Springfield Public Schools 6054

Date

10/29/21

LEA

Springfield Public Schools

6054

Issue

District failed to implement student’s IEP. Specifically, the special education director indicated that student would not earn a diploma while the IEP states student will earn a diploma. Also, student attends a day program (College Steps) and district proposed a schedule whereby student would receive IEP services afterwards, lengthening the day beyond the agreed-upon parameters in the IEP.

*Parent and district engaged in mediation to address the MCAS dispute related to earning a diploma. District can not guarantee a student will pass MCAS, but parents said districts should have informed them about MCAS appeal options.

Finding

Non-compliance:

District acknowledged noncompliance as it did not provide one hour per week of tutoring for Reading and Written Expression, and did not provide one hour per week of Speech language services. Student is owed the services not provided.

DESE notes that parent’s preference that services be provided during the program schedule may not align with provider availability and is challenging, but student is nonetheless owed services the district did not provide. In addition, although district may consider accommodating student’s work schedule (important component of transition), district is not responsible for supporting student’s job.

Compliance:

District and parent engaged in mediation regarding the MCAS dispute, and a mediation agreement was reached which would support student to work toward passing the MCAS and meeting requirements to obtain a diploma. Additionally, district worked with parent to address safety concerns by moving reading and written expression tutoring to remote.