Archives: Special Education

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Webinar: Use of Physical Restraint, Seclusion and Exclusionary Time Out: An Interactive Webinar Addressing Legal Compliance

By Gwen J. Zittoun and Peter J. Maher on Posted in Public Schools, Seminars and Events, Special Education

Join Shipman & Goodwin attorneys Gwen J. Zittoun and Peter J. Maher as they present a complimentary webinar addressing the legal restrictions and requirements relating to the use of physical restraint, seclusion and exclusionary time out with students in schools. … Read more

Office for Civil Rights Launches Website Accessibility Technical Assistance Initiative

By Julie C. Fay and Natalie S. Wagner on Posted in Colleges and Universities, Public Schools, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

On May 17, 2018, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the launch of a Website Accessibility Technical Assistance Initiative (the “Initiative”). As part of the Initiative, OCR will offer a series of general and personalized … Read more

Peter Maher Presents at Lehigh University’s 46th Special Education Law Conference

By Peter J. Maher on Posted in Colleges and Universities, Public Schools, Seminars and Events, Special Education

On May 11, 2018, Peter Maher was a co-presenter during Lehigh University’s 46th Special Education Law Conference. The conference is a one-day program that provides a year-in-review case law keynote and various break-out sessions. The topics for this year’s sessions … Read more

Second Circuit Holds Endrew F. Did Not Heighten FAPE Standard in Second Circuit; Rejects Parents’ Procedural Claims and Request for Private Transition Program

By Susan C. Freedman and Peter J. Maher on Posted in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Schools, Publications and Alerts, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Special Education

On March 23, 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued an important precedential opinion in Mr. P. & Mrs. P. v. West Hartford Board of Education, 885 F.3d 735, (2d Cir. 2018). In its decision, … Read more

SDE Issues New Guidelines for IEEs and In-School Observations

By Alyce Alfano and Peter J. Maher on Posted in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Schools, Publications and Alerts

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

Anne Littlefield Quoted in Special Ed Connection Article “After the MDR: What to do if student’s misbehavior is manifestation of disability”

By Anne H. Littlefield on Posted in Discipline of Special Education Students, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Schools, Publications and Alerts, S&G News, Special Education

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

By Andreana R. Bellach, Ashley L. Marshall and Herbert Rosen on Posted in Board Organization, Authority and Responsibilities, Employer Obligations, Independent Schools, Public Schools, Publications and Alerts, Special Education

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

Peter Maher Quoted in Special Ed Connection Article, “Prevent administrative convenience from creeping into classroom placement decisions”

By Peter J. Maher on Posted in Public Schools, Publications and Alerts, S&G News, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Special Education

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

By Alyce Alfano and Peter J. Maher on Posted in Public Schools, Seminars and Events, Special Education

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

Equal Access in the Digital Age: OCR Ramps Up Investigations into Website Accessibility

By Leander A. Dolphin on Posted in Board of Education, Generally, Colleges and Universities, Public Schools, Rights of Students, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

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

By Gwen J. Zittoun and Peter J. Maher on Posted in Board Organization, Authority and Responsibilities, Federal and State Role in Education, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Schools, Responsibilities, Special Education, Students

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

By Gwen J. Zittoun on Posted in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Schools, Rights of Students, Special Education, Students

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

By Gwen J. Zittoun and Peter J. Maher on Posted in Board Organization, Authority and Responsibilities, Federal and State Role in Education, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Schools, Responsibilities, Special Education, Students

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

By Melika S. Forbes on Posted in Colleges and Universities, Discipline, Discipline of Special Education Students, Extracurricular Activities, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Schools, Rights of Students, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Special Education, Students

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

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