Parent alleges discriminatory placement process in district Accolade program

A parent told the Lake Washington School District board Aug. 4 that the district’s Accolade placement committee applied discriminatory or procedurally unfair practices in her child’s placement. Veena Subramani said the committee made a placement decision on June 12 before receiving the student’s COVID‑related test result, which she said did not arrive until at least June 16, and asked the board how it will ensure the committee operates in a “fair, data‑driven and non‑discriminatory way.”

“How can a fair and accurate decision be made…if validity was a formality, not a genuine assessment, and the outcomes may have been predetermined by the committee?” Subramani asked. She requested the board ensure equal opportunity for placement for all students in the Accolade program committee process.

Board members did not respond substantively during the public comment period; the meeting record shows public comment concluded after Subramani’s remarks and no board action or follow‑up direction was recorded on Aug. 4. The board’s public comment protocol notes speakers should not expect a response at the meeting and that issues involving personnel should be attempted with staff before raising them to the board.

The district did not provide additional details about the Accolade program placement process during the meeting record. Subramani’s remarks stood as the lone public comment of the night.