PENNSYLVANIA
SPECIAL EDUCATION HEARING OFFICER
6222/05-06 LS
File Number
Student
Child’s Name
Xx/xx//xxxx
Date of Birth
April 18, 2006
Dates of Hearing
Open
Type of Hearing
For the Student: Mr. and Mrs. Parent
For the Williamsport Area School District:
Dr. Gina McFalls
Director of Special Education Williamsport Area School District 201 W. 3rd Street
Williamsport, PA 17701-6409
Fred A. Holland, Esq.
Murphy, Butterfield & Holland 442 William Street Williamsport, PA 17701
Dates of Hearing: April 18, 2006
Date Record Closed: April 22, 2006
Date of Decision: May 7, 2006
Hearing Officer: Daniel J. Myers
BACKGROUND
Student is a [pre-teenaged] resident of the Williamsport Area School District (School District) with permanent and progressive hearing loss. Her parents seek deaf/hard of hearing counseling for Student, as well as an independent educational evaluation. For the reasons described below, I will not order either counseling or an independent psychoeducational evaluation, but I will order that the School District obtain a limited independent evaluation of any deaf/hard of hearing identity-related concerns.
ISSUES
Whether or not Student’s IEP should include counseling?
Whether or not Student is entitled to an independent educational evaluation?