Pennsylvania
Special Education Hearing Officer
DECISION
Student’s Name: R.P.
Date of Birth: [redacted]
ODR No. 01919-10-11-AS
CLOSED HEARING
Parties to the Hearing: Parent[s]
School District of Philadelphia 440 North Broad Street, Suite 313 Philadelphia, PA 19130
Representative:
Benjamin D. Geffen, Esquire
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 2d Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103
Heather L. Matejik, Esquire Office of General Counsel
440 North Broad Street, Suite 313 Philadelphia, PA 19130
Dates of Hearing: March 11, 2011; April 5, 2011; May 16, 2011
Record Closed: June 13, 2011
Date of Decision: June 28, 2011
Hearing Officer: William F. Culleton, Jr., Esquire
INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Student is an eligible resident of the School District of Philadelphia (District), and attended a District elementary school at all relevant times. (NT 12-14.) Student is identified with Other Health Impairment due to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §1401 et seq. (IDEA). Ibid. The Parent requested due process alleging that the District had failed to comply with its obligations under the IDEA and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §794 (section 504), specifically alleging Child Find violations, failure to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to Student, and failure to include Parent in the planning process for an Individualized Education Program (IEP).1 The District asserts that it has evaluated Student timely and appropriately, and offered a FAPE with full participation of the Parent.
The hearing was conducted in three sessions and the record closed upon receipt of written summations. I conclude that the District has complied with its legal obligations to Student and Parent, and no compensatory education will be ordered.
ISSUES
- Do the IDEA limitation of action provisions bar Parent’s complaints about District action or inaction from October 1, 20072 to December 30, 20083, due to failure to request due process within two years of Parent’s knowledge or notice during that period of time?
- Prior to June 20, 20094, did the District fail to comply with its Child Find obligations under either the IDEA or section 504, inter alia by failing to evaluate Student properly, failing to provide appropriate educational services, or denying participation by Parent?
- During the period prior to and including March 11, 2011, did the District fail to provide a FAPE to Student under either the IDEA or section 504, with regard to reading, writing, mathematics, behavior impeding learning, or attention?
- Did the District fail to allow Parent to participate appropriately in the educational planning process for Student during the period from October 1, 2007 to March 11, 2011?
- Should the hearing officer order the District to provide compensatory education to Student for all or any part of the period prior to March 11, 2011?