AD. vs. Young Scholars – Kenderton Charter School

This is a redacted version of the original decision. Select details have been removed from the
decision to preserve anonymity of the student. The redactions do not affect the substance of
the document.

PENNSYLVANIA
SPECIAL EDUCATION HEARING OFFICER

DECISION

Child’s Name: A.D.

Date of Birth: [redacted]

ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE

Dates of Hearing:
September 3, 2014
October 16, 2014
October 20, 2014
October 22, 2014
November 10,2014

CLOSED HEARING

 

Date Record Closed: December 9, 2014

Date of Decision: December 24, 2014

Hearing Officer: Cathy A. Skidmore, M.Ed., J.D.

 

INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

ISSUES

1. Whether the School denied Student FAPE during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school
years, as well as over summer 2014, both procedurally and substantively;

2. If the School did deny Student FAPE, is Student entitled to an award of
compensatory education; and

3. Should the School be required, at its expense, to place Student prospectively into
a private school in order to provide FAPE?

FINDINGS OF FACT

General Background

1. Student is a late elementary school, preteen-aged student who is eligible for special
education as a child with a specific learning disability. At the time of the due process
hearing and throughout the time period relevant to the issues, Student attended the
School. (Notes of Testimony (N.T.) 37-38 (Stipulation))

2. Student has been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Student has been prescribed medication for the
ADHD. (J-15 p. 3)

3. Student’s behaviors and emotional manifestations, as well as Student’s learning
disabilities, impede Student’s success in the classroom. Student’s learning disabilities
compound Student’s behavioral and emotional difficulties because Student becomes
more anxious and frustrated during academic tasks that are difficult. (N.T. 379-81; J-21;
P-19, P-37)

4. Prior to the start of the 2013-14 school year, Student attended the same school building
that was then part of the local school district. (N.T. 44-45, 46; J-15 p. 3)

5. Student was evaluated by the school district which issued an Evaluation Report (ER) on
January 25, 2013. Information in the ER included Parent input, teacher
recommendations, and an observation by the school psychologist. Cognitive testing
(Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children – Second Edition) suggested overall
intelligence in the below average range with areas of strength and need. Achievement
testing (Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement – Second Edition) revealed below
average scores on many of the reading and mathematics subtests and composites.

Although the school psychologist explained that Student’s scores should be considered
with caution because Student’s medication was of concern, Student was determined to be
eligible for special education on the basis of a specific learning disability; Student’s
history of behavioral difficulties was also referenced. (J-15; P-2)

6. The school district conducted a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) of Student in
April 2013 due to Student’s disruptive behavior, including physical aggression toward
peers, as well as off-task behavior. The hypothesis from the FBA was that Student
engaged in these behaviors when frustrated in order to gain attention, and a resulting
Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP) addressed those behaviors through a
reward/incentive plan. (P-5, P-6)

7. The school district developed an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for Student in
February 2013. This IEP contained annual goals addressing needs in reading (decoding,
word recognition, and reading comprehension); mathematics calculation; and behavior
(initiating appropriate interactions). Several items of specially designed instruction (SDI)
were included, and a Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP) was referenced.
Supplemental learning support was specified as the placement. Student was not eligible
for extended school year (ESY) services. The Parent signed the Notice of Recommended
Educational Placement (NOREP) for the placement proposed by the school district. (J-3;
P-3, P-4)

8. The school district provided school therapeutic support (STS) staff to students in the
building who exhibited disciplinary problems. The STS workers provided support in the
classroom, or outside of the classroom by removing a student having difficulty in order to
be redirected to return to class. They also worked on social skills and coping skills.
(N.T. 55, 140, 164, 818-19)

9. Prior to the start of the 2013-14 school year, the Parent filed a due process complaint
against the school district that resulted in a settlement agreement in October 2013. (N.T.
106, 175)

Summer 2014 Independent Evaluation

10. During the summer of 2013, the Parent had Student privately evaluated by an
independent psychologist in order to identify Student’s educational needs. That
evaluator, who is licensed and certified as a school psychologist, issued an Independent
Educational Evaluation (IEE) report following interviews with the Parent and Student,
review of records, cognitive and achievement testing, and various behavioral ratings
scales and related forms. (N.T. 47-48, 296, 313; J-21; P-18)

11. The private psychologist conducted a cognitive assessment (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale
of Intelligence – Second Edition) which reflected overall intelligence in the average
range. This score contrasts with the score obtained by the school district earlier in 2013,
which may be explained by the facts that the IEE testing included use of breaks and
similar strategies to accommodate Student’s attention issues, and that Student was then
taking medication for ADHD. (N.T. 324-26; J-21 pp. 8-9)
ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 5 of 29

12. The private psychologist conducted achievement testing (Wechsler Individual
Achievement Test – Second Edition, abbreviated version (WIAT-II-A), and the
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement – Third Edition (WJ-III-ACH)) revealing
discrepancies between ability and achievement in reading, numerical operations, and
spelling. (J-21 pp. 9-10)

13. The IEE included evaluation of adaptive behavior (Vineland-II Adaptive Behavior
Scale), social skills and problem behaviors (Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS),
and ADHD (Conners III). The results reflected below average social skills, and
behavioral instruments revealed the most significant difficulties in the areas of
aggression, opposition, emotional lability, hyperactivity/impulsivity, rule-breaking, social
problems. (J-21)

14. The private psychologist observed Student in the school building when it was part of the
local school district, but not when it was the School. (N.T. 393-96; J-21 pp. 14-15)

15. The IEE determined that Student’s classification was emotional disturbance as the
primary disability category and specific learning disability in reading as the secondary
disability category. The report contained a number of recommendations for Student’s
educational program, including increased behavioral support (one on one) with social
skills training, intensive reading intervention, exploration of assistive technology,
accommodations for academics and incentives for task completion, an FBA followed by
a new PBSP, and consideration of a private school placement to address both learning
and behavioral needs. (J-21 pp. 16, 19-20)

Transition to Charter School

16. During the summer of 2013, the School took over the operation of the school building
from the local school district for the start of the 2013-14 school year. At the time, the
population of students was considered to be underperforming. Student was enrolled in
the School by the Parent. (N.T. 44, 178-79, 230, 659-60, 676-78, 685, 691-92, 713-14,
815; P-7)

17. Student’s Parent has been and is a member of the School’s Social Advisory Council
(SAC), also serving as an officer of the organization. She volunteers at the School on a
regular basis several days each week and also attends SAC meetings in the building.
(N.T. 41, 106-07, 196; N.T. II 897-98)

18. The SAC, including the Parent, was involved in contacting charter schools and making
the selections that resulted in the School taking over the operations of the school
building. (N.T. 104, 230-31, 678-80, 815-17)

19. For the first two weeks of the 2013-14 school year, the School focused on orientation,
getting the students accustomed to the culture of the School and acclimated to routines
such as class schedules as well as safety. One change for the 2013-14 school year was
the School’s new procedures during times of transition such as structured use of the
hallways. (N.T. 685, 827-28; N.T. II 210-12)
ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 6 of 29

20. The same STS staff from the school district worked at the school building after the
School took over operations. At the beginning of the 2013-14 school year, however, the
School’s use of the STS workers was more limited than it had been with the school
district as School staff worked to get to know the students and “build a culture” (N.T.
686) while also identifying students who needed behavioral and emotional support. (N.T.
56, 108, 648-49, 686, 818-19, 821)

21. At the School, students are provided with more than the minimum number of hours of
instruction, 34 hours per week. Students are dismissed early on Fridays after a fun
activity such as a movie for approximately one hour. For students in special education,
progress monitoring would occur on those afternoons before the fun activity and
dismissal. (N.T. 208-09, 555-56, 586, 604)

22. The School performed diagnostic assessments of all of its students’ oral reading fluency
and mathematics computation skills using AIMSweb in the fall of 2013. Each student
was assessed at grade level to determine baseline benchmarks. This instrument was also
used for progress monitoring of students in the bottom quartile and those receiving
special education, beginning at grade level. (N.T. 680-84; N.T. II 24-35, 376-77, 408-09)

Student’s 2013-14 School Year

Fall 2013

23. Prior to the start of school in August 2013, the Parent gave a representative of the School
a copy of the recently obtained IEE report. That representative did not want to retain the
copy of the IEE because of the pending case against the school district, wanting to keep
the two programs separate. (N.T. 49-50, 51, 153, 236-37)

24. Student began attending the School in third grade during the 2013-14 school year in
regular education classes for a short period of time, approximately two weeks. The first
day of school was August 27, 2013. (N.T. 44, 54-55, 626-28, 633-34, 647-49, 747-48)

25. Student was not provided with any modifications or specially designed instruction at the
beginning of the 2013-14 school year. The School did not want to implement the school
district IEP for Student, and did not, because they knew that the Parent had challenged its
appropriateness through due process. (N.T. 187-88, 627-31, 633; N.T. II 235)

26. The Parent was in the School building on a regular basis in her volunteer role, and
frequently discussed Student with teachers and other School personnel. (N.T. 82-83)

27. Student had an STS worker assigned to Student, and that STS worker would check in
with Student daily but was not always present with Student in the classroom. (N.T. 499-
500, 576, 650-51, 821)

ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 7 of 29

28. Student was suspended by the School on two or three days at the very beginning of the
school year. (N.T. 56-57, 636-38, 645-46; J-14 pp. 6, 87)

29. The Parent attended a meeting with the Student and two School representatives, but no
teachers, on September 9, 2013. During that meeting, the Parent gave signed permission
for Student to begin a diagnostic placement. By agreeing to this placement, the Parent
waived any and all special education services for Student for the period of that
placement. (N.T. 58-61, 185, 206-07, 234-35; J-4)

30. The placement agreed to was in the School’s “Diagnostic Support” classroom which was
not a special education or a regular education classroom, and both regular education and
special education students were part of the class. The classroom was described as “a
short-term classroom-based option … for elementary students experiencing difficulty in
adapting to the [School’s] model.” (J-6 p. 1) The duration of any student’s stay in the
Diagnostic Support classroom was contemplated to be one to two months; for Student,
the duration was to be 45 days to end on November 12, 2013. (N.T. 169, 186, 663-64; J-
6; 12/4/14 Stipulation ¶ 8)

31. Some School staff intended that Student would need to demonstrate fewer challenging
behaviors of eloping and physical aggression in the diagnostic placement before any
change would occur. (N.T. 661-63; see also P-17 p. 6)

32. The diagnostic placement was recommended by the School because Student was not
responding to the school-wide behavior support plan (SWBSP), wherein students
obtained rewards for positive behavior (being professional, attentive, and hard working)
in the form of a “paycheck” to be used for purchasing participation in class trips,
activities, or toys. Student had been displaying problematic behavior through elopement
from class or from the building, attempted physical aggression with peers and staff,
refusing to follow directions, and disruptive behavior during class time including calling
out. Student’s behavior was discussed anecdotally at the meeting, but the only data
shared were the daily point sheets. (N.T. 190-92, 199-202, 234, 559-60, 596, 633, 639-
43, 647-49, 705-06, 770-71, 774)

33. The Parent understood that the diagnostic placement would be temporary and for no
longer than three or four weeks, and provide the School with an opportunity to program
appropriately for Student. The form that the Parent signed agreeing to the diagnostic
placement specified October 9, 2013 as the “anticipated exit date” (J-6 p. 2). (NT. 59-63;
J-6)

34. The diagnostic placement classroom where Student was placed had between ten and
twelve students in first through third grades. The students were in that classroom for the
majority of the day, including homeroom, breakfast, and lunch; teachers for the special
classes (art, music, gym, and a foreign language) came into the classroom for thirty
minutes four times each week. Student continued to demonstrate behavioral difficulties,

7It should be noted that the Student’s attendance records as a whole are incomplete.
ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 8 of 29

more notably in the special classes than the non-special classes. (N.T. 240-42, 469-71,
490, 503-04, 553-55, 780-81)

35. The class-wide behavior plan tracked the behaviors of being on task, showing
professionalism, working hard, and being thoughtful to peers. Students received tokens
for exhibiting these behaviors and could later purchase activities during the daily 30-
minute structured playtime such as computer time, game time, movies, and snacks. The
difference in this plan from the SWBSP was that no deductions were taken in the class-
wide plan. (N.T. 270-72, 495-97, 499, 585-86, 587-88, 720; N.T. II 670-71)

36. Student had two hours of reading and writing instruction each day in the diagnostic
classroom, consisting of whole class instruction and small group reading centers. In the
centers, the students rotated among guided reading or practice of a related skill, using an
online computer program, and independent work. The teacher did not use a specific
curriculum but followed unit plans and a “scope and sequence” or list of skills provided
by the School to develop objectives and activities through her own resources based on the
instructional levels of the students. (N.T. 473-79, 480-81, 483-84, 553-54)

37. Student’s reading level was determined after approximately two months of school using
AIMSweb probes and classroom assessments. Student then began receiving some first
grade level instructional materials. (N.T. 480-81)

38. Student had science class in the diagnostic classroom, taught at a second grade level. The
teacher did not follow a specific curriculum but relied on personal resources for lectures,
class readings, and experiments. Sometimes the teacher modified assignments and tests
such as by reducing the number of multiple choice answers, and always read the test
questions and answers aloud for all students. (N.T. 750, 755-57, 762-63, 777, 778-79)

39. Student had social studies class in the diagnostic classroom, taught at first-, second-, and
third grade levels. The teacher did not follow a specific curriculum but relied on personal
resources for reading and other materials. Students were required to read materials for
homework; no accommodations were provided to help Student read those. However, the
teacher always read test questions and answers aloud for all students. (N.T. 757-63)

40. Student had mathematics instruction in the diagnostic classroom that did not follow a
specific curriculum, although the teacher did at times use Touch Math. The students used
various centers for this subject depending on their instructional levels. (N.T. 479-80,
554)

41. The diagnostic class had social skills instruction which the teacher determined based on
the behaviors of the students. This instruction included communicating with others
appropriately, following rules, and interacting with others appropriately. The teacher
used the class-wide behavior plan to assess the students’ use of those social skills in the
classroom. (N.T. 485-87, 495-96, 782-84)

42. The only behavioral data taken for Student was the tracking system for the class-wide
behavior plan. The School did not conduct a preference assessment to determine
appropriate motivators for Student; incentives were determined by general survey of the
ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 9 of 29
students and by teacher observation. The School never took data on Student’s attention
to task. (N.T. 194-95, 434-35, 490-94, 497-98)

43. The School’s policy for a diagnostic placement included a “comprehensive summary”
upon a student’s discharge from that placement including a Comprehensive Student
Profile; an Academy summary with recommendations; a Behavior summary with
recommendations; and Plans and Suggestions for improved behaviors. No such
comprehensive summary was developed for Student; nor does the School provide one for
any student for whom an IEP is developed because some of this information is
incorporated into the IEP. In addition, no data was collected as planned. (N.T. 190-92,
203-04, 238; J-6)

44. The diagnostic support classroom was actually an emotional support classroom, one of
two such classrooms at the School. In October 2013, the Parent learned for the first time
that the diagnostic placement for Student was an emotional support classroom. (N.T. 66-
67, 185-86, 466-68, 557).

45. The school district IEP was not implemented after the expiration of the 45-day diagnostic
placement. (N.T. 187-88)

46. The School never notified the Parent of four incidents of physical intervention/restraint of
Student in October 2013 or of one incident in January 2014. She may have had notice of
one restraint in September 2013. (N.T. 91-94; J-8, J-9, J-10, J-11, J-12, J-13)

47. In early December 2013, the Parent asked in writing for up to date testing of Student in
order to update Student’s IEP. (P-8)

48. An STS Treatment Plan was developed in December 2013 to address Student’s problems
behaviors of verbal aggression, physical aggression toward peers, and hyperactivity
and/or inattention. This plan included goals, responsibilities of STS and School staff as
well as the Parent. (S-30 pp. 3-5)
Spring 2014

49. In mid-January 2014, the Parent sent a written request for Student’s IEP to be updated.
(P-9)

50. The first IEP meeting for Student was held in January 2014. The Parent attended with
her educational consultant. The regular education teacher identified as a team member on
the IEP document did not attend. (N.T. 70-71, 75, 186, 226, 505-06, 561-62, 630-32,
880; P-10 p. 1)

51. The IEP team discussed Student’s transition to the regular education classroom and
agreed to a plan for Student to “rotate out” to two classes, art/gym and math. That plan
depended upon Student demonstrating consistent appropriate behavior. The School did
not find that Student achieved this level of appropriate behavior through the end of the
2013-14 school year in the emotional support classroom, and this “rotation out” was
attempted only once or twice. Student’s teachers determined that the one or two
ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 10 of 29
instances were unsuccessful because Student engaged in disruptive behavior. There was
never a discussion at an IEP meeting about Student’s need for ESY services for 2014.
(N.T. 79-80, 245-48, 563-64, 576-78, 594-95, 605-06, 610-12, 614, 649, 651, 662-63)

52. After the January 2014 IEP meeting, the School collected data to develop baselines at the
request of the Parent’s educational consultant. AIMSweb was used for this data
collection, although there were probes prior to the meeting that were also used for
baselines. (N.T. 244-45, 507, 509-11, 563-64, 883, 887)

53. There was never a follow up IEP meeting after January 2014. However, an IEP dated
February 3, 2014 was developed.8 That document provided information about Student’s
levels of academic achievement and functional performance and noted the Parent’s desire
to have Student return to regular education and suggestions for two classes for inclusion.
Significant focus on improving behaviors particularly during September, October, and
November 2013 were described: following directions, appropriate socialization with
peers, eliminating elopement, and encouraging academic engagement. This IEP
contained two goals addressing reading (oral reading fluency and comprehension),
mathematics (calculation and computation), and behavior (verbalizing emotions and
refraining from calling out). A “Positive Rewards System” and a few items of SDI were
also included, and the placement was supplemental learning support. Student was not
eligible for ESY. (N.T. 80, 226, 245; P-10; S-4)

54. A Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) was signed as approved by
the Parent on March 18, 2014.9 Although the NOREP provided for a supplemental level
of support, the Parent understood that Student would remain in full time emotional
support. (N.T. 80-81, 245; S-4 pp. 20-21)

55. The Parent also signed, on March 18, 2014, a “Physical Intervention Permission Form”
for use of passive restraints under certain circumstances. (S-4 p. 25; S-5)

56. In April 2014, Student along with Student’s sibling and a peer entered the School
building outside of school hours at a time it was closed. The three children stole keys and
transportation passes. (N.T. 85-86, 249-50, 699-700; P-17 pp. 43-44)

57. Student was suspended from school for eight days and fined $320 for the incident. (N.T.
86, 131-32, 159-60, 250; J-8; P-17 p. 47, P-25)

58. Student was no longer able to participate in classroom rewards such as movies after the
April 2014 incident. The decision to discontinue Student’s participation was not made8
There are two IEPs dated February 3, 2014 in the record. One document, J-5, contains much less detail on
Student’s present levels of academic achievement and functional performance, suggesting that this is the plan
discussed at the January meeting. (Compare J-5 and P-10/S-4) The record is unclear as to who actually participated
in creating the second February 3, 2014 IEP, P-10/S-4; and, although that document is marked with a “Draft”
watermark, it contains much more information in the present levels section such as AIMSweb scores, additional
reference to regular education classes, and revisions to several goals to reference AIMSweb. An invitation to
participate was sent to the Parent for a meeting on February 3, 2014; however, the Parent’s signature of her intent to
attend was not signed until March 18, 2014. (J-7; S-4 pp. 1-3, 20-21)9 This date is the same as on the invitation to participate in the February 3, 2014 meeting.

ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 11 of 29

during or as a result of an IEP team meeting; Student’s teachers were directed to remove
the reward system from Student. However, Student still sometimes earned snacks after
that time. (N.T. 99-100, 534-35, 582, 592-94, 607-09, 613-14, 668-69, 789, 803-04; J-23
pp. 16-22)

59. Student’s behavior deteriorated after the April 2014 incident. (N.T. 549, 578, 581-82,
787-88)

60. Student never left the diagnostic support/emotional support classroom during the 2013-14
school year. (N.T. 662-63)

61. At times, particularly after April 2014, Student would sit with the Parent while she was
volunteering at the School rather than attend class. (N.T. 139, 196-98, 536, 538, 787)

62. The Parent’s educational consultant conducted two observations of Student in the School
in May 2014. (N.T. 889-92, 893-95; P-20)

63. The School monitored Student’s oral reading fluency progress using AIMSweb at a first
grade level. Between November 4, 2013 and June 9, 2014, 12 probes were taken and
graphed with extremely variable results on both words read correctly and errors. (J-16)

64. The School monitored Student’s mathematics computation progress using AIMSweb at a
second grade level. Between November 4, 2013 and June 9, 2014, 10 probes were taken
and graphed with widely variable results despite a trend line that crossed and was
somewhat steeper than the aimline. (J-17)

65. During the 2013-14 school year, Student was provided with a total of 95 minutes of
individual social skills instruction and a total of 490 minutes in the social skills group.
(12/4/14 Stipulation ¶ 6)

66. Student scored in the Below Basic level for both reading and mathematics on the
Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) in the spring of 2014. (P-28)

67. Student’s final report card grades reflected passing grades (As) in Music and a foreign
language, and As and a B- in all other subjects. (P-12 p. 3, P-13 p. 1)

Summer 2014

68. The private evaluator who conducted the IEE in 2013 performed an updated evaluation
and issued a report in August 2014 and an addendum to that report in October 2014.
(N.T. 316-17; P-19, P-37)

69. The addendum to the IEE provided a comparison of Student’s achievement test scores on
Word Reading, Numerical Operations, and Spelling, as well as the Total Composite,
using the WIAT-II-A over time. Student’s standard scores slightly declined between the
2013 and 2014 administrations, reflecting that Student regressed in those areas during
that time period; and, Student’s achievement remained markedly below expectations
given an average cognitive ability. (N.T. 330-35; P-19, P-23)
ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 12 of 29

70. Updated information using the SSIS reflected that Student had minor improvement with
social skills and a slight decrease in problematic behaviors when compared to the first
administration. The Conners III results revealed that ADHD was still a significant
concern. (P-19 pp. 3-4)

71. Additional achievement testing for the update and addendum to the IEE included select
subtests of the WJ-III-ACH, on which Student achieved standard scores of 68 and 70 for
Reading Fluency and Passage Comprehension, respectively. These scores were virtually
unchanged from the summer 2013 administration. (N.T. 336; P-37)

72. Curriculum-based assessment of Student’s reading and mathematics abilities were also
conducted in August 2014 for the IEE addendum. Student performed poorly on both
measures, reading 13 words correct per minute at grade level with an accuracy of 44%
and answering no comprehension questions; and in mathematics, Student did not obtain
any correct answers on grade level materials. (N.T. 338-39, 341-42; P-37)

73. Recommendations in the IEE Addendum were essentially the same as in the initial IEE
report with an additional suggestion of strategies to address sensory needs. (P-19 p. 5-7)

2014-15 School Year

74. For the 2014-15 school year, Student was in an emotional support classroom full time
except when attending specials. There were eleven students in the class of third, fourth,
and fifth graders. Student had science, social studies, reading, writing, and mathematics
in that emotional support class. (N.T. 763-65, 769, 772-73; P-41)

75. The first day of school was August 19, 2014. (N.T. 747-48)

76. Student continued to exhibit problem behavior during the 2014-15 school year including
verbal aggression, physical aggression, and attempted elopement. Student exhibited less
willingness to engage than in the prior school year. Student was placed in a manual hold
on several occasions. (N.T. 789-92; P-47; S-31, S-32)

77. Student’s educational consultant conducted an assessment of Student’s reading abilities
using the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy (DIBELS) in September 2014,
concluding that Student demonstrated very poor reading skills at the first grade level.
(N.T. 851; P-39)

78. In early October 2014, the Parent revoked her prior consent to the use of physical
interventions with Student. (P-43 p. 3)

79. The Parent’s educational consultant conducted two observations of Student in the School
in October 2014. (N.T. 898-99, 900-05, 908)

80. Student was provided with 240 minutes of social skills group in the fall of 2014 prior to
the close of the record. (12/4/14 Stipulation ¶ 4)

ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 13 of 29

Private School

81. The private school has eleven campuses that serve children with social, emotional,
learning, and behavioral needs. Behavior and social skills are integrated into the
program. All teachers are certified in special education. The private school has on staff
neuropsychologists, psychologists, school social workers, a psychiatric nurse practitioner,
and speech, occupational, and physical therapists. (N.T. II 730-31, 746-47, 750-51, 753,
762-63)

82. Every child at the private school has an IEP. Academically, the private school provides
individualized schedules depending on the student’s levels. Staff:student ratio is
individually determined. Students receive instruction at grade level as well as
instructional level, and are assessed every two weeks to determine his or her success and
to make revisions to the program. (N.T. II 751-55, 757, 780-81, 784-85)

83. The private school provides each student with an individualized behavior plan that is
modeled on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). A number of Board Certified Behavior
Analysts (BCBAs) are on staff to assist in identifying appropriate behaviors for the
student and for the creation and monitoring of the behavior plan. Each student is also
expected to adhere to school-wide behavioral expectations. (N.T. II 731-34, 743-44, 780)

84. Student behaviors, including the school-wide behaviors, are tracked each period of the
school day, including lunch, using a form wherein the student and teacher both assess the
student’s behavior based on the child’s specific behavior plan. Behavior goals are
individualized for each student. Data is recorded daily on the student’s behavior and
reported quarterly to the parents. (N.T. II 733-37, 740, 745)

85. Students earn rewards from the points accumulated through the form. Once a week, the
teacher reviews the behavior plan with the student to discuss how successful the child
was, and they identify the reward(s) that the child will earn. (N.T. II 737-40, 744)

86. Student was accepted into the private school. (N.T. II 757; P-40)

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

General Legal Principles

ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 14 of 29

In reviewing the record, the testimony of every witness, and the content of each exhibit, were thoroughly considered in issuing this decision, regardless of whether there is a citation to particular testimony of a witness or to an exhibit.10 The private psychologist who conducted the IEE provided highly credible and extremely persuasive testimony about Student’s abilities and achievement, including reasonable expectations of Student’s growth and progress had appropriate instruction and interventions been provided. (N.T. 331-38, 401-02, 445-46, 459-62) His IEE reports were also given significant weight. This evidence contrasts sharply with the somewhat unfocused testimony of the second expert witness presented by the Parent, the

educational consultant, who was clearly well qualified; although she testified with firmness and
conviction, she did so in a manner that at times failed to answer the questions posed, and was
remarkably critical of nearly every single action taken, or not taken, by the School, seemingly in
response to its representatives’ lack of deference to her at IEP meetings. This bias on her part
significantly undermined her opinions, and this hearing officer accordingly placed only minimal
reliance on her testimony and written summaries.

The private psychologist who conducted the IEE also provided a description of an
appropriate diagnostic or interim placement, which was consistent both with this hearing
officer’s understanding and interpretive guidance provided by the U.S. Department of
Education;11 namely, that such a placement may be an appropriate avenue when a child is not
attaining success with the current level of support and services, and the team has the opportunity
to conduct necessary evaluations and assessments to develop a plan to address unmet needs.
(N.T. 348-51, 354-55, 390, 392-93; N.T. II 96-97) He also acknowledged the difficult position
the School found itself in (N.T. 456-58). Nevertheless, this hearing officer shares his view that
the critical question is whether the School programmed appropriately for Student’s needs and,
additionally, whether the record establishes the School’s ability to program appropriately for this
Student’s needs. (Id.)

Relevant IDEA Principles

Also crucial to special education is the IDEA obligation for eligible students to be educated in the “least restrictive environment” (LRE) which permits them to derive meaningful educational benefit. 20 U.S.C. § 1412(a)(5); T.R. v. Kingwood Township Board of Education, 205 F.3d 572, 578 (3d Cir. 2000). In Oberti v. Board of Education of Clementon School District, 995 F.2d 1204, 1205 (3d Cir. 1993), the Third Circuit adopted a two-part test for determining whether a student has been placed into the LRE as required by the IDEA. The first prong of the test requires a determination of whether the child can, with supplementary aids and services, successfully be educated within the regular classroom; and the second prong is that, if placement outside of the regular classroom is necessary, there must be a determination of whether the child has been included with non-exceptional children to the maximum extent possible. Id. In evaluating the first prong, the efforts the school has made to include the child, a comparison of the benefits to the child of placement in a regular classroom versus a separate special education classroom, and the effect on the other students, must be considered. Id.

Applicable Section 504 Principles

In order to establish a violation of § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a plaintiff must
prove that (1) he is “disabled” as defined by the Act; (2) he is “otherwise
qualified” to participate in school activities; (3) the school or the board of
education receives federal financial assistance; and (4) he was excluded from
participation in, denied the benefits of, or subject to discrimination at, the school.

Ridgewood at 253.
Finally, charter schools are required to comply with the federal regulations implementing
the IDEA and Section 504. 22 Pa. Code §§ 711.1 – 711.62.

The Parent’s Claims

The first issue is whether the School denied Student FAPE during the 2013-14 and 2014-
15 school years, as well as over summer 2014, both procedurally and substantively. Following
careful review of the record, the inescapable conclusion is that it assuredly did deny FAPE to
Student.

clear knowledge that Student required special education and related services. Not unexpectedly,
almost immediately, Student began to display problematic behaviors. Rather than attempt to
address them through appropriate special education programming and interventions, Student was
placed into a “diagnostic” placement that similarly afforded no special education services to
address Student’s individualized needs. The Parent was given little to no opportunity to
participate meaningfully in this decision.

There was no IEP meeting held until January 2014, well after the 45-day “diagnostic”
placement was to conclude. The team itself did not include the required team members. The
IEP that followed that meeting, finalized seven months into the school year, was not the result of
a collaboration of team members on the components of that document. Its goals generally
addressed only a few of Student’s well documented and significant academic and behavioral
needs, were not individualized to Student, lacked important SDI to help Student reach those
goals, and were not reasonably calculated to enable Student to make meaningful educational
progress. Furthermore, both before and after development of the IEP, there was little if any
consideration given to the concept of LRE.

Implementation of Student’s program both before and after the IEP does little to remedy
these deficiencies. Aside from some undefined STS services, at no time was an individualized
behavior plan created for Student; indeed, after the April 2014 incident, Student was no longer
even participating in any group behavioral plan. Further, the School’s use of physical restraints
were not in compliance with applicable law.14 Academically, while the School’s teachers
undoubtedly provided instruction to their classes of students, nothing was individualized for
Student and the program lacked any learning support as specified in Student’s IEPs. The limited 14
22 Pa. Code § 711.46. progress monitoring that was conducted was not specific to Student and Student’s academic
needs, and was directly contradicted by the private psychologist’s initial and updated IEE reports
that assessed Student’s growth in areas of significant academic deficits. Student was never able
to successfully transition from the very restrictive diagnostic support/emotional support setting;
nor was Student provided with any interventions to address the problematic behaviors seen by
the School as an impediment to a lesser restrictive placement, and which contributed to Student’s
academic difficulties.

Student’s program for the 2014-15 school year was merely more of the same. The prior
IEP is in place, and the placement had not changed. Despite some suggestion in the record that
the School was altering some of its approaches to academic instruction and behavioral
intervention (N.T. 255-56), the record simply does not establish sufficient individualization
based on Student’s specific needs for this school year, now already almost half over, such that
one might anticipate meaningful educational progress.

There was some anecdotal evidence in the record that suggested that Student’s behaviors
improved following the diagnostic support/emotional support placement. (See, e.g., N.T. 212,
488-90, 559-60, 572, 774-76) However, that evidence contradicts other credible evidence in the
record, such as information in the February 2014 IEP and December STS plan that Student’s
problematic behaviors continued throughout the school year, as well as the clear deterioration
following the April 2014 incident. There is no consistent and systematic data collected on
Student’s behavior in this rather voluminous record; no FBA was conducted;15 and Student’s

15There is an undated two-page document that may be an FBA (P-42); however, it lacks the detail that one expects
from an FBA. See, e.g., http://pattan.net-website.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2014/06/10/FBA_Process_Bklt_0514.pdf (last visited December 23, 2014).

behaviors clearly did not improve enough to allow Student to “earn” some transition from the
restrictive emotional support classroom to any meaningful extent as of the close of the record.

ESY

With respect to ESY, the evidence is preponderant that Student’s eligibility was never
seriously considered. Entitlement to ESY services derives from both federal and state special
education provisions. Under the federal IDEA regulations, ESY services are to be provided to an
eligible student if necessary to assure that s/he receives FAPE. 34 C.F.R. §300.106(a)(2).
Pennsylvania regulations provide additional guidance for charter schools for making ESY
determinations:
(1) At each IEP meeting for a student with disabilities, the charter school or cyber
charter school shall determine whether the student is eligible for ESY services
and if so, make subsequent determinations about the services to be provided.

(2) In considering whether a student is eligible for ESY services, the IEP team
shall consider the following factors, however, no single factor will be considered
determinative:
(i) Whether the student reverts to a lower level of functioning as evidenced by
a measurable decrease in skills or behaviors which occurs as a result of an
interruption in educational programming (Regression).
(ii) Whether the student has the capacity to recover the skills or behavior
patterns in which regression occurred to a level demonstrated prior to the
interruption of educational programming (Recoupment).
(iii) Whether the student’s difficulties with regression and recoupment make it
unlikely that the student will maintain the skills and behaviors relevant to IEP
goals and objectives.
(iv) The extent to which the student has mastered and consolidated an
important skill or behavior at the point when educational programming would
be interrupted.
(v) The extent to which a skill or behavior is particularly crucial for the student
to meet the IEP goals of self-sufficiency and independence from caretakers.
(vi) The extent to which successive interruptions in educational programming
result in a student’s withdrawal from the learning process.
ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 23 of 29
(vii) Whether the student’s disability is severe, such as autism/pervasive
developmental disorder, serious emotional disturbance, severe mental
retardation, degenerative impairments with mental involvement and severe
multiple disabilities.
22 Pa. Code § 711.44.
16
This hearing officer concludes that Student demonstrated a clear
need for ESY during the summer of 2014 based on each of these factors, and particularly
subsections (iv), (v), and (vi) in order to be provided with FAPE.

Remedies

Before turning to the specific remedies, one point relevant to this aspect of the decision
must be addressed. The law is crystal clear that “a child’s entitlement to special education should
not depend upon the vigilance of the parents[.]” M.C. v. Central Regional School District, 81
F.3d 389, 397 (3d Cir. 1996). To the extent that the School has argued that the Parent’s
acquiescence to Student’s programming or failure to request IEP meetings is determinative, the
argument is rejected.

Compensatory Education

The hours of compensatory education are subject to the following conditions and
limitations. Student’s Parent may decide how the hours of compensatory education are spent.

There are financial limits on the Parent’s discretion in selecting the compensatory
education; the costs to the School of providing the awarded hours of compensatory education
must not exceed the full cost of the services that were denied. Full costs are the hourly salaries
and fringe benefits that would have been paid to the School professionals who did and would
have provided social/emotional services to Student during the period of the denial of FAPE.

Prospective Private Placement

CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing findings of fact and for all of the above reasons, this hearing
officer concludes that the School denied Student FAPE, and that Student and the Parent are
entitled to an award of compensatory education and a prospective private placement.

ORDER

ODR File No. 15202-1415 KE Page 29 of 29

 

Cathy A. Skidmore

_____________________________

Cathy A. Skidmore
HEARING OFFICER
Dated: December 24, 2014

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