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Auditor general finds mixed progress on special-education controls; board approves follow-up report
Summary
The Rochester auditor general reported improvements in special-education documentation and training but identified gaps in IEP timeliness, service recording, and special-transportation practices; the board approved the follow-up report and directed closer tracking of remediation steps.
The Rochester Board of Education received an Auditor General update on June 2 that highlighted progress on earlier special-education recommendations but identified continuing compliance gaps in documentation, timeliness and service tracking.
"We did find complete compliance" in some evaluation consent items, Auditor General Anissa Willer said, but she also flagged areas needing more work. Willer told the board that some services (parent counseling, music therapy) were not consistently logged in the district's service management system and said auditors found more than half of students with disabilities in the sample received special transportation; house pickups were requested for roughly 91% of sampled cases.
Willer outlined recommended improvements: revise and communicate special-education documentation storage and retention standards, strengthen training and operations for Frontline and PowerSchool, tighten protocols for referrals and withdrawal processes, ensure timely finalization of IEPs after CSE meetings, and improve monitoring to ensure related services are recorded and provided.
Board members pressed for next steps. Chief Swan and other administrators said associate directors and building leaders will oversee implementation, but the board heard that seven associate directors are currently out on leave, which can create coverage gaps. Administrators said budget planning for 2026'027 includes increased per-pupil allocations and both general-fund and IDEA grant support for professional development and building-level services.
Vice President Malloy moved and Commissioner Griffin seconded a motion to approve the special-education follow-up report; the board approved the report by voice vote. Auditor Willer said her office will perform follow-up work and requested board support for the Oracle post-implementation audit referenced in resolution 613.
What's next: auditors and administration will report on remediation progress and provide follow-up data to the Auditor General's office so recommendations can be closed when sufficiently addressed.
