Pennsylvania
Special Education Hearing Officer
DECISION
Child’s Name: L.S.
Date of Birth: [redacted]
Dates of Hearing:
July 16, 2012 August 7, 2012
CLOSED HEARING
ODR Case #3219-1112AS
Parties to the Hearing: Parents
Ambridge Area School District 901 Duss Avenue
Ambridge, PA 15003
Representative: Pro Se
Aimee Zundel, Esq. 445 Fort Pitt Boulevard Suite 503
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Date Record Closed: August 7, 2012
Date of Decision: August 21, 2012
Hearing Officer: Jake McElligott, Esquire
INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
[Name redacted] (“student”) is [an elementary school-aged] student residing in the Ambridge Area School District (“District”). The parties agree that the student qualifies under the terms of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEIA”)1 for specially designed instruction/related services for a speech and language impairment. After evaluating the student to determine the student’s eligibility for additional special education services, the District determined that the student did not qualify as a student with a disability. Parents disputed this filing and requested an independent educational evaluation (“IEE”) at public expense. The District requested a special education due process hearing to defend the results of its evaluation.
[Redacted.]
ISSUES
Must the District provide an IEE at public expense?