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The move comes a month after a group of parents filed a formal complaint with the state Department of Education claiming that Darien schools’ special education procedures violate federal law.
“I wanted to let you know that the Darien Public Schools are cooperating with the State Department of Education in its investigation into a complaint filed by parents regarding our special education procedures,” schools superintendent Stephen Falcone wrote in an email to parents Monday.
The special education consultant and lawyer, Theresa DeFrancis, has extensive experience in special education matters, Falcone said in his email.
“Ms. DeFrancis will independently review and revise staff development materials as necessary,” Falcone wrote. “Ms. DeFrancis will also provide new training to teachers, service providers, administrators and parents in the requirements of the special education laws as may be necessary to rectify any problems and ensure that our processes are in accordance with state and federal law.”
In recent weeks, the school system’s special education program has been criticized by some parents, who said it violates the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by not adequately including parents in the decision-making process for their child’s needs (called “PPT” or planning and placement team meetings). The complaints led to an investigation by state education officials, and that investigation is pending.
Additionally, the district is taking steps to improve PPTs, which are required by state law.
“The PPT must address the individual needs of each student, in accordance with the law, and thus there is no need or requirement to receive prior approval for the inclusion of any special education services and/or related services in an IEP,” Falcone wrote. IEPs are individualized education programs. “The PPT is obligated to make decisions based on the information and data available to the PPT.”
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