The Colorado Department of Education recently issued a ruling against The Summit School District, citing improper removal of a specific type of class from the special education plans of ninth grade students. The class, co-taught by a general education teacher and a special education teacher, was removed without consideration for the individualized needs of the students.
The ruling highlighted that this systemic issue affected 20 ninth graders with learning disabilities in the current school year, with the majority of the students primarily speaking Spanish. The state education department demanded that the district rectify the violation by offering additional services to make up for what the students missed in the co-taught classes.
Initially, the complaint involved just a couple of eighth grade students, but as the investigation progressed, it expanded to include more students. The district had initially denied offering co-taught classes in ninth grade, but later admitted to doing so. However, the classes involved an English language development specialist, not a specialist for students with learning disabilities.
The Colorado Department of Education found that the district failed to provide adequate co-taught classes as promised in the students’ education plans. Additionally, the district fell short on providing services outside the classroom, such as help with organization and time management.
As a result of the ruling, the district must comply with a list of remedies, including submitting a corrective action plan, providing training for staff on individualized education plans, auditing the plans for accuracy, and offering compensatory education services to impacted students. The district also has to notify families of the students involved in the complaint about the failure to meet their children’s learning needs.