By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP - The Ohio Department of Education will visit the Northwest Local School District today to investigate a complaint that alleges the district intentionally denied services to special-education students.

The complaint, filed with state and federal education agencies by Child Advocacy for Rights and Equity, claims the district of 11,000 students violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Child Advocacy for Rights and Equity, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children, alleges that Northwest "knowingly and illegally changed the placement of most incoming sixth-grade special-education students" at White Oak Middle School.

The group claims those actions violated parents' and students' rights because they were taken without convening an Individualized Education Program meeting. Each public school child who receives special-education and related services must have such a program.

The complaint alleges that the district changed the Individualized Education Programs of students with disabilities without holding the appropriate meetings and without consulting team members; did not involve parents concerning the changes; and failed to meet or consider the students' needs. The result, the group claims, is that students were denied services they were entitled to receive. The specific number of students affected was not available.

Tamara Huffman, director of special services for Northwest, said school officials are "working cooperatively with the Ohio Department of Education." She declined further comment, citing confidentiality of student records.

A Northwest special-education intervention specialist, according to the complaint, wrote a letter to parents of sixth-grade special-education children in September.

"The IEP goals will still be met, but your child will also be working on the Ohio standards required to be taught to all students in the sixth grade. The No Child Left Behind Law has made it a requirement for ALL students to be exposed to the standards," the letter said.

Lisa Mason, vice president of Child Advocacy for Rights and Equity, said "many have lost academic services that will unfairly result in long-term problems for the student."

A decision on the complaint is expected by the end of June.

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com