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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

SPECIAL EDUCATION APPEALS

In Re:Lexington Public Schools v. BSEA# 10-2604

StudentDECISION

This decision is issued pursuant to the ndividuals !ith "isabilities ducation $ct %20&S' 1400 et seq.() Section *04 o+ the ,ehabilitation $ct o+ 1/ %2 &S' 4() thestate special education la! %L ch. 1() the state $d3inistrative Procedure $ct%L ch. /0$() and the regulations pro3ulgated under these statutes.

n ctober 20) 200) Lexington Public Schools %Lexington( +iled a ,e5uest +orearing in the above-re+erenced 3atter. Lexington later re5uested that the 3atter bedecided on sub3ission o+ docu3ents onl7. n 8ove3ber 12) 200) Parent

co33unicated her assent to have the case decided on sub3ission o+ docu3ents onl7.The Parties9 re5uest is granted pursuant to ,ule : o+ theHearing Rules for SpecialEducation Appeals.1 ;ollo!ing receipt o+ Parent9s argu3ent and docu3ents) Lexingtonre5uested an opportunit7 to respond) !hich re5uest !as granted on 8ove3ber 12) 200)and Lexington !as given until 8ove3ber 2/) 200) to sub3it its response. Thisdecision on docu3ents and argu3ents o++ered b7 the Parties) is being issued b7 earing++icer ,osa . ;igueroa.

n rendering this decision rel7 on docu3ents sub3itted b7 Lexington on 8ove3ber16) 200) and 3ar

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POSITION OF THE PARTIES

Le'"n&t#n(s P#s"t"#n:

Lexington sates that pursuant to a ,uling2earlier this 7ear on its otion +or Su33ar7

Eudg3ent regarding Lexington9s right to conduct its proposed three 7ear re-evaluation)Lexington conducted evaluations in several areas b7 5uali+ied individuals.

Lexington asserts that it is not responsible to +und the independent $dapted Ph7sicalducation sought b7 Parent) because its evaluation !as co3prehensive and appropriate=the ;unctional Living S

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FINDIN)S OF FACT*

1. Student is a seventeen 7ear-old resident o+ Lexington) assachusetts %S-/(.Student attended +i+th grade through the !inter o+ his ninth grade in Lexington)a+ter !hich Parent ho3eschooled hi3 +or the re3ainder o+ the 2006-200 school

7ear %S-2(. "uring tenth grade) Student attended the inute3an @ocationaligh School +or electronics and energ7. $+ter +ailing all but one course) andbeing told that he !ould have to repeat 10thgrade) Parent ho3eschooled hi3again +or the eleventh grade %d.(. Student !as o++iciall7 !ithdra!n +ro3inute3an @ocational igh School in 8ove3ber 200H %S-*(.

2. Student) !ho !as delivered !ith vacuu3 suction) has been diagnosed !ithCo3entar7 'ardiac $rrest at birth) prenatal preecla3psia) and colic= $sperger9s"isorder= $""= 3ild 'erebral Pals7 causing lo!er extre3it7 !earitten xpression= Learning "isabilit7 in ,eading=bsessive 'o3pulsive ;eatures= Tourette9s S7ndro3e= several bouts o+Pneu3onia and repeated ear in+ections %P-2= S-2(. Student also su++ered a+racture o+ the L/ vertebra) and su++ers +ro3 3ild sleep apnea %S-4(. is +ine3otor issues 3a

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4. "r. Lovec

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assess3ent) Ph7sical Therap7 assess3ent) @ocational assess3ent and $ssistiveTechnolog7 assess3ent %P-14(.

H. Pursuant to a ,uling issued on a7 2) 200) addressing Lexington9s otion+or Su33ar7 Eudg3ent) Lexington !as allo!ed to proceed !ith ducationalA

Ps7chological) Speech and Language) ccupational) $ssistive Technolog7)Ph7sical Therap7) and @ocational evaluations o+ Student %S-1(. Parent alsore5uested that Lexington +und the private 8europs7chological evaluationco3pleted b7 "r. Lovec

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Lexington %P-1*(. s. ,o!e per+or3ed the c'arron-"ial S7ste3s@ocational evaluation !hich incorporates a nu3ber o+ intellectual %>echsler$dult ntelligence Scale) Peabod7 Picture vocabular7 Test-,evised) >ide ,ange$chieve3ent Test-4() sensor7 %ender @isual otor estalt Test) aptic @isual"iscri3ination Test() 3otor %c'arron $ssess3ent o+ 8euro3uscular

"evelop3ent() e3otional %bservational 3otional nventor76

()copingAadaptive behavior %Street Survival S

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%recalling i3ages a+ter a period o+ ti3e( but !ith the Babilit7 to 3eet the recent3e3or7 re5uire3ents o+ 3ost occupational tas,T2 resultssho!ed Student9s average level o+ interest in the area o+ +actor7Aasse3bl7 !or

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+ound to be in need o+ ccupational Therap7 services at the ti3e o+ theevaluation. s. >oFci< reco33ended consultation to Student and his teachersaround sensor7 issues) including a sensor7 diet and acco33odations %S-4(.

16. Patt7 cTigue) S) $TP) per+or3ed the $ssistive Technolog7 assess3ent on

behal+ o+ Lexington) dated Septe3ber H) 200 %S-*(. er evaluation ho!ever)had begun in Eul7 200. s. cTigue revie!ed Student9s P o+ Eanuar7 200Hthrough Eanuar7 200= the $rchitects +or Learning >riting ntervention Supportb7 Jristen allet ator) S) '''-SLP o+ a7 1) 200= the neuro-ps7chological screening b7 sabel L. Stevens) Ps7.".) dated Eanuar7 1*) 200=$LL tech 8otes +ro3 8ove3ber 200* through Eune 2006= and she haddiscussions !ith Sherrie 'oughlin) Lexington9s igh School Special ducationSupervisor) and Parent. She concluded that Student) !ho !as +ound to beco3puter literate and could operate co3puters independentl7) presenteddi++iculties !ith organiIation) 3e3or7 and +ine 3otor s

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Eohn Pasarini +or the $daptive Ph7sical ducation %a +or3er e3plo7ee o+Lexington(=Jaren Levine) Ph.".) ndependent Living S

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The "$11regulations con+er upon parents o+ disabled students the right to proceed!ith independent evaluations at public expense. /4 ';, /00.*02. The regulationsde+ine an independent evaluation as an

valuation conducted b7 a 5uali+ied exa3iner !ho is not e3plo7ed b7the public agenc7 responsible +or the education o+ the child in 5uestion./4 ';, /00.*02%a(%/(%i(.

;or purposes o+ this section) the ter3 public agenc7 is e5uivalent to local educationalagenc7) that is) the particular school district responsible +or the student in 5uestion. Theright to an independent evaluation arises

+ the parent disagrees !ith an evaluation obtained b7 the public agenc7)subFect to the conditions in paragraphs %b(%2( through %4( o+ this section./4 ';, /00.*02%b(%1(.

+ the re5uisite conditions are 3et) the +ederal regulations re5uire that the evaluation beprovided at public expense) that is)

that the public agenc7 either pa7s +or the +ull cost o+ the evaluation orensures that the evaluation is other!ise provided at no cost to the parent)consistent !ith /00.10/. /4 ';, /00.*02%a(%/(%ii(.

That is) school districts 3ust pa7 the +ull cost o+ the evaluation sought b7 parents orensure that the evaluation !ill be provided at no cost to the parents. 'onsistent !ith

this provision) school districts are re5uired to suppl7 parents !ith a list o+ serviceproviders !ho abide b7 the state guidelines regarding co3petenc7 to per+or3 theevaluation as !ell as the rate structure +or independent evaluations.12 States are le+t toregulate +urther consistent !ith +ederal la!.

$dditionall7) !hen parents re5uest an independent evaluation the +ederal regulationsdiscourage unnecessar7 dela7s b7 school districts re5uiring school district to either pa7+or the evaluation or re5uest a hearing !hen it believes that its evaluation is appropriate./4 ';, /00.*02%b(%2(. 1/

11 See 20 &S' 141*%d(%2(%$(.12 >hen a parent re5uests an independent evaluation) the +ederal regulations +urther re5uire school districtsto provide parents !ith BN in+or3ation about !here an independent educational evaluation 3a7 be obtained)and the agenc7 criteria applicable +or independent educational evaluations as set +orth in paragraph %e( o+ thissectionD to ensure that parents are able to select providers !ho act in concert !ith state 3andates. /4 ';,/00.*02. 8o challenge !as raised on this issue at hearing.1/The school district is also re5uired to re5uest a hearing i+ it is challenging the independent evaluationobtained b7 the parent on the basis o+ +ailure to 3eet agenc7 criteria. /04 ';,.*02%b(%2(%ii(.

10

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'onsistent !ith +ederal la! and regulations) the assachusetts special educationregulations provide parents a right to independent evaluations as stated in 60/ ',2H.04%*(%a( !hich provides

%*( ndependent education evaluations. &pon receipt o+ evaluation

results) i+ a parent disagrees !ith an initial evaluation or reevaluationco3pleted b7 the school district) then the parent 3a7 re5uest anindependent education evaluation.

%a( $ll independent education evaluations shall be conducted b75uali+ied persons !ho are registered) certi+ied) licensed orother!ise approved and !ho abide b7 the rates set b7 the stateagenc7 responsible +or setting such rates.14 &ni5ue circu3stanceso+ the student 3a7 Fusti+7 an individual assess3ent rate that ishigher than that nor3all7 allo!ed.

n su3) both the +ederal and assachusetts regulations provide that the right to anindependent evaluation arises a+ter the school district has first conducted an evaluationin the area parent disputes %e3phasis supplied(. assachusetts ,egulations +urtherprovide that

+ the parent is re5uesting an independent education evaluation in an areanot assessed b7 the school district) N the school district shall respond inaccordance !ith the re5uire3ents o+ +ederal la!. The district shall eitheragree to pa7 +or the independent education evaluation or !ithin +iveschool da7s) proceed to the ureau o+ Special ducation $ppeals to sho!

that its evaluation !as co3prehensive and appropriate. %3phasis added(+ the ureau o+ Special ducation $ppeals +inds that the school district9sevaluation !as co3prehensive and appropriate) then the school districtshall not be obligated to pa7 +or the independent education evaluationre5uested b7 the parent. 60/ ', 2H.04%*(%d(.

n the instant case) Lexington disputes the evaluations sought b7 Parent and opted to+ile an appeal !ith the S$ !ithin the prescribed +ive school da7s. iven thatLexington see

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Parent see

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ho3e schooling !as necessar7 because o+ Lexington9s +ailure to o++er a schoolplace3ent. She challenges Lexington9s report on the basis that it o++ers no plan +orStudent to 3ove to!ard independent living.

Lexington argues that an7 issues relative to the areas o+ ndependent or ;unctional

Living S

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+ort7-+ive page) extraordinaril7 thorough report) there is no basis to grant Parent9sre5uest +or a separate independent ;unctional Living S

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$ +inding that Student presents !ith uni5ue circu3stances !ould entitle Parent to ahigher a3ount o+ rei3burse3ent because it considers that so3e students 3a7 present!ith co3plex challenges that re5uire a 3ore thorough or uni5ue evaluation.

The phrase Buni5ue circu3stancesD is +ound in the assachusetts Special ducation

,egulations addressing rei3burse3ent +or independent evaluations) !hich states inpertinent part

Nuni5ue circu3stances o+ the student 3a7 Fusti+7 an individualassess3ent rate that is higher than that nor3all7 allo!ed. 60/ ',2H.04%*(%a(.

ndividual 'onsideration %.'.( is de+ined !ithin the assachusetts "ivision o+ ealth'are ;inance and Polic7 ,egulations as

Those rates +or authoriIed services that are deter3ined b7 a

govern3ental unit based upon the nature) extent) and need +or suchservice and the degree o+ s

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that the test results !ere reliable and that the7 presented an accurate 3easure o+Student9s abilities in Speech and Language. She also re3ar

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expenses. "istricts are onl7 3andated to provide independent evaluations consistent!ith +ederal and state la!.

ere) the record lac

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The totalit7 o+ the evidence over!hel3ingl7 suggests that Student has been ade5uatel7and thoroughl7 evaluated b7 nu3erous pro+essionals in relevant areas. >hile Parent isentitled to independent evaluations in the areas discussedsupra) the independentevaluators 3a7 be able to rel7 on the !ealth o+ in+or3ation alread7 available on Student

to co3plete the evaluations !ithin the established ti3e+ra3es. ,egarding thevocational evaluation) Lexington shall co3plete the situational portion o+ thatevaluation +orth!ith at a !or< site option such as ,a7theon i+ Parent can arrange +orthis to occur !ithin one !ee< o+ issuance o+ this decision) or at an7 other locationdee3ed appropriate b7 s. ,o!e andAor r. 'allahan. iven the a3ount o+ availablein+or3ation on Student) the Parties are advised to +ocus their attention on progra33ingthat can be i3ple3ented as soon as possible.

ORDER

1. Lexington shall +und Parent9s re5uested independent evaluations in the areas

o+ Speech and Language) $ssistive Technolog7) ccupational Therap7inclusive o+ a Sensor7 Pro+ile assess3ent) Ph7sical Therap7 evaluation)@ocationalA Transitional planning evaluation) consistent !ith the rates set b7the assachusetts "ivision o+ ealth 'are ;inance and Polic7.

2. Lexington shall co3plete the situational portion o+ its @ocational evaluationb7 Eanuar7 1*) 2010) and Student shall be 3ade available +or this evaluation.

/. Parent is not entitled to rei3burse3ent +or "r. Lovec

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