Source: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/idea-files/osep-letter-aug-23-2018-to-devin-fletcher/
Timestamp: 2020-08-04 03:30:04
Document Index: 650664425

Matched Legal Cases: ['§300', '§1415', '§300', '§300', '§ 300', '§300', '§300', '§1415', '§300', '§ 300', '§ 300', '§ 300']

OSEP LETTER: Aug. 23, 2018 to Devin Fletcher - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Home » Policy Documents » OSEP LETTER: Aug. 23, 2018 to Devin Fletcher
This letter responds to your correspondence addressed to Cheryl Broady, Customer Service Specialist, United States Department of Education (Department), Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). In your letter, you requested guidance on how expedited due process hearings should be scheduled when there are fewer than 20 school days left in the school year, and whether it would be consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to hold an expedited due process hearing when there are less than 20 school days left in the school year. We regret the delay in responding.
We note that section 607(d) of IDEA prohibits the Secretary from issuing policy letters or other statements that establish a rule that is required for compliance with, and eligibility under, IDEA without following the rulemaking requirements of section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act. Therefore, based on the requirements of IDEA section 607(e), this response is provided as informal guidance and is not legally binding. This response represents an interpretation by the Department of the requirements of IDEA in the context of the specific facts presented, and does not establish a policy or rule that would apply in all circumstances.
Your letter indicates that this matter was the subject of litigation, and we emphasize that we express no view on the facts and circumstances giving rise to that litigation or the merits of the underlying dispute. While it would be consistent with IDEA for an expedited due process hearing to occur within less than 20 school days from the date that the due process complaint was filed, there is no IDEA requirement that the hearing occur within less than 20 school days. When a parent or a local educational agency (LEA) files a due process complaint to request an expedited due process hearing on the matters described in 20 U.S.C. 1415(k)(3) and 34 CFR §300.532(a), the State educational agency (SEA) or LEA is responsible for arranging the expedited due process hearing, which must occur within 20 school days of the date that the due process complaint is filed. The hearing officer in an expedited due process hearing must make a determination within 10 school days after the hearing concludes. 20 U.S.C. §1415(k)(4)(B) and 34 CFR §300.532(c)(2) and (4). Further, a hearing officer may not grant an extension of the expedited hearing timelines. See Q&A E-7 of the July 23, 2013 Questions and Answers on IDEA Part B Dispute Resolution Procedures.
OSEP has addressed the question of how to apply the timeline requirements for expedited due process hearings when the due process complaint is filed when school is not in session.
Question E-5: How must SEAs and LEAs apply the timeline requirements for expedited due process hearings if the due process complaint is filed when school is not in session?
Answer: When a due process complaint requesting an expedited due process hearing is filed during the summer or when school is not otherwise in session, the SEA or LEA responsible for arranging the expedited due process hearing is not required to count those days in calculating the expedited due process hearing timelines. A school day has the same meaning for all children in school, including children with and without disabilities. 34 CFR §300.11(c)(2). Therefore, any day that children without disabilities are not in school is not counted as a school day, and is not considered in calculating the expedited due process hearing timelines. For example, a day on which a public agency only provides extended school year services to children with disabilities and does not operate summer school programs for all children cannot be counted as a “school day.” 71 FR 46552 (August 14, 2006). In contrast, if a due process complaint requesting a hearing is filed under 34 CFR §§ 300.507-300.516, when school is not in session, the SEA is required to meet the 30-day resolution period and 45-day hearing timelines in 34 CFR §§300.510 and 300.515(a).
We believe the same analysis applies whether the due process complaint requesting an expedited due process hearing is filed with less than 20 school days remaining in the school year or if the request is filed during the summer or other times when school is not in session. Given the tight timeline constraints for expedited due process hearings, the SEA or LEA must ensure that the hearing is completed no later than the 20th school day from when the expedited due process complaint is filed and that the hearing officer’s determination is made no later than the 10th school day after the hearing concludes – even if the complaint was filed during the previous school year or during the summer, and the due date falls during the following school year .
400 MARYLAND AVE., S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20202-2600 www.ed.gov The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and prepar ation for global competiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. U	NITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES August 23, 2018 Devin Fletcher Associate Attorney Cuddy Law Firm, PLLC 8723 Shoal Creek Boulevard Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78757 Dear Mr. Fletcher: This letter responds to your correspondence addressed to Cheryl Broady, Customer Service Specialist, United States Department of Education (Department), Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). In your letter, you requested guidance on how expedited due process hearings should be scheduled when there are fewer than 20 school days left in the school year, and whether it would be consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( IDEA) to hold an expedited due process hearing when there are less than 20 school days left in the school year. We regret the delay in responding. We note that section 607(d) of IDEA prohibits the Secretary from issuing policy letters or other statements that establish a rule that is required for compliance with, and eligibility under, IDEA without following the rulemaking requirements of section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act. Therefore, based on the requirements of IDEA section 607(e), this response is provided as informal guidance and is not legally binding. This response represents an interpretation by the Department of the requirements of IDEA in the context of the specific facts presented, and does not establish a policy or rule that would apply in all circumstances. Your letter indicates that this matter was the subject of litigation, and we emphasize that we express no view on the facts and circumstances giving rise to that litigation or the merits of the underlying dispute. While it would be consistent with IDEA for an expedited due process hearing to occur within less than 20 school days from the date that the due process complaint was filed, there is no IDEA r equirement that the hearing occur within less than 20 school days. When a parent or a local educational agency (LEA) files a due process complaint to request an expedited due process hearing on the matters described in 20 U.S.C. 1415(k)(3) and 34 CFR §300.532(a), t he State educational agency (SEA) or LEA is responsible for arranging the expedited due process hearing, which must occur within 20 school days of the date that the due process complaint is filed. T he hearing officer in an expedited due process he aring must make a determination within 10 school days after the hearing concludes . 20 U.S.C. §1415(k)(4)(B) and 34 CFR §300.532(c)(2) and (4). Further, a hearing officer may not grant an extension of the expedited hearing timelines. See Q&A E-7 of the July 23, 2013 Questions and Answers on IDEA Part B Dispute Resolution Procedures .	1 OSEP has addressed the question of how to apply the timeline requirements for expedited due process hearings when the due process complaint is filed when school is not in session . Question E -5: How must SEAs and LEAs apply the timeline requirements for expedited due process hearings if the due process complaint is filed when school is not in session? Answer: When a due process complaint requesting an expedited due process hearing is filed during the summer or when school is not otherwise in session, the SEA or LEA responsible for arranging the expedited due process hearing is not required to count those days in calculating the expedited due process hearing time lines. A school day has the same meaning for all children in school, including children with and without disabilities. 34 CFR § 300.11(c)(2). Therefore, any day that children without disabilities are not in school is not counted as a school day, and is not considered in calculating the expedited due process hearing timelines. For example, a day on which a public agency only provides extended school year services to children with disabilities and does not operate summer school programs for all children cannot be counted as a “ school day.” 71 FR 46552 (August 14, 2006). In contrast, if a due process complaint requesting a hearing is filed under 34 CFR §§ 300.507-300.516, when school is not in session, the SEA is required to meet the 30- day resolution period and 45-day hearing timelines in 34 CFR §§ 300.510 and 300.515(a). We believe the same analysis applies whether the due process complaint requesting an expedited due process hearing is filed with less than 20 school days remaining in the school year or if the request is filed during the summer or other times when school is not in session. Given the tight timeline constraints for expedited due process hearings, t he SEA or LEA must ensure that the hearing is completed no later than the 20	th school day from when the expedited due process complaint is filed and that the hearing officer’s determination is made no later than the 10	th school day after the hearing concludes – even if the complaint was filed during the previous school year or during the summer, and the due date falls during the following school year . If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lisa Pagano of my staff at 202- 245-7413 or by email at Lisa.Pagano@ed.gov	. 1 This document is available at: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/acccombinedosersdisputeresolutionqafinalmemo -7 -23- 13.pdf	) Sincerely, /s/ Ruth E. Ryder Acting D irector Office of Special Education Programs
idea_file-template-default single single-idea_file postid-64991 with-font-selector group-blog elementor-default
← OSEP LETTER: Aug. 23, 2018 to Anonymous
POLICY MEMO: To States Regarding the Cap on the Percentage of Students who may be Assessed with an Alternate Assessment (Aug. 27, 2018) →