STATE OF WASHINGTON ~..'.i OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE …

1 STATE OF WASHINGTON ( ~.".'.i , . _ ,-, , J .,.. : OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS 011e U11io11 Square 600 University Street Suite 1500 Seattle, Wasliingto11 981OJ (206) 389-3400 (800) 845-8830 FAX(206) 587-5135 RECE IVED JUN 1ti2017 June 14, 2017 Melissa Madsen, Executive Director of Special Services Issaquah School District 565 NW Holly Street Issaquah, WA 98027 Carlos Chavez, Attorney at Law Pacifica Law Group LLP 1191 Second Avenue, Suite 2000 Seattle, WA 98101 In re: Issaquah School District OSPI Cause Nos. 2016-SE-0103/-0105 OAH Docket Nos. 11-2016-0 SPl-00193/-00196 Dear Parties: Enclosed please find the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order in the above referenced matter.)

2 This completes the ADMINISTRATIVE process regarding this case. Pursuant to 20 USC 1415(i) (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) th is matter may be further appealed to either a federal or STATE court of law. After mailing of th is Order, the file (including the exhibits) will be closed and sent to the OFFICE of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact ADMINISTRATIVE Resource Services at OSPI at (360) 725-6133. Sincerely, Anne Senter ADMINISTRATIVE Law Judge cc: ADMINISTRATIVE Resource Services, OSPI Matthew D.

3 Wacker, Senior ALJ, OAH/OSPI Caseload Coordinator STATE OF WASHINGTON ,/UrJ l ' lO ! I OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION': P i - IN THE MATTER OF: ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT OSPI CAUSE NOS. 2016-SE-0103 2016-SE-0105 OAH DOCKET NOS. 11-2016-0 SPl-00193 11-2016-0 SPl-00196 FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, AND ORDER A due process hearing was held before ADMINISTRATIVE Law Judge (ALJ) Anne Senter on March 17, 20 - 22, 24, and 31, and April 3 - 4, and 6 -7, 2017, in Issaquah, WASHINGTON . The Parents of the Student whose education is at issue1 appeared and represented themselves.

4 The Issaquah School District (District) was represented by Carlos Chavez and Sarah Johnson, attorneys at law. Also present were Melissa Madsen, District executive director of special services, and Tara Slinn, District director of elementary and early childhood special services. STATEMENT OF THE CASE The District filed a Request for Due Process hearing (the District Complaint) with the OFFICE of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) on November 8, 2016. The District Complaint was assigned Cause No. 2016-SE-0103 and was forwarded to the OFFICE of ADMINISTRATIVE Hearings (OAH) for the assignment of an ALJ.

5 A Scheduling Notice was entered November 9, 2016, which assigned the matter to ALJ Senter. The Parents filed a Response to the District Complaint on November 17, 2016. The Parents filed a Due Process hearing Request (the Parents' Complaint) with OSPI on November 22, 2016. The Parents' Complaint was assigned Cause No. 2016-SE-0105 and was forwarded to OAH for the assignment of an ALJ. A Scheduling Notice was entered November 22, 2016, which assigned this matter to ALJ Senter as well. The District filed a Response to the Parents' Complaint on December 1, 2016. The two cases were consolidated for hearing , and the District was allowed to amend its Complaint.

6 Prehearing conferences were held on November 18 and December 8, 2016, January 9, 20, and 31, February 1 and 3, and March 1 and 15, 2017. Prehearing orders were entered November 21 and December 15, 2016, January 6, 10, and 24, February 2 and 9, and March 3 and 16, 2017. RECE IVED J N 1 6 2017 1 To ensure confidentiality, names of parents and students are not used. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order OSPI Cause Nos. 2016-SE-0103/-0105 OAH Docket Nos. 11-2016-0 SPl-00193/-00196 Page 1 OFFICE of ADMINISTRATIVE Hearings One Union Square, Suite 1500 600 University Street Seattle, WA 98101-3126 (206) 389-3400 1-800-845-8830 FAX i ?

7 OR\ !1A7-!11'.Vi Due Date for Written Decision As set forth in the Prehearing Order entered on November 21, 2016, in Cause No. 2016 SE-0103, the due date for a written decision in that case was continued to 30 days after the close of record at the District's request. As set forth in the Second Prehearing Order, the due date for a written decision in Cause No. 2016-SE-0105 was also continued to 30 days after the close of the record at the District's request. As the record closed with the parties' submission of post- hearing briefs on May 15, 2017, the due date for a written decision in both cases is June 14, 2017.

8 Evidence Relied Upon Exhibits Admitted: District's Exhibits: 01-030; and Parents' Exhibits: P1 (page 2 only); P2 - P5; P6 (pages 2 - 3 only); P7 - P12; P14 - P15; P18 P19; P21 -23; P25 - P28; P30 - P35; P38; P40-P41; P43 - P48; P51(pages2 -6 only); P53; P57; P59 - P64; P66 - P72; P74; P76; P79 (pages 1 -43 and 56 - 75 only); P82; and P85 - P87. Witnesses Heard On order of appearance): The Student; Shelly Fry, District assessment specialist; The Student's Father; Jessica Clark, District general education teacher; Melissa Madsen, District executive director of special services; Sue Schoot, District special education teacher; Devon Heras, District school psychologist; Cheryl Anthony, Successful Learning Educational Services LLC president; Tara Slinn, District director of elementary and early childhood special services; Amy Van de Vord, District general education teacher.

9 And Christina Desmond, District speech language pathologist. Post- hearing Briefs The parties timely filed post- hearing briefs. The Parents requested to file both a written brief and an oral closing argument recorded on a DVD. To the extent the DVD contains material that was not admitted as evidence at the hearing , that material is not considered. ISSUES As set forth in the Sixth Prehearing Order, the issues for the due process hearing are: a. Whether the District violated the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and denied the Student a free appropriate public education (FAPE) by: i.

10 Failing to appropriately evaluate the Student in 2015 by: Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order OFFICE of ADMINISTRATIVE Hearings OSPI Cause Nos. 201_6-SE-0103/-0'105 One Union Square, Suite 1500 OAH Docket Nos. 11-2016-0 SPl-00193/-00196 600 University Street Page2 Seattle, WA 98101-3126 (206) 389-3400 1-800-845-8830 FAX (206) 587-5135 A. Not evaluating the Student in all areas of suspected disability: writing, spelling, language, grammar, math, and social; 8. Performing biased tests; C. Not appropriately assessing her given her dyslexia; D. Not appropriately explaining the evaluation to the Parents; E.