State Investigation Finds Compliance Failures at Salem Community Schools Over Special Education Services and Meeting Notices
Salem, Ind. — A formal investigation by the Indiana Department of Education's Office of Special Education has found Salem Community Schools violated state and federal special education regulations in implementing a student's Individualized Education Program and in providing required parent meeting notices.
The complaint (CP-002-2027), filed July 19, 2026, and investigated by Sarah E. Bowman-Kolacki, examined four allegations. The state issued its findings August 18, 2026, ruling violations on two of the four and ordering corrective action.
IEP not implemented as written. The district failed to document that it delivered the three hours of daily instruction required by the student's revised IEP at the start of the 2025–2026 school year. A September 2025 email described the student's integration into general education classes, but no records showed the instruction actually occurred. Violation of 511 IAC 7-42-8(b) and 34 CFR 300.323.
Parents denied proper advance notice. For an April 2, 2026 case conference committee meeting, the district said it sent notice home with the student; the parent denied receiving it. For the reconvened April 24 meeting, nothing showed the parent received advance written notice listing expected participants before the meeting began. Violation of 511 IAC 7-42-2(d) and 34 CFR 300.322(b).
No violations on the other two allegations: the public agency representative's early departure from the April 2 meeting (the committee reconvened without making unilateral decisions), and delivery of the IEP copy, which was emailed May 4 within the 10-business-day window under a signed electronic communications agreement.
Corrective actions ordered. A minimum of 10 hours of compensatory services — the student is no longer enrolled, and the parent may waive some or all. Unused services expire at the start of second semester 2026–2027. The services plan was due to the investigator September 18, 2026; documentation of completed services is due January 15, 2027. The district must also issue a memorandum to administrators, special education administrators, and teachers on IEP implementation and advance meeting notices — draft due September 18, 2026, distribution list due October 9, 2026.
State Investigation Finds Compliance Failures at Salem Community Schools Over Special Education Services and Meeting Notices
Salem, Ind. — A formal investigation by the Indiana Department of Education's Office of Special Education has found Salem Community Schools violated state and federal special education regulations in implementing a student's Individualized Education Program and in providing required parent meeting notices.
The complaint (CP-002-2027), filed July 19, 2026, and investigated by Sarah E. Bowman-Kolacki, examined four allegations. The state issued its findings August 18, 2026, ruling violations on two of the four and ordering corrective action.
IEP not implemented as written. The district failed to document that it delivered the three hours of daily instruction required by the student's revised IEP at the start of the 2025–2026 school year. A September 2025 email described the student's integration into general education classes, but no records showed the instruction actually occurred. Violation of 511 IAC 7-42-8(b) and 34 CFR 300.323.
Parents denied proper advance notice. For an April 2, 2026 case conference committee meeting, the district said it sent notice home with the student; the parent denied receiving it. For the reconvened April 24 meeting, nothing showed the parent received advance written notice listing expected participants before the meeting began. Violation of 511 IAC 7-42-2(d) and 34 CFR 300.322(b).
No violations on the other two allegations: the public agency representative's early departure from the April 2 meeting (the committee reconvened without making unilateral decisions), and delivery of the IEP copy, which was emailed May 4 within the 10-business-day window under a signed electronic communications agreement.
Corrective actions ordered. A minimum of 10 hours of compensatory services — the student is no longer enrolled, and the parent may waive some or all. Unused services expire at the start of second semester 2026–2027. The services plan was due to the investigator September 18, 2026; documentation of completed services is due January 15, 2027. The district must also issue a memorandum to administrators, special education administrators, and teachers on IEP implementation and advance meeting notices — draft due September 18, 2026, distribution list due October 9, 2026.
