State: Hopatcong Meets Special Ed Requirements

The state Department of Education said it has determined the Hopatcong school district "meets requirements" in regards to the implementation of special education procedures.

Hopatcong, which Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano said has almost 500 special-needs students—or about a quarter of its student body—complies with Individuals with Disabilities Act, the state said.

"So all of that means we're in full compliance," Maranzano said. "With close to 500 students identified as special needs we really have our hands full. And (Director of Special Services) Tammy Miller has done an outstanding job."

At Monday night's  Board of Education meeting, Maranzano said Hopatcong received the following comments.

• The district does not have an outstanding noncompliance that has remained uncorrected for more than one calendar year.
• The district was not identified with significant disproportionality with regards to the representation of specific racial or ethnic groups in special ed.
• The district was not selected for monitoring based on a high rate of students with disabilities in separate public or private education settings.
• The district was not identified for untimely or inaccurate submission of data in regards to students with disabilities.