Request for Independent Audit of PAUSD Special Education Program and Organization

Board members –

I ask that you charter a truly independent audit of the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Special Education Organization and program reporting directly to the board. The auditor should not be selected by the Special Education Department or district as true independence is critical. I would also recommend that the auditor be from outside of California as, unfortunately, our state is pretty dismal for special education. (I know of at least one potential organization, but I’m not sure they do this specific type of work and I can try to find some others if you wish…. I don’t have any affiliation with any of them).

Background

I do not know if you routinely read the results of our due process hearings, but you should absolutely read the attached one.

The findings by the Due Process hearing Judge against PAUSD match to the anecdotal problems that I’ve been hearing for a while (NOTE – I understand the limitations of anecdotes, particularly as the only things I am likely to hear are from those who are unhappy with this system… which is why I haven’t said anything previously):

* PAUSD Staff and senior staff meaningfully misunderstand IDEA
* Routine roadblocks to Independent Educational Evaluations (IEE) – this is a procedural safeguard that is supposed to be guaranteed under IDEA.
* Predetermination placement by PAUSD – the IEP is supposed to be worked out collaboratively between the parents (and child as they are able) and the school time. Not  predetermined. (a more detailed definition – https://adayinourshoes.com/iep-predetermination/)

Also, I think(?) at least some of you have heard about the systemic placement and scheduling problems at JLS this year starting in the fail?

Unfortunately this also matches with our family’s personal experiences at Fairmeadow. NOTE – this is not our current experience at Nixon – there is good stuff in PAUSD special education.

FYI – Structural Problem with Due Process

The “Due Process” nature of mediating special education disputes structurally disadvantages families. Delays and obfuscations and misinformation mean that parents may make bad decisions for their child based on incorrect information. Delays to IEEs mean delays to services… and at school the clock is always ticking. Time without appropriate services and support cannot be recovered by “compensatory services”  – educational opportunities have been lost.

Apology

I hope that you take up this matter promptly. Unfortunately, I will probably not be able to attend the board meeting Tuesday and speak to this. I was in the hospital with cellulitis (do not get it!) and I’m supposed to keep my feet above my heart for at least a week which makes doing almost everything “exciting”.

Steve