THE COMEBACK | DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS | DIVERSITY & EQUITY

State finds Denver at fault in case of 7-year-old and online school

By Melanie Asmar Dec 13, 2021, 6:29pm MST

Seven-year-old Pearl spent the first four months of this school year at home without any instruction.

Pearl has Down syndrome, as well as asthma and other conditions that affect her respiratory system. Her parents didn’t want to send her into a classroom until she could be vaccinated for COVID-19. But Denver Public Schools denied her entry into its online school on the basis that she wouldn’t be able to attend remote classes independently, leaving Pearl in educational limbo.

This month, the Colorado Department of Education found Denver Public Schools at fault in Pearl’s case. In response to a complaint filed by Pearl’s family, a state complaints officer found the school district failed to offer Pearl a “free appropriate public education,” as required by federal disability law. What’s more, the officer found that the violations extend to other children.

“This investigation demonstrates violations that are systemic and will likely impact the future provision of services for all children with disabilities in [the] district if not corrected,” the state complaint decision in Pearl’s case says.

In a statement, Denver Public Schools said it disagreed but would not challenge the findings.

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