On March 27, 2018, the Connecticut State Department of Education (SDE) issued the long-awaited and much-anticipated Guidelines Regarding Independent Educational Evaluations at Public Expense and In-School Observations. These Guidelines are the result of months of study, review and participation … Read more
Archives: Special Education
Subscribe to Special Education RSS Feed2018 Special Education in Connecticut Summit: Promoting Equity for Marginalized Students With Disabilities
Co-sponsored by the Klebanoff Institute and the University of Connecticut Neag School of Education
Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: University of Connecticut School of Law, 45 Elizabeth Street, William F. Starr Hall, Hartford, … Read more
CES Special Education Director Aspirant Series
Shipman and Goodwin attorneys Linda Yoder and Peter Maher will join Robert Mancusi, Executive Director of Special Education and Student Services for Fairfield Public Schools, and Dr. Kim Hapken, Assistant Superintendent of Special Services for Ridgefield Public Schools to present … Read more
Anne Littlefield Quoted in Special Ed Connection Article “After the MDR: What to do if student’s misbehavior is manifestation of disability”
Anne Littlefield discusses steps to follow if a manifestation determination review reveals a substantial relationship between a student’s misbehavior and his or her disability. This article originally appeared in SpecialEdConnection®.
Download: Printable PDF
A middle school student with ADHD is … Read more
Education Legislation Summary: 2017 Special Session – Biennial Budget, Connecticut General Assembly
On October 26, 2017, the General Assembly passed Emergency Certified Bill 1502 (“Bill 1502” or “the Bill”). The Bill was signed by Governor Malloy on October 31, 2017 (except for a line item veto related to hospital charges). This summary … Read more
Webinar Recap: 2017 Roundup – What You Should Know About Special Education Decisions
In case you missed it, Alyce L. Alfano and Peter J. Maher presented a complimentary webinar on the topic of special education judicial and hearing officer decisions. The webinar reviewed recent decisions, including U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and provided special … Read more
Peter Maher Quoted in Special Ed Connection Article, “Prevent administrative convenience from creeping into classroom placement decisions”
Peter Maher has been quoted in an article that reminds school officials and Section 504 coordinators to base placement decisions on Section 504 practices, not administrative convenience. This article originally appeared in SpecialEdConnection®.
Download: Printable_download.pdf
Students with disabilities may end … Read more
Don’t Forget to Register! Webinar: 2017 Roundup – What You Should Know About Special Education Decisions
Join Shipman & Goodwin School Law attorneys Alyce L. Alfano and Peter J. Maher for an end-of-year update on special education judicial and hearing officer decisions. This complimentary webinar will review recent decisions and provide special education administrators with an … Read more
Webinar: 2017 Roundup – What You Should Know About Special Education Decisions
Join Shipman & Goodwin School Law attorneys Alyce L. Alfano and Peter J. Maher for an end-of-year update on special education judicial and hearing officer decisions. This complimentary webinar will review recent decisions and provide special education administrators with an … Read more
Susan Freedman to Present Special Education Hearing Training
On Wednesday, September 13, 2017, school law attorney Susan C. Freedman will sit on a panel with parent attorneys offering training about special education hearings for special education due process mediators and hearing officers during The Bureau of Special Education’s … Read more
Equal Access in the Digital Age: OCR Ramps Up Investigations into Website Accessibility
Consider the fact that we now live in a digital age, with limitless information at our fingertips, accessible (to many of us) with a few keystrokes or a simple voice command into our now ubiquitous cell phones. Now consider that, … Read more
New Legislation Revises Physical Restraint and Seclusion Training Requirements
This is an updated version of the original post, Legislature Revises Physical Restraint and Seclusion Training Requirements, published on June 28, 2017.
Earlier this month, the Governor signed Public Act 17-220 (House Bill 7276), which contains a number of … Read more
Connecticut State Department of Education Releases Lists of Due Process Hearing Officers and Mediators and New Process for Mediations
After an extensive interview and hiring process, the Connecticut State Department of Education (“CSDE”), Bureau of Special Education, released last week the list of new mediators and current due process hearing officers. The hiring of new mediators was prompted … Read more
Legislature Revises Physical Restraint and Seclusion Training Requirements
Earlier this month, the General Assembly passed House Bill 7276, now Public Act 17-220, which contains a number of provisions aimed at providing “mandate relief” to boards of education. Section 5 of Public Act 17-220, effective July 1, 2017, … Read more
New Rules: OCR Issues Internal Memorandum Impacting Enforcement Practices for Pending and Future Investigations
Earlier this month, the U. S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights’ Acting Assistant Secretary issued an internal memorandum to Regional Directors eliminating certain existing internal procedures and detailing new practices regarding the investigation of OCR complaints. With the … Read more
Supreme Court Clarifies FAPE Standard in Endrew F. Case
IEPs Must Be Reasonably Calculated to Enable Appropriate Progress in Light of Child’s Circumstances
For the first time in nearly 35 years, the Supreme Court of the United States has addressed the legal standard by which courts determine whether a … Read more
Register Now for Hot Topics in Special Education and Section 504/ADA
Join Shipman & Goodwin school law attorneys for a timely discussion of hot topics and legal developments in special education and Section 504/ADA. Presenters will review:
… Read moreSupreme Court Rules That Parents Need Not Exhaust IDEA Due Process Procedures for Non-FAPE Disability Discrimination Claims
On February 22, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its opinion in Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools, No. 15-487 (2017), which addressed the issue of when a parent who brings a claim against a school district … Read more
Gwen Zittoun Quoted in Special Ed Connection Article “Review noteworthy scenarios from OCR’s latest guide on Section 504”
Gwen Zittoun discusses useful guidance included in the latest guide on Section 504 released by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). This article originally appeared in SpecialEdConnection®.
Download: Printable PDF
Review noteworthy scenarios from OCR’s … Read more
OCR Releases New Section 504 Resource Guide
On December 28, 2016, the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) within the U.S. Department of Education released several guidance documents, including a Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools (“Resource Guide to … Read more
Oral Argument Presented in Supreme Court Case Addressing the Level of Educational Benefit that must be Provided under IDEA
On January 11, 2017, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case of Endrew F. ex rel. Joseph F. v. Douglas County School District RE 1, Docket No. 15-187, to address the level of benefit a school … Read more
OCR Issues Dear Colleague Letter: Restraint and Seclusion of Students With Disabilities
On December 28, 2016, the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), issued four guidance documents concerning students with disabilities. Along with two documents concerning students with disabilities in public charter schools (FAQs about Charter Schools and IDEA… Read more
Supreme Court to Revisit Rowley IDEA FAPE Standard for First Time in Nearly 35 Years
On September 29, 2016, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear the case of Endrew F. ex rel. Joseph F. v. Douglas County School District RE 1, Docket No. 15-187 to decide the question “What is … Read more
New Title II and Title III ADA Regulations Take Effect October 11, 2016
On October 11, 2016, new regulations clarifying the definition of the term “disability” under Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will take effect. Title II prohibits disability discrimination by state and local governments (including public … Read more
