Pennsylvania
Special Education Hearing Officer
DECISION
ODR No. 01802-1011JS
Child’s Name: R.B.
Date of Birth: [redacted]
Date of Hearing: 1/5/11
OPEN HEARING
Parties to the Hearing:
Parents Parent[s]
School District Philadelphia
Representative:
Parent Attorney
David Berney, Esquire
8 Penn Center
1628 JFK Boulevard Suite 1000 Philadelphia, PA 191038
School District Attorney
Heather Matejik, Esq.
Office of General Counsel
440 North Broad Street, 3rd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19130
Date Record Closed: January 10, 20111
Date of Decision: January 25, 2011
Hearing Officer: Anne L. Carroll, Esq.
INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This case involves Parent’s right to examine Student’s full educational records. Parent did not allege that she has been unable to fully participate in developing a program and placement for Student because all records were not produced. Consequently, the only matter heard and decided in this case is a claim relating to the provision of FAPE to the Student, not a claim for denial of FAPE.
By the time the hearing was convened, both parties acknowledged that only one of the documents originally sought by Parent had not been produced by the District or its absence explained to Parent’s satisfaction. The purpose of the short hearing session conducted on January 5, 2011 was to determine whether the District has made all reasonable efforts to locate the missing document, the results of a speech language assessment administered to Student in 2006 as part of an evaluation to determine Student’s eligibility for school-age IDEA services. The evidence disclosed that the only reasonable means to obtain the document that the District failed to undertake was a formal, written inquiry to the entity whose employee conducted the evaluation. The District, therefore, will be directed to make a formal inquiry to the provider of the evaluation, followed by a written notification to Parent and her counsel of its response, and to add the inquiry and the response to the Student’s educational record.
ISSUE
Is the School District required to take any additional steps to locate the original report of a speech/language evaluation of [Student] conducted in May 2006?
R-B-Philadelphia-ODRNo-01802-1011JS