Opinion ID: 496787
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Bridgeport Board of Education Complaint

Text: 11 On October 7, 1982 Legal Services filed a complaint with the State Board on behalf of Mrs. W., the mother of Diedre W., who has emotional, intellectual, and gross motor handicaps, and on behalf of Mrs. B., the mother of Nathan B., a retarded and autistic child, and in behalf of all those similarly situated against the Bridgeport Board of Education pursuant to Connecticut's complaint resolution procedure. The complaint was not limited to objections regarding the individualized educational programs of Diedre W. and Nathan B., but rather was directed at an alleged pattern and practice of the Bridgeport School Board regarding all handicapped children in its school system. It alleged that the school system had violated the Act by failing to provide both an adequate psychologist staff and to conduct triennial evaluations of handicapped children. The State Board responded that Diedre W. and Nathan B. had evaluations in excess of those required by special education mandates, and that school psychologists are not essential in order to meet special education evaluation mandates. 12 Plaintiffs contend that the State Board's response failed to comply with CRP requirements because the State Board neither established communication with plaintiffs during its investigation, nor provided them with an opportunity to present relevant information. Accordingly, Legal Services resubmitted the complaint and sent the State Board a letter further specifying the alleged inadequacies of the Bridgeport system. Plaintiffs claim that the State Board's second response was also insufficient because it neglected to address the Bridgeport School Board's alleged noncompliance with the EHA. 13 Plaintiffs also maintain that the State Board did not provide them with an opportunity to raise their systemwide complaints in a due process hearing pursuant to 20 U.S.C.A. Sec. 1415(b)(2). After service of this complaint, the State Board issued a report finding that the Bridgeport School Board had violated the EHA in several respects, but the record does not reveal what remedial actions, if any, were ordered or taken. 14