PN obo JN v Newark BOE | Case 12116-18 | 2019-08-29
New Jersey special education due-process decision
- Case number
- 12116-18
- Date
- 8/29/2019
- Parties / district (official listing)
- PN obo JN v Newark BOE
Open saved decision PDF · Official source
This page reproduces text extracted from the public decision. The saved PDF controls formatting and wording. No attorney-reviewed summary has been added.
Decision text
Page 1
New Jersey Is An Equal Opportunity Employer
State of New Jersey
OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
FINAL DECISION
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
AGENCY DKT. NO. 2015 28360
P.N. ON BEHALF OF J.N.,
Petitioners,
v.
NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION,
Respondent.
_____________________________________
Vanness Roper, advocate, for petitioners1
Sabrina Styza, Esq., and Arsen Zartarian, Esq., for respondent
Record Closed: July 11, 2019 Decided: August 29, 2019
BEFORE SUSANA E. GUERRERO, ALJ:
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Petitioner P.N. (petitioner or P.N.) on behalf of her son J.N. requested a due -
process hearing seeking an out -of-district placement, extended school year,
compensatory education, a learning disabilities teacher consultant, a change in his
classification to “multiply disabled,” and an aide that petitioner will help select. Petitioner
1 Pastor Vanness Roper is married to P.N. References to “J.N.’s parents” in the Decision, refer to P.N.
and Pastor Roper.
Page 2
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
2
alleges that the respondent, Newark Board of Education (respondent, Board or Newark),
failed to comply with J.N.’s individualized educational program (IEP) and has failed to
provide J.N. with a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). The Board asserts that
it can provide, and has provided, FAPE in the least restrictive environment pursuant to
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1415 et seq.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The contested case was transmitted to the Office of Administrative Law ( OAL),
where it was received on August 23, 2018 . After unsuccessful settlement discussions,
the case was scheduled for hearing on January 11, 2019 , and February 1, 2019, but
adjourned at the request of the parties to allow petitioner time to apply to several high
schools and attempt to resolve the matter. The hearing was conducted on June 10 and
11, 2019. The record closed on July 11, 2019.
FINDINGS OF FACT
General Background Facts
The following background facts are uncontroverted, and I FIND:
At the time of the hearing, J.N. was a fourteen-year-old eighth-grade student at the
Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School (Horton School) in the Newark school district
(the District). He is currently classified under “other health impaired ” (OHI) and, at the
time of the hearing, received support and services in the general-education setting, with
pull-out support for Language Arts (ELA).
On March 20, 2018, an eligibility meeting was held with the child study team (CST)
and petitioner. At the time, J.N. was in the seventh grade. At the meeting, it was agreed
that J.N. would be eligible for special-education services under the category of OHI. (J-
1.) He had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) years
earlier, and prior to March 2018 had received supports through a 504 Plan.
Page 3
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
3
J.N.’s eligibility for special-education services was determined upon considering,
at least in part, a psychological assessment conducted on or around March 14, 2018, and
an educational assessment conducted on or around February 27, 2018 . An IEP was
signed by the parties, including P.N., on March 20, 2018, wherein it was agreed that J.N.
would remain in t he general -education setting and receive 100 minutes of push-in
resource services (RCI) for Math, and 100 minutes of pull-out resource services (RCO)
for ELA on a daily basis by a special-education teacher. (J-2.) Behavioral interventions
were also put in place to assist with organizational skills, completion of work, and following
directives. J.N. was provided a personal one-to-one aide. It was also determined that an
extended-school-year (ESY) program was not required , as J.N. did not present with
concerns about regression beyond recoupment. According to the IEP, more restrictive
options were considered and rejected because J.N. “has a baseline of academic skills
that can be supported within a less restrictive environment.”
An IEP meeting was held on May 22, 2019, with the child study team to determine
the next year’s programming. (J-3.) Petitioner did not attend the meeting. The proposed
IEP developed at the time called for 100 minutes of RCO in ELA and 50 minutes of RCI
in Math for the remainder of that school year (i.e., between May 23, 2019, and June 20,
2019). (J-3.) For the 2019–2020 school year, J.N. would remain in the general-education
setting with RCI for both Math and ELA, for 40 minutes daily. An aide was to be assigned
“to provide additional structure and support within the general education setting because
[J.N.] . . . is easily distracted and require[s] prompting to become refocused, especially as
he . . . [transitions] to high school as a freshman.” (J-3.) It was also determined by the
child study team that J.N. did not require ESY services. His primary disability continued
to be listed as OHI, with ADHD.
Page 4
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
4
Testimony
Respondent’s Witnesses
Dr. Margaret O’Donoghue (O’Donoghue):
O’Donoghue is a special assistant in the Office of Special Education for the Newark
School District. She is also the District’s 504 coordinator. She supervises child study
teams at the District’s high schools and provides support for parents, students and the
District in addressing special-education needs.
At the H orton School, O’Donoghue met with the 504 coordinator and P.N.
concerning J.N., and she attended the March 20, 2018 , eligibility and IEP meeting s as
the 504 coordinator. At the March 2018 eligibility meeting, where J.N.’s psychological
and educational evaluations were discussed, it was determined that J.N. qualified for
special-education services, mostly due to his ADHD, and that he would be eligible under
the condition of OHI. They discussed J.N.’s struggles in ELA and implementing a pull-
out program. Math was considered to be more of a strength, and it was determined that
in-class support would be provided . The participants discussed guiding J.N. towards
more independence, and they ultimately decided not to include an aide in the IEP.
O’Donoghue testified that the District high schools provide RCI, but not RCO.
Aides are sometimes maintained at the start of the ninth grade to assist with transitioning
into high school, but then usually phased out.
O’Donoghue participated in the May 22, 2019, IEP meeting. She testified that the
proposed forty minutes of resource support for Math and ELA, a reduction from the 100
minutes received in the 2018 –2019 school year, is appropriate in light of the progress
made by J.N., as demonstrated by his assessments, grades, and input from his teachers.
When J.N. was classified, an abundance of services was provided, and he is now almost
at grade level. Continuing with RCO and RCI for 100 minutes a day would no longer be
needed based on his demonstrated progress.
Page 5
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
5
Dimitry Doirin (Doirin):
Doirin is a s pecial-education teacher who provided J.N. with RCI and RCO in
eighth grade, beginning in January 2019. He provided J.N. with 100 minutes (i.e., two
periods) of RCI in Math and RCO in ELA every day, with the exception of four days during
State testing week because he was asked to assist with the testing of other classified
students.
Doirin testified that he uses diagnostic tests every semester to assess progress in
ELA, including reading comprehension. The Reading Inventory (RI) assessments, which
test vocabulary and comprehension, were taken on September 11, 2018, December 5,
2018, and March 11, 2019, to track J.N.’s progress. (R-1.) He scored an 843 on the RI
on September 11, and 933 on December 5. On March 11, 2019, he scored 972. While
eighth-grade students should score 1010 to be considered proficient and high -school-
ready, J.N.’s most recent score of 972 comes very close. Doirin testified that it is rare to
see a student make such significant progress in such a short period of time as J.N. did.
He stressed that J.N. is making substantial progress in ELA, and that he is ready to move
on to ninth-grade ELA.
For Math, Doirin typically works with J.N. in a small group, where he collaborates
with the other classroom teacher. J.N.’s progress in Math is tested every semester using
i-Ready, a diagnostic test administered in the classroom. J.N. was performing at a
seventh-grade level according to the assessment conducted in December 2018 . The
test, in his opinion , does not “tell the whole story .” While J.N. has made progress in
numbers and operations , other skills are harder for him due to his difficulty with
organization. J.N.’s math skills improved in part because he is now better able to
understand word problems in Math as a result of the progress he has made in reading
comprehension since January 2019 . It is Doirin’s opinion that J.N. will be prepared for
ninth-grade Math with RCI in the classroom.
Page 6
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
6
Florence Igbinovia (Igbinovia):
Igbinovia is a learning disabilities teacher consultant with the District. She
conducts assessments, including educational components of assessments, prepares
IEPs, and works as a case manager. She served as J.N.’s case manager at the Horton
School. She has observed him in the classroom during Math instruction and during pull-
out in ELA , and speaks to his teacher and aide concerning his progress. She also
attended a meeting with J.N.’s parents and the Horton School principal at the beginning
of the year, and she addressed concerns that petitioner had earlier in the year.
Igbinovia participated in the May IEP meeting to address J .N.’s program for the
2019–2020 school year. After considering the progress J.N. made this year, the child
study team determined that J.N. would receive forty minutes of in-class support for ELA
and forty minutes for Math in the ninth grade. The team determined that J.N. had made
progress based on the data available to them. In his reading assessment, J.N. improved
by about 129 points, and his report card for the year reflected that he was making good
progress. (J-6.) It was also determined that by providing push-in, as opposed to pull-out,
support, his flow of learning in the classroom would not be disturbed . The child study
team also discussed providing J.N. with a shared aide to help him transition into the high
school. His continued need for the aide would be revisited during the school year.
Igbinovia testified that prior to Doirin being assigned to J.N., Ms. Washington
provided support to J.N. from September 2018 to January 2019, including 100 minutes
daily of ELA RCO and 100 minutes of Math RCI. Also, while the proposed IEP calls for
50, not 100 , minutes of Math RCI for the remainder of the 2018 –2019 school year,
Igbinovia testified that the District was providing the full 100 minutes through the end of
the school year. Igbinovia also explained that while middle school schedules classes in
50-minute blocks, high-school classes are scheduled in 40-minute blocks , which also
explains why the District proposed the reduction to 40 minutes of push-in support.
Page 7
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
7
Karisa DeSantis (DeSantis):
DeSantis is the Horton School principal. Prior to the start of the 2018–2019 school
year, DeSantis was under the impression that J.N. might transfer out of the Horton School.
In September 2018, when she became aware that J.N. was in fact returning to the school
for eighth grade, staffing was not in place to provide him with the 100 minutes of ELA and
Math provided for in his IEP. She testified that while they implemented J.N.’s IEP as best
they could at the start of the school year, they were unable to provide the full 100 minutes
of each subject in Sept ember and Oct ober, until DeSantis was able to rearrange
schedules, reclassify a position, and hire a new teacher. In September and October 2018,
they were only able to provide J.N. with 50 of the 100 minutes of support in each subject,
and they assigned him an aide.
Since October 2018, J.N. has received the 100 minutes daily for both subje cts,
with the exception of the few days during State testing week because the school had to
utilize Doirin to provide support to other classified students during testing. DeSantis
testified that J.N. has been receiving, and will continue to receive , 100 minutes of ELA
and Math through the end of the 2018–2019 school year. J.N. was placed in Eagle
Academy for the 2019–2020 school year.
The RCI and RCO was initially provided by Ms. Washington, and later by Doirin,
in response to J.N.’s parents’ request in or around October 2018. In January 2019, when
DeSantis became aware that Ms. Washington had again started to work with J.N., they
again accommodated the parents’ request and re-assigned Doirin to work with J.N.
DeSantis participated in at least two meetings with the parents to ensure that
services were being provided and to address any complaints that they had. They also
had multiple email exchanges concerning J.N. The parents requested that they receive
all assignments at the beginning of each week so that J.N. would have ample time to
complete his assignments, and this request was also accommodated.
DeSantis testified that J.N. made progress in both Math and ELA this year. J.N.
made honor roll these past two quarters and his report card now has A’s and B’s.
Page 8
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
8
While petitioner raised concerns about the stability of the classroom in the 2017 –
2018 school year, DeSantis testified that they did the best they could to address staffing
changes and to facilitate J.N.’s IEP. J.N. was given an aide when it was not provided for
in the IEP, the school accommodated the parents’ requests for particular aides, and the
school promptly responded to petitioner’s concerns and requests for accommodations.
Petitioner’s Witnesses
Siddharth Sharma (Sharma):
Sharma has been J.N.’s Social Studies and ELA teacher since the seventh grade.
He described J.N. as a “very bright kid.” Although his literacy score last year was in the
700’s, Sharma still considered J.N. to be in the top 25 percent of the class , with those
performing at or above grade level. He testified that J.N. required redirection at time s,
and that although his organizational skills were poor, his aide assisted him with that. He
was given additional time on assignments and he took as much time as he required.
K.S.:
K.S. attends the Horton School with J.N. and has been a classmate of J.N.’s since
fifth grade. K.S. testified as to his observations in the classroom , and specifically his
personal observations that J.N. does not always receive the full 100 minutes of RCI and
RCO.
Dr. Geneva Roberts (Roberts):
Roberts has been J .N.’s tutor for the past two years . She assists him with
homework and provides personal counseling . She is a former District teach er and
administrator. Roberts testified that J.N. needs extra help with reading comprehension,
and that he can do very well with the right help. His reading comprehension “could be
better” and he does “okay” in math. She agreed that J.N. has been making some progress
in literacy over the past two years.
Page 9
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
9
P.N.:
P.N. is J.N.’s mother. She has had concerns concerning J .N.’s ability to perform
in school since kindergarten. He has had a 504 plan in place since the second grade.
In March 2018, when he was classified due to his ADHD and behavioral concerns,
J.N. was behind in literacy. Last year, he had a certified literacy teacher from September
through December, and then substitutes from January through the second week of April
2018.
P.N. was unhapp y with Ms. Washington, the re source teacher assigned to J.N.,
who she believes never provided J.N. with pull-out support for ELA. P.N. reached out to
DeSantis and the assistant superintendent regarding her concerns with Ms. Washington.
A meeting took pla ce in October and Do irin was pulled in. P.N. later learned that J.N.
was only getting 50 minutes of support for ELA and Math in the beginning of the year ,
and she was told that the school was addressing the issue.
P.N. testified that she was satisfied with the services provided by the District
because she did see some improvement in J.N., especially in literacy; however, he was
only receiving 50, instead of 100, minutes a day of support that he was entitled to receive.
She agreed that DeS antis was responsive when P.N. would request meetings, and she
responded to emails and concerns “the majority of the time.”
P.N. has been very engaged in J.N.’s education and spends a great deal of time
at the Horton School meeting with teachers and administrators. She is requesting an out-
of-district placement because she feels that she has to “fight” to get the services J.N.
should be receiving, and she is concerned about the quality of education being offered at
Eagle Academy, as reflected in the State test scores. J.N. deserves to have “the best of
the best.”
Page 10
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
10
Additional Findings of Fact
Based on my review of the testimonial and documentary evidence presented at
the hearing, I FIND the following additional FACTS:
Since J.N. was classified in March 2018, the staff at the Horton School have been
responsive to petitioner’s concerns and requests . At the request of J.N.’s parents, the
school principal changed the special -education teachers assigned to J.N.; the parents
and staff had numerous communications concerning J.N.’s progress and in response to
petitioner’s concerns; and J.N. was provided with an aide even though this support was
not included in his IEP. At the start of the 2018 –2019 school year, despite their efforts,
the Horton School did not h ave special-education teachers in place to provide J.N. with
the 100 minutes of resource push -in services for Math and 100 minutes of pull-out
resource services for ELA on a daily basis, as provided in the IEP. Due to this staffing
shortage, J.N. was only provided with 50 minutes of Math RCI and 50 minutes of ELA
RCO in September and October 2018, until a special-education teacher was secured .
The full 100 minutes of RCI and RCO has been provided by the District at least up until
the day of the hearing , with the exception of four days during State testing week when
Doirin was called to assist with other classified students during testing. This short break
in services, however, is negligible, as it was only four days, and likely had no real impact
on J.N.’s progress.
Based on the totality of information made available at the hearing, including test
scores, J.N.’s grades , and the testimony of J.N.’s teachers and administrators familiar
with J.N., J.N. did progress academically since the implementation of the March 2018
IEP. From September 2018 until March 2019, a period of only six months, J.N.’s Reading
Inventory score went from 843 to 972, demonstrating significant progress in English
reading and writing skills. His improvement in reading comprehension has also improved
his ability to answer word problems in Math. The “i-Ready” Math assessment completed
by J.N. in May 2019 indicated that he was functioning on a seventh -grade level, which,
while not his current eighth-grade level, was still an improvement from the prior year, and
he is expected to perform at a ninth-grade level in Math for the 2019–2020 school year,
as testified to by Doirin. J.N.’s grades in Math also improved throughout the 2018–2019
Page 11
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
11
academic year, as reflected in his report card. His teachers also testified to his academic
progress and the significant improvements made even since January of this year. In light
of the strides made by J.N. during the 2018 –2019 school year, the child study team
determined in May 2019 that for the 2019–2020 school year, J.N. should remain in the
general-education setting but with 40 minutes daily of RCI for both Math and ELA, to
accommodate the new high -school setting. A shared aide w ill also be provided at the
start of ninth grade to assist with J.N.’s transition into high school.
Finally, petitioner provided no evidence to support her assertion, as it appears in
the Petition, that J.N. was being improperly disciplined , that his classification of
OHI/ADHD was inappropriate and should be changed , and that he is or was entitled to
ESY. Further, petitioner offered insufficient evidence to support her claim that J.N. was
in an “unsafe classroom environment not conducive to learning” and that his teachers
were not properly certified and failed to provide J.W. with an appropriate education.
LEGAL ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
Petitioner asserts that the District has failed to provide J.N. with FAPE. Petitioner
alleges that the District has not complied with the terms of J.N.’s IEP; is recommending
and taking disciplinary action against J.N. instead of accommodating J.N.’s needs; placed
J.N. in unsafe classrooms that are not conducive to learning; failed to provide certified
literacy and math teachers for the past four years; should have provided ESQ; and has
not complied with the push -in and pull -out services as required in the IEP. Petitioner
argues that J.N.’s appropriate placement is an out -of-district placement . While the
Petitioner also seeks compensatory education, ESY, a learning disabilities consultant five
hours per week for the next four years; and a change in his classification, Petitioner
offered no evidence that supports these requests. Petitioner asserts that the District is a
failing one and that the Horton School is a failing school.
Respondent asserts that since starting his program on March 20, 2018, J.N. has
made significant progress, and as such should remain in the same program, not an overly
restrictive out -of-district placement. The Board maintains that the school district has
Page 12
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
12
complied with the IDEA when it offered a continued placement in the general -education
setting with the May 2019 proposed IEP.
As a recipient of federal funds under the IDEA, the State of New Jersey must have
a policy that assures that all children with disabilities will receive FAPE. 20 U.S.C. § 1412.
FAPE includes special education and related services. 20 U.S. C. § 1401(9); N.J.A.C.
6A:14-1.1 et seq. The responsibility to deliver these services rests with the local public
school district. N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.1(d).
The Board will satisfy the requirement that a child with disabilities receive FAPE
by providing personalized instruction with sufficient support services to permit that child
to benefit educationally from instruction. Hendrick Hudson Cent. Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ.
v. Rowley , 458 U.S. 176, 203 (1982). In determining where to provide educational
programming, it is clear that a school district must be guided by the strong statutory
preference for educating children in the “least restrictive environment.” 20 U.S.C.
§ 1412(a)(5) mandates that
[t]o the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities,
including children in public or private institutions or other care
facilitates, are educated with children who are not disabled,
and special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of
children with disabilities from the regular educatio nal
environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the
disability of a child is such that education in regular classes
with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be
achieved satisfactorily.
The law describes a continuum of placement options, ranging from mainstreaming
in a regular public-school setting as least restrictive, to enrollment in a residential private
school as most restrictive. 34 C.F.R. § 300.115 (201 9); N.J.A.C. 6A:14 -4.3. At the
hearing, petitioner did not assert that the program provided in the March 2018 IEP was
not appropriate, and the petitioner did agree with push-in resource Math support and pull-
out resource support in ELA. Doirin, who was specifically requested by petitioner as J.N.’s
special-education teacher, confirmed at the hearing that J.N. has progressed significantly
in both ELA and Math since the beginning of the year and that J.N. was in the appropriate
program at the Horton School. Accordingly, I CONCLUDE that the March 2018 IEP meets
Page 13
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
13
the requirements of the IDEA; afforded J.N. FAPE; and was consistent with the District’s
obligation to educate J.N. in the least restrictive environment.
While the District did afford J.N. FAPE pursuant to the March 2018 IEP, despite
the District’s efforts it failed to fully comply with the terms of the IEP by only providing J.N.
with 50 of the 100 minutes daily of push-in support for Math and only 50 of the 100 minutes
of pull-out support for ELA in September and October of 2018. This is confirmed by the
school princip al’s testimony. I therefore CONCLUDE that the District has not fully
complied with the terms of J.N.’s March 2018 IEP and that petitioner is entitled to
compensatory education to compensate for the resource support in Math and ELA that
J.N. did not receiv e in September and October of 2018. I further CONCLUDE that
compensatory education should be provided in the form of tutoring in Math and ELA for
the hours of support not received during that two-month period.
With respect to the May 2019 proposed IEP that addresses J.N.’s placement and
supports for the 2019 –2020 school year, the District has proposed maintaining push -in
services for both Math and ELA for the 40-minute class periods at a District high school.
Petitioner does not dispute that her son ha s made some progress this year, but argues
that he can do better and that J.N. would be able to reach his potential in an out-of-district
placement, not in the Newark School District, which petitioner described, with no
evidentiary support, as a failing district.
Case law recognizes that “[w]hat the [IDEA] guarantees is an ‘appropriate ’
education, ‘not one that provides everything that might be thought desirable by loving
parents.’” Walczak v. Florida Union Free Sch. Dist. , 142 F.3d 119, 132 (2d Cir. 1 998).
Indeed, “meaningful parental participation does not require deferral to parent choice.”
S.K. ex rel. N.K. v. Parsippany-Troy Hills Bd. of Educ. , 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 80649, at
*34 (D.N.J. October 9, 2008).
J.N. has always been educated in the ge neral-education setting, with some pull -
out support in ELA only since March 2018. The overwhelming evidence presented at the
hearing demonstrates the significant progress J.N. has made in ELA and Math in the
eighth grade as a result of the intensive suppo rts received in those areas. His own
Page 14
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
14
special-education teacher confirmed that as a result of J.N.’s notable progress, he will be
prepared for ninth-grade math and ELA with the push-in support proposed. Supports are
not being abruptly stopped here but adjusted to accommodate J.N.’s growth and the new
high school environment. J.N. will continue to receive support in these areas —with 40
minutes of push-in resource support in Math and ELA, and an aide will assist him with his
organization and transition. P.N.’s concern for her son’s ability to continue to progress is
understandable. She only wants what is best for her son. However, petitioner has
provided an insufficient legal basis upon which to direct the District to provide J.N. with
an out -of-district placement or other services not already provided in the May 2019
proposed IEP. P.N. presented insufficient evidence to convincingly rebut the opinions of
the District’s professionals, including Doirin, who have worked with J.N., have witnessed
his development this year, are familiar with his ability, and have testified convincingly that
J.N. made considerable academic progress in the eighth grade to prepare him to continue
with the program provided in the May 2019 proposed IEP.
Given J.N.’s academic record and the progress made since he was classified in
March 2018, an out -of-district placement would be overly restrictive and inappropriate.
Accordingly, I CONCLUDE that the program provided in the May 2019 proposed IEP,
whereby J.N. would receive, in part, push-in resource support for 40 minutes in ELA and
Math, affords J.N. FAPE, as that term is defined by law; meets the requirement s of the
IDEA; and constitutes the appropriate placement in the least restrictive environment. The
IDEA encourages maintaining children, when feasible, in their neighborhood schools, and
the uncontroverted testimony here reflects that all components of J.N.’s IEP can be
delivered in his neighborhood high school.
The remaining claims asserted in the P etition will not be addressed here as
petitioner has presented an insufficient legal basis upon which to require the District to
change J.N.’s classification to multiply disabled, to pay for a learning disabilities teacher
consultant for the next four year s, to provide ESY, and to assign an aide selected by
petitioner.
Page 15
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
15
ORDER
Based on the foregoing, together with the record as whole, it is ORDERED as
follows:
The request for compensatory education is GRANTED and it is ORDERED that
the District provide J.N. with tutoring services in Math and ELA to compensate for those
hours of push -in and pull -out resource services that the District was unable to provide
J.N. in September and October of 2018. Petitioner’s request for an out -of-district
placement is DENIED, and all remaining claims of the petition for due process are
DISMISSED.
This decision is final pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(1)(A) and 34 C.F.R. § 300.514
(2019) and is appealable by filing a complaint and bringing a civil action either in the Law
Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey or in a district court of the United States. 20
U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2); 34 C.F.R. § 300.516 (2019). If the parent or adult student feels that
this decision is not being fully implemen ted with respect to program or services, this
concern should be communicated in writing to the Directo r, Office of Special Education
Programs.
August 29, 2019
DATE SUSANA E. GUERRERO, ALJ
Date Received at Agency 8/29/19
Date Mailed to Parties:
id
Page 16
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
16
APPENDIX
LIST OF WITNESSES
For Petitioners:
Margaret O’Donoghue
Dimitry Doirin
Florence Igbinovia
Karisa DeSantis
For Respondent:
Siddharth Sharma
Sarah Chabak
K.S.
Generva Roberts
P.N.
LIST OF EXHIBITS IN EVIDENCE
Joint Exhibits:
J-1 2018 Eligibility Conference Report
J-2 March 20, 2018, IEP
J-3 May 22, 2019, Proposed IEP
J-4 Psychological Assessment, March 14, 2018
J-5 Educational Assessment Report, February 27, 2018
J-6 2018–2019 school year grades
For Petitioners:
P-1 Email exchanges between P.N. and School District
P-2 Video (For identification only)
Page 17
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 12116-18
17
For Respondent:
R-1 Reading Inventory Assessment
R-2 i-Ready Math Diagnostic Assessment
