PENNSYLVANIA
SPECIAL EDUCATION HEARING OFFICER
6290/05-06 KE
File Number
H. C.
Child’s Name
Xx/xx/xx
Date of Birth
April 12, April 13, May 15, 2006
Dates of Hearing
Closed
Type of Hearing
For the Student:
Parents
Frederick M. Stanczak, Esq.
Law Offices of Frederick M. Stanczak 179 North Broad Street, 2nd Floor Doylestown, PA 18901
For the Souderton Area School District:
Karen Berk, Supervisor of Special Education
Souderton Area School District 760 Lower Road
Souderton, PA 18964-2311
Karl A. Romberger, Jr., Esq.
Fox, Rothschild, O’Brien & Frankel 1250 South Broad Street, Suite 1000 Lansdale, PA 19446-0431
Dates of Hearing: April 12, April 13, May 15, 2006
Receipt of Last Transcript: May 19, 2005
Date of Decision: June 5, 2006
Hearing Officer: Daniel J. Myers
BACKGROUND
Student is a [teenaged] resident of the Souderton Area School District (School District) who disputes the School District’s proposed educational program and placement for the upcoming 2006-2007 school year and seeks, instead, publicly-funded placement at a private school. Student also seeks compensatory education, alleging that he has been denied a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) since kindergarten. Finally, Student’s parents seek reimbursement of two privately-secured evaluations. For the reasons described below, I will not order publicly-funded placement at a private school. I will, however, order that the School District provide the Orton-Gillingham based instruction that the Private School provides, as well as 660 hours of compensatory education. Finally, I will not order reimbursement of the private evaluations.
ISSUES
- Whether or not Student should be placed at a private school for the 2005-2006 school year at public expense?
- Whether or not Student is entitled to compensatory education since kindergarten?
- Whether or not Student’s parents are entitled to reimbursement of an audiological
evaluation and a vision evaluation?