Sunderland Public Schools 5925

Date

8/25/21

LEA

Sunderland Public Schools

5925

Issue

District failed to timely provide parent a Consent to Evaluate form within 5 days from parent’s request for an initial special education evaluation. This delayed the evaluation and IEP Team meeting deadlines.

Finding

Noncompliance:

District did not issue a Consent to Evaluate form within 5 days of the parent’s request for an initial special education. Thus, the timeline to conduct the evaluation (30 days) and convene a Team meeting (45 days) was delayed.

Corrective Action

DESE encourages district to expedite student’s evaluation to address the delay, as feasible.

District must conduct a training for all special education personnel and members of student’s IEP Team, including staff responsible for tracking IEP evaluation requests, regarding timelines and requirements for issuing notice requesting parent’s consent to evaluate. District must send DESE documentation of the training by 9/17.