Back in the spring, a Collier County-based group pressing for reforms to exceptional student education filed complaints against 64 of Florida's 67 school districts with the U.S. DOE Office of Civil Rights. The group raised concerns about how the districts deal with the education and discipline of students with special needs.

Specifically, the group alleged that the district had failed to put in place a system of safeguards protecting the students' rights.

During the investigation, Pasco officials volunteered to correct any problems in the district's due process procedures. The OCR accepted the agreement and said it would consider the case closed once School Board members sign off. That has been done.

The plan must be submitted by Jan. 12, 2010, and implemented within 60 calendar days of the OCR's approval.

"If the District fails to fully implement the Agreement, OCR will reopen the case and take appropriate action to ensure compliance," acting office director Cynthia G. Pierre wrote in a letter to superintendent Heather Fiorentino.