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Parent says district refused IEE recommendation and failed to provide required PWN
Summary
A Norwalk‑La Mirada parent told the board the district declined to implement a recommendation from an independent educational evaluation and did not provide the prior written notice required under federal law; she said she requested the PWN and supporting data at multiple meetings and is prepared to pursue further action.
Leticia Spindola, a parent of a student with special needs, told the Norwalk‑La Mirada Unified School District board she requested a prior written notice after the district declined a recommendation from an independent educational evaluation (IEE).
"I requested a PWN at that IEP meeting on September 11 and again at a separate IEP meeting on September 14," Spindola said, adding she had also requested the data the district relied upon to deny the recommendation. She said a district program administrator emailed that it is "not typically typical of districts in general to provide a PWN when an IEE's recommendations are considered but not implemented," but Spindola said federal law requires the notice and that failing to provide it violates IDEA procedural safeguards. She said she is prepared to take further action if necessary.
Why this matters: Spindola told the board the IEE's recommended service is "academically necessary for our daughter to access the curriculum," and that a separate unaffiliated assessor confirmed the same recommendation on Sept. 14. The parent asked for the district's written rationale and the underlying data used to deny the service.
The board did not provide an immediate substantive response during public comment. The concern remains a parent complaint alleging noncompliance with federal notice requirements; the issue was raised for the board's attention and could trigger follow‑up by district staff or outside remedies.
