On June 7, 2024, Disability Rights Florida (DRF) filed a state complaint against the Monroe County School District. We found that the district is violating several federal disability civil rights laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Through its investigation of the complaint filed by DRF, the Florida Department of Education found and confirmed that the district violates the IDEA by not serving students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment (LRE) and by not having a full continuum of alternative placements.
The district’s violations impact various students with disabilities, but most affect students with behavioral needs. Their violations result in students with behavioral needs being placed in overly restrictive settings — namely, at home, which is the most restrictive setting, and shortened student school days, limiting their access to the regular educational environment.
In addition, the district inappropriately uses the 45-day interim alternate education setting (IAES) process for administrative ease because it lacks a continuum of placement options. Under special circumstances, the IDEA states that school personnel may remove a student to an interim alternate education setting for no more than 45 days without regard to whether the behavior is determined to be a manifestation of the student’s disability. Rather than provide the continuum of placement options, such as a center school placement, the district misuses and over-relies on the IAES process to avoid creating effective alternative placement options.
These violations deny students a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). Disability Rights Florida is concerned that these violations of the IDEA are continuing in Monroe County. If this is happening to you or someone you know, please contact us to see if we can help. Submit an intake form on our website or by phone and state that your intake is regarding Monroe County School District.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 800-342-0823
- TDD: 800-346-4127
- Online Intake
