STATE OF CONNECTICUT
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Student v. Wilton Board of Education - CT SDE Case No. 19-0381
Case No. 19-0381
Student v. Wilton Board of Education
Appearing on behalf of the Parents: Attorney Phillip Cohn Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC 200 Connecticut Avenue Norwalk, Connecticut 06854
Appearing on behalf of the Board: Attorney Linda Yoder Shipman & Goodwin, LLP One Constitution Plaza Hartford, Connecticut 06103-1919
Appearing before: Raymond J. Rigat, Esq. Hearing Officer
ISSUES:
1. Did the district violate its Child Find obligation for the 2016-2017, and/or 2017-2018, and/or 2018-2019 school years, and extended school year periods, by failing to identify the student as requiring special education and related services in a timely manner?
2. If so, did Second Nature, where the parents unilaterally placed the student from June 27, 2018, to September 6, 2018, provide the student with an appropriate program and are the parents entitled to reimbursement for the costs of the tuition and related expenses for the student’s attendance in this program?
3. If so, does Summit Preparatory Academy, where the parents unilaterally placed the student on September 7, 2018, provide the student with an appropriate program and are the parents entitled to reimbursement for the costs of the tuition and related expenses for the student’s attendance in this program?
4. Are the parents entitled to reimbursement for the cost of private evaluations and reports, including the psychological evaluation by Todd Corelli, Ph.D.?
5. Are the parents entitled to reimbursement for the cost of therapies, not covered by insurance?
6. Are the parents entitled to reimbursement for the cost of an educational consultant hired to identify an appropriate private program for the student?
7. Are the parents entitled to reimbursement for the cost of transportation by the parents and the student to Second Nature and Summit Preparatory Academy?
8. Is the student entitled to compensatory education for any denial of a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)?
9. Whether the District violated the Student’s rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and, if so, is the Student entitled to equitable relief, including, but not limited to, tuition reimbursement, compensatory education, and reimbursement for educational related expenses, and damages.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY/SUMMARY:
The Parents brought the initial Due Process Complaint and Hearing Request on February 20, 2019. The Hearing Officer was appointed on February 22, 2019. A Prehearing Telephone Conference took place on March 1, 2019.
The initial hearing was scheduled for May 2, 2019. The Parents requested a thirty day extension of the mailing date, which was granted by the Hearing Officer. The hearing was continued to May 31, 2019.
On May 22, 2019, the Parents’ attorney notified the Hearing Officer that the parties had settled the matter and that the Parents were withdrawing their request for hearing with prejudice.
FINAL DECISION AND ORDER:
The matter is DISMISSED