State: School failed on student

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August 30, 2012

State: School failed on student

Michelle Miller Staff Writer The Daily Star Thu Aug 30, 2012, 10:36 AM EDT

The Cooperstown Central School District has failed to meet the needs of a special-needs student, according to the state Department   of Education.

Tracy Stearns filed complaints with the state in May, alleging that the school has failed to abide by special education law   on a consistent basis with regard to her 16-year-old autistic son’s needs. Three of Stearns’ five allegations were sustained,   meaning the school is required to take action to correct the situation.

The state found that the school failed to provide the student with supplementary aids, program modifications and accommodations,   and did not develop transition services to facilitate the student’s movement from school to after-school activities.

CCS Superintendent C.J. Hebert said he could not comment about matters involving particular individuals.

According to Stearns, her son, who is going into his senior year, entered Cooperstown Middle School in the fall of 2006.

“He has had an (Individualized Education Program) since kindergarten,” she said. “His current classification on his IEP remains   OHI despite having been diagnosed with autism in 2006 and 2009 and again in 2012.”

Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs, are legal documents that outline a student’s needs, performance and goals, as   well as identifying progress markers.

The IEP for Stearns’ son required that teachers undertake a number of specific measures to assist him, including restating   directions, providing additional sets of textbooks, and notifying Stearns when her son’s grades fell below 80 percent.

“The most important result I hope that results from this investigation is that every student’s IEP will be honored and not   ignored, so that the students who require services and supports receive them. I also hope that a system of accountability   will ensure that these services are provided per special education law,” Stearns said.

Stearns said CCS is on a corrective action plan and must follow steps to rectify each of the three sustained allegations.