District Title 1 Complaint Process

Complaint Resolution Process for NCLB Programs

 

Norwin School District

281 McMahon Drive

North Huntingdon, PA 15642

 

 

Introduction

 

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) legislation requires Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) 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 Norwin School District has adopted the following procedures.

 

Definition

 

A “complaint” is a written, signed statement filed by an individual or an organization. It must include:

 
              a.  A statement that PDE or a Local Educational Agency has violated a requirement of federal    statute or regulations which apply to programs under the No Child Left Behind Act.

     b. The facts on which the statement is based.

Local Complaint Procedures

 

1) Referral: Complaints against the Norwin School District will be received in writing by the Federal Programs Coordinator.

 

2) Acknowledgement:  The Federal Programs Coordinator will acknowledge receipt of the complaint in writing.

 

3) Investigation: The Federal Programs Coordinator will thoroughly investigate the complaint and attempt to resolve the complaint informally. If an informal resolution satisfactory to the complainant is reached no further investigation or action by the District is required. If the problem cannot be informally resolved, it will be referred to the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education.

 

4) Opportunity to Present Evidence:  The Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education may, in his or her discretion, provide for the complainant and/or the complainant’s representative to present evidence. Such a presentation may include the opportunity for each side to question parties to the dispute and any of their witnesses.

 

5) Report and Recommended Resolution:  Once the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education has finished further investigation and taking of evidence, he or she will prepare a final report with a recommendation for resolving the complaint. The final 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. The Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education will issue the report to the complainant, complainant’s representative, Superintendent, and

the Federal Programs Coordinator.

 

6) Appeal to the Superintendent of Schools:  The complainant may appeal to the Superintendent of the Norwin School District after the recommended resolution is made, and before an appeal is forwarded to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

 

7) Right to Appeal – In appropriate cases, the complainant may appeal from the recommended resolution to the Secretary of the Education of the Commonwealth.

 

8) Follow-Up – The Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education will insure that the resolution of the complaint is implemented.

 

9) Time Limit – The period between Norwin School District’s receipt of a complaint and its resolution shall not exceed sixty (60) calendar days.

 

Filing a Complaint

 

Complaints should be addressed as follows:

 

Dr. Heather Newell

Federal Programs Coordinator

Norwin School District

281 McMahon Drive

North Huntingdon, PA 15642

 

Dr. Natalie McCracken

Assistant Superintendent

Norwin School District

281 McMahon Drive

North Huntingdon, PA 15642

 

Mrs. Susan McCrone

Acting Division Chief

Division of Federal Programs

Pennsylvania Department of Education

333 Market Street, 7th Floor

Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333