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District Statement Regarding Court Ruling to Release the Collaborate Educational Network’s Report regarding Nikolas Cruz
Today, August, 3, 2018, the Broward Circuit Court approved the release of the Collaborative Educational Network’s report regarding Nikolas Cruz.
The Collaborative Educational Network (CEN) was retained to take an objective look at the educational and behavioral services provided to Nikolas Cruz throughout his years as a student within the Broward County public school system. CEN provides consulting services for school districts, charter schools, and non-profit and government agencies involved in education.
CEN’s findings show that the District provided significant and appropriate services to Nikolas Cruz in compliance with the federal laws entitling all students to “a free appropriate public education” designed to meet their unique needs. The District utilized a multi-disciplinary approach, including ESE programming, school counseling/guidance and other related services in an effort to meet the ongoing and evolving needs of this student.
“The District looks forward to the release of the full report as soon as it is legally appropriate, ”said Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. “We accept the recommendations regarding procedural improvements, and are pleased with the overall review, recommendations and findings. We are actively reviewing our policies and procedures, training protocols and data systems in an effort to implement the recommendations in a timely and effective way.”
While the report has been heavily redacted by court order, what is available is a summary of process, a review of Florida statutes and recommendations, which we intend to follow.
- Broward County Public Schools is required to provide an education for all students, no matter their circumstances. That is the law.
- The District worked consistently, and with Cruz’s family, to provide an education and ongoing, changing behavioral care for Cruz throughout his time in the Broward school system.
- This evaluation was conducted by a third-party, independent consultant that specializes in these kinds of assessments and the District accepts their findings as well as their recommendations.
- While this report verifies that the District’s systems are appropriate and are in place, it is clear that we must review and amplify training in order to ensure consistent implementation of delivery of services.
- We proactively conducted this internal review and are now waiting for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission to move into its next phase. We anticipate their investigative report and findings to be released in the days ahead and our intent is to review those and then make our determinations.
Court Approved Collaborative Educational Network (CEN) Report Regarding N. Cruz at BCPS