STATE OF CONNECTICUT
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Student v. Hartford Board of Education - CT SDE Case No. 09-0217
Case No. 09-0217
Student v. Hartford Board of Education
Appearing on Behalf of the Parents: Mother, pro se
Appearing on Behalf of the Board: Attorney Melinda B. Kaufmann Assistant Corporation Counsel City of Hartford 550 Main Street Hartford, CT 06103
Appearing Before: Attorney Patricia M. Strong, Hearing Officer
ISSUES:
1. Did the Board provide the Student with a Free Appropriate Public Education (“FAPE”) for the 2007-2008 school year where the Individualized Education Program (“IEP”) reduced the Student’s occupational therapy services over the Parents’ objections?
2. Are the Parents entitled to a Stay-Put Order regarding IEP’s occupational therapy services for the 2008-2009 school year during the pendency of these proceedings?
3. Should the Board reimburse the Parents for their expenses in providing occupational therapy services for the Student or provide those services for the two school years as compensatory education?
PROCEDURAL HISTORY:
The Parents (Mother) requested this hearing by mailing a request for an impartial hearing dated November 17, 2008 to the State Department of Education ("SDE"). The SDE received the request and attached paperwork on November 20, 2008. This Hearing Officer was assigned to the case on November 24. On November 29, the Hearing Officer sent a prehearing conference notice to the Parties. On December 3, the Board’s attorney filed an appearance and requested a copy of the due process complaint. On December 23, a prehearing conference was held. It was determined that the Board of Education received a copy of the due process request on December 2. The mailing date for the final decision was set at February 17, 2009. Hearing dates were agreed on for January 20 and 22. On January 5, 2009, the Hearing Officer received the Board’s Objection to the Parents’ Request to Amend Complaint. On January 6, the Hearing Officer received the Parents’ Motion to Amend dated December 29, which had been sent by certified mail on December 30. On January 12, the Hearing Officer denied the Parents’ Motion to Amend. On January 12. the Parents wrote to the Hearing Officer regarding settlement negotiations and a pending settlement with the Board and requested that the hearing request be withdrawn without prejudice.
FINAL DECISION AND ORDER:
It is ordered that this case shall be dismissed without prejudice.