FOIA Release: Office for Civil Rights' Open Investigations for Virginia Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights (OCR) provided a response to a Freedom of Information (FOIA) request submitted to its office for “all letters issued from OCR to Lisa Coons and/or Jillian Balow between Jan 1, 2003, and today [July 10, 2023].” Although it took over a year to respond to the initial FOIA request, OCR confirmed that the letters reflect currently open complaints.
The three complaints span 2021-2023 and focus on allegations of discrimination related to denial of reasonable accommodations and denial of FAPE.
- Complaint #11-21-4005: Opened April 20, 2021. Complainant alleged VDOE discriminated against her when it denied her reasonable modifications.
- Complaint #11-22-4042: Opened Sept. 2022. Complainant alleged VDOE discriminated against her when it denied her reasonable modifications.
- Complaint #11-23-4004: Opened June 9, 2023. “Complainant alleged that the VDOE discriminated against students with disabilities in Virginia on the basis of disability by denying them a free appropriate public education (FAPE) when it issued guidance—beginning in at least the Spring of 2021—permitting school divisions to offer special education services and supports during the COVID-19 pandemic that that fell short of providing those students FAPE so long as the services were reasonable in light of the circumstances.”
The three notice of complaint letters from OCR to VDOE can be read at the link here.