On June 22, 2006, the Department of Public Instruction received a complaint under state and federal special education law from XXXXX against the School District of Fort Atkinson. This is the departments decision regarding that complaint. The issue is whether the district, during the 2005-2006 school year, properly developed an annual goal in the area of reading.
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting was held on May 24, 2006, to review the students IEP and develop a program and placement for the 2006-2007 school year. The parent alleges that the annual goals developed in the area of reading were not challenging enough and that because of this his child would never reach grade level reading ability.
Present levels of performance in the area of reading indicate that the student is performing at a beginning fourth grade level. The annual goal is to increase the students reading skills level to an ending fourth grade level. Short-term objectives include among others: using word-solving strategies to aid comprehension; demonstrating effective behaviors such as self-correcting, rereading, adjusting reading rate according to purpose and difficulty; increasing phonological awareness and auditory memory/discrimination skills via the use of a computerized program; choosing appropriately leveled material for independent reading; and reading to develop stamina and skill. The IEP team identified needs related to the students disability, established goals and objectives in the area of reading which are reasonably attainable in one year and services are planned to support progress toward all goals. The district properly developed an annual goal in the area of reading.
This concludes our review of this complaint, which we are closing.
//signed CST 7/17/06
Carolyn Stanford Taylor
Assistant State Superintendent
Division for Learning Support: Equity and Advocacy
Dec/tg