STATE OF CONNECTICUT
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Student v. Ridgefield Board of Education - CT SDE Case No. 20-0500
Case No. 20-0500
Student v. Ridgefield Board of Education
Appearing on behalf of the Student: Attorney Jennifer Laviano Law Office of Jennifer Laviano, LLC 76 Route 37 South Sherman, CT 06784
Appearing on behalf of the Board: Attorney Christopher Tracey Shipman & Goodwin LLP 300 Atlantic Street Stamford, CT 06901-3522
Appearing Before: Attorney Susan Dixon Hearing Officer
ISSUES:
1. Whether the Ridgefield Board of Education (“Board”) denied Student a Free and Appropriate Public Education (“FAPE”) for the 2019-2020 school year.
2. Whether the Board denied FAPE by failing to provide Student with a program for ESY-2020, compensatory education, continuance of Student's programs for the 2020-2021 academic year.
3. Whether the Board is denying FAPE by terminating Student's eligibility for services on June 30, 2020 instead of on the date of Student's 22nd birthday, April 5, 2021 pursuant to the order of the District Court referred to in Student's hearing request.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND:
The Parent filed this Request for a Due Process Hearing on June 22, 2020. The Hearing Officer was assigned on June 23, 2020. A Prehearing Conference was scheduled and held on July 3, 2020. At the conference, hearing dates were assigned and the issues were reviewed. A hearing was scheduled for August 24, 2020 with a mailing date for the final decision scheduled for September 19, 2020. A Request for Extension was subsequently granted and the hearing rescheduled to September 15, 2020 with the final decision due date extended to October 16, 2020. Another brief extension of the hearing date was requested to finalize settlement and this was granted to October 26, 2020, with the final decision date extended to November 17, 2020. These dates were all within the extended parameters allowed by the Covid-19 State Orders regarding administrative hearing scheduling. Thereafter, on October 16, 2020, it was reported that the matter was settled through mediation and counsel for the student intended to withdraw the request for due process without prejudice. Written notice of withdrawal dated October 16, 2020 was received, therefore the matter is dismissed without prejudice.
FINAL DECISION AND ORDER:
The case is DISMISSED without prejudice.