Kit Geary/Summit Daily News
A recent report found that the Summit School District unfairly removed certain types of classes co-taught by general and special education teachers from its ninth-grade special education plan “without considering the individual needs of the students.” It is said to have been deleted. Ruling by Colorado Department of Education.
The ruling said the problem was systemic and affected 20 ninth-graders with learning disabilities this school year. The state education department required the Summit School District to correct the violations, including providing affected students with additional services to make up for missed classes in shared classes.
Most of the students in this case (approximately 80%) speak Spanish as their first language.
“We took immediate steps to address the concerns raised and evaluate our practices for opportunities to improve the quality of our services,” the Summit School District said in a statement. This reflection is part of our unwavering dedication to continuous improvement and our belief in the power of collaborative efforts with parents to foster an environment of growth and learning. ”
The ruling was made in September on behalf of a group of Summit County students with learning disabilities who graduated eighth grade at the end of the 2022-2023 school year and are currently attending ninth grade in the 2023-2024 school year. It stems from a state-level complaint. .
The complaint initially named several students in eighth grade at the time, but the case expanded as the Colorado Department of Education began an investigation.
The lawsuit stemmed from allegations that the school district was not delivering on services promised in some students' individualized education plans. These plans are tailored to your individual learning needs. They show exactly what supports and services students need to learn and how schools will implement them.
In the student's study plan, the student was entitled to “mandatory instructional time with co-teaching.”
This means that students receive additional support in their general education math and English language arts classes through specialists who co-teach the classes with their general education teacher. Twenty students were to receive that support in both her 8th grade and her 9th grade.
However, the Colorado Department of Education says the district “removed co-teaching push instruction time for 20 students at the end of 8th grade as a matter of routine practice without considering students' individual needs.” ” was recognized.
The district reportedly initially told state investigators it did not offer co-ed instruction in ninth grade and did not provide any plans, which it said “must be a mistake.” It is said that However, midway through the investigation, the school district reversed course and announced that the incident was true.
However, in the co-teaching scheme referenced by the district, English language development specialists co-taught math and science classes with general education teachers. English Language Development Specialists aim to support students who are learning English, not students with learning disabilities.
At least three students in these classes, who were co-taught with English language development experts, were reportedly fluent in English and not English learners.
The investigation found that the co-educational classes offered at the high school did not constitute adequate co-educational classes as promised in the student's educational plan.
In addition, the state Education Department found that the district did not meet another requirement in the student learning plan related to out-of-classroom services. In addition to help with coursework and homework, a small number of students were also supposed to receive help with skills such as organization, time management and self-assertion, according to the complaint.
The investigation found that the services provided by the district to the 9th grade student did not meet the requirements detailed in the student's learning plan.
During the investigation, the district told the state that the discrepancies between learning plans and services were due to some students' plans being “in progress,” meaning the district had to He said he was in the process of meeting with the parents. detail.
The Colorado Department of Education said in its decision that there are no exceptions for “ongoing” plans.
“The district, using inaccurate documentation, seeks to shift this burden onto parents who are expected to attend informal meetings and resolve conflicts directly,” the ruling said.
Summit School District must follow a list of remedies mandated by the Colorado Department of Education. One remedy requires school districts to submit corrective action plans that specify how they will correct violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
In addition, certain staff members are required to participate in training on the development and implementation of individual education plans. School districts must also audit individual education plans to ensure accuracy and provide compensatory education services to affected students.
The district was also required to notify the families of the students included in the complaints that the school district was not meeting their students' learning needs.
“Following the decision of the State Complaints Officer (SCO), we remain committed to faithfully implementing the recommended remedies,” the district said in a statement.
“We are confident that, together, we can continue to support our students in achieving personal and academic success,” the district said in a statement. “Our commitment to the health and development of our students continues to be our top priority, and we appreciate the continued partnership and trust of our families on this journey.”
