Connecticut Public Schools Rank Third in the Nation

Education Week recently announced that Connecticut’s K-12 public schools rank 3rd in the nation. The report analyzes educational performance student data across all 50 states for the 2021 calendar year. States are graded and ranked by 3 categories: Chance for Success (Jan), School Finance (June), K-12 Achievement (September). According to the data collected by EducationWeek, the U.S. education system as a whole scored a grade of C for 20210. Click here to Continue Reading

Connecticut Special Education Eligibility Worksheets

What are the Disability Categories Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in Connecticut? By Connecticut Special Education & Certified Child Advocate, Attorney Jeffrey L. Forte, Esq. | Forte Law Group LLC Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), public school districts are required to provide special education and related services to “eligible students” with disabilities. There are three main requirements, or “prima facia” elements, to qualify an Continue Reading

Schools Must Still Identify Students with Disabilities Despite COVID-19 Pandemic, Says U.S. Department of Education

By Jeffrey L. Forte, Esq. | Forte Law Group LLC On August 24, 2021, the United States Department of Education issued new guidance for all schools across the United States to follow for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. Despite all the challenges that are faced by the COVID-19 virus, schools are still legally obligated under the Child Find provision of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to identify, evaluate Continue Reading

U.S. Department of Education Approves Connecticut’s Plan

U.S. Department of Education Approves Connecticut’s Plan for Use of American Rescue Plan Funds to Support K-12 Schools and Students, Distributes Remaining $369 Million to State The U.S. Department of Education recently announced the approval of Connecticut’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) plan thereby distributing the remaining remaining ARP ESSER funds to the state of Connecticut. Connecticut’s plan details how the state plans to Continue Reading

Updated Guidance for the Use of Mitigation Strategies in Connecticut’s PreK-12 Schools as the result of COVID-19

On August 19, 2021, the Connecticut State Department of Education issued updated guidance for the use of the latest mitigation strategies that will be used throughout Connecticut’s Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade schools. The latest update, consisting of 9 pages of content, is guidance that local school districts should follow and use to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus pandemic among students and communities. I have briefly highlighted and Continue Reading