Pennsylvania
Special Education Hearing Officer
Child’s Name: [REDACTED]
Date of Birth: XX/XX/XXXX
Dates of Hearing: June 30, July 1, July 2, 2009
CLOSED HEARING
ODR# 9811/08-09 KE
Parties to the Hearing: Parents: [REDACTED]
School District:
Allison Polly, Support Services Supervisor Canton Area School District
139 E. Main Street
Canton, PA 17724-1698
Representatives
Parent Representative:
Judith Gran, Esq.
PILCOP – Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
125 South 9th Street, Suite 700 Philadelphia, PA 19107
School District Attorney:
Sharon W. Montanye, Esq. Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams 331 Butler Avenue
P.O. Box 5069
New Britain, PA 18901-5069
Date Record Closed: July 23, 2009
Date of Decision: August 1, 2009
Hearing Officer: Daniel J. Myers
INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
[REDACTED], (Student),1 a [REDACTED] year old [high school]-grade student in the Canton Area School District (District) initiated this action on March 11, 2009, to contest the District’s proposal that Student receive a residential full-time hearing support program at the [REDACTED] State School for the Deaf (State School). The District contends that it cannot provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) closer to Student’s home. Because the District has not sufficiently considered specially designed instruction, related services, supplementary aids and services, and support for school personnel that might enable a less restrictive placement, I find for the Student.
ISSUE
Whether the District’s proposed program and placement is appropriate?
Student-Canton-Area-ODRNo-9811-08-09-KE