Introduction
The
No
Child
Left
Behind
Act
of
2001
(NCLB)
legislation
requires
State
Educational
Agencies
(SEAs)
to
adopt
written
procedures
for
“receiving
and
resolving
any
complaint
alleging
violations
of
the
law
in
administration
of
programs. In
accordance
with
this
legislative
requirement,
the
Pennsylvania
Department
of
Education
(PDE)
has
also
required
Local
Educational
Agencies
(LEAs)
to
adopt
written
procedures
for
resolving
complaints
filed.
Definition
A
“complaint”
is
a
written,
signed
statement
filed
by
an
individual
or
an
organization.
It
must include:
a)
A
statement
that
a
school
has
violated
a
requirement
of
federal
statute
or
regulation
that
applies
to
Title
I.
b)
The
facts
on
which
the
statement
is
based.
c)
Information
on
any
discussions,
meetings
or
correspondence
with
a
school
regarding
the
complaint.
Complaint
Resolution
Procedures
1)
Referral
–
Complaints
against
schools
should
be
referred
to
the
District’s
Federal/State Programs
Office:
Misty L. Slavic
Director of Curriculum & Instruction/Federal Programs Coordinator
1701 Eighth Avenue
Freedom, PA 15042
724.775.5464
mslavic@freedom.k12.pa.us
2)
Notice
to
School
–
The
Federal/State
Programs
Office
will
notify
the
school
Superintendent
and
Principal
that
a
complaint
has
been
received.
A
copy
of
the
complaint
will
be
given
to
the
Superintendent
and
Principal
with
directions
given
for
the
Principal
to
respond.
3)
Investigation
–
After
receiving
the
Principal’s
response,
the
Federal/State
Programs
Office,
along
with
the
Superintendent,
will
determine
whether
further
investigation
is
necessary.
If
necessary,
the
Federal/State
Programs
Director
and
the
Superintendent
may
do
an
onsite
investigation
at
the
school.
4)
Opportunity
to
Present
Evidence
–
The
Federal/State
Programs
Direct or
may
provide
for
the
complainant
and
the
Principal
to
present
evidence.
5)
Report
and
Recommended
Resolution
–
Once
the
Federal/State
Programs
Director
has
completed
the
investigation
and
the
taking
of
evidence,
a
report
will
be
prepared
with
a
recommendation
for
resolving
the
complaint.
The
report
will
give
the
name
of
the
party
bringing
the complaint,
the
nature
of
the
complaint,
a
summary
of
the
investigation,
the
recommended
resolution
and
the
reasons
for
the recommendation.
Copies
of
the
report
will
be
issued
to
all
parties
involved.
The recommended
resolution
will
become
effective
upon
issuance
of
the
report.
6)
Follow
up
–
The
Federal/State
Programs
Director
and
the
Superintendent
will
ensure
that
the resolution
of
the
complaint
is
implemented.
7)
Time
Limit
–
The
period
between
the
Federal/State
Programs
Director
receiving
the
complaint
and
resolution
of the
complaint
shall
no t
exceed
sixty
(60)
calendar
days.
8)
Right
to
Appeal
–
Either
party
may
appeal
the
final
resolution
to
the
Department
of Education
Appeals
should
be
addressed
as
follows:
Mrs. Susan McCrone,
Chief Division
of
Federal
Programs
Pennsylvania
Department
of
Education
333
Market
Street,
7th
Floor
Harrisburg,
PA
17126‐0333
