP within one calendar week.

Corrective Action

District has already implemented corrective action by indicating it would:

(a) utilize a shared spreadsheet to track all district IEPs - evaluations, annual reviews, reevaluation meetings, etc.;

(b) provide a memorandum regarding timelines and procedures to all special education personnel;

(c) provide professional development to special education personnel regarding IEPs, timelines, and compliance on 9/1;

(d) continue to monitor procedural timelines for student to ensure compliance

DESE requires further corrective action, including:

(a) reviewing with staff the regulations concerning review & revision of IEPs, timelines for evaluation assessments & summaries, parent participation on the Team & in meetings, and the excusal process for Team members;

(b) sending DESE the memorandum about timelines and procedures;

(c) sending DESE the agenda from the 9/1 professional development;

(d) reconvening the Team to ensure parent participation/input (send DESE a copy of the Team meeting notice)