CONNECTICUT SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT GUIDE
What is Special Education?
 Special education programs in Georgia are governed by both federal and state law, but in no
circumstances may state provisions limit the protections offered under federal law
 Under both federal and state law, school districts must provide each disabled student with a
“free appropriate public education” (FAPE).
 In Connecticut, parents work with educators and specialists to determine the needs of the
children and design an appropriate program, called an Individualized Educational Program, or
IEP.
Who is eligible for special education?
 Children with a qualifying disability, who have not graduated from high school between ages 3
and 21, in need of special education are eligible for special education services.
 Parents, along with a team of qualified professionals, will determine whether the child requires
special education. C.G.S. Sec. 10-76ff.
 Eligible disabilities include:
o mental retardation;
o hearing impairments (including deafness);
o speech or language impairments;
o visual impairments (including blindness);
o emotional disturbance;
o orthopedic impairment;
o physical impairment;
o autism;
o traumatic brain injury;
o other health impairments (limited strength, vitality or alertness due to chronic or acute
o health problems such as lead poisoning, asthma, attention deficit disorder, diabetes, a
o heart condition, hemophilia, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia,
o and Tourette syndrome)
o specific learning disabilities; and
o developmental delay (including 3-5 year olds)
20 USC § 1401, 34 CFR 300.8, 10 CGS 164.10-76(a-h), (C.A.R.) Sec.. 10-76a-1.
 Preschool children who are developmentally delayed may qualify for early childhood services.
C.A.R. Sec. 10-76d-14(a).
o To determine whether a child qualifies for such services, the parent must make a
written referral to director of special education in their local school district.
o Parents may call the statewide Child Find Number for assistance in referring their
children: 1 (800) 445-2722
 No child is required to obtain a drug prescription as a condition of attending school. C.G.S. Sec.
10-76(d)(a)(1).
 A child is not eligible for special education if the determining factor in the child's special needs is:
 A lack of appropriate instruction in reading,
 A lack of instruction in math,
 Limited English proficiency
20 U.S.C. Sec. 1414(b)(5); 34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.306(b).
What type of education are children with a qualifying disability entitled to? What is a “free
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© 2011 Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
CONNECTICUT SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT GUIDE
appropriate public education”?
 Under both federal and state law, school districts must provide each student with a disability
with a free appropriate public education (FAPE).
 FAPE means special education and related services that are:
1. provided at public expense and without charge
2. meet appropriate standards
3. include preschool through secondary education
4. conform with an Individual Education Program (IEP).
Title 20 United States Code (U.S.C.) Sec. 1401(9); Title 34, Code of Federal Regulations
(C.F.R.) Section (Sec.) 300.17.
 Except in limited circumstances, a school district shall attempt to provide every child an
education within the general curriculum. C.A.R. Sec. 10-76d-1.
 If general curriculum options are exhausted and a child’s disability adversely affects the child’s
educational performance, he or she may qualify for a specially designed instructional program.
 Special education must be provided in the local educational agency’s least restrictive
environment (LRE), and, to the extent appropriate, with students who are not disabled. 34 C.F.R.
Sec. 300.114.
 An “appropriate” educational program and placement is one that is designed to meet a
student’s unique needs in accordance to his or her IEP, and that allows him or her to obtain an
educational benefit.
Banks ex rel. Banks v. Danbury Bd. Of Educ., 238 F.Supp. 2d 428 (D.Conn. 2002).
In addition to a free appropriate public education, are there other services a child with a
disability is entitled to? What are “related services”?
Who Provides Special Education?
Where should a child receive his/her special education and related services? What is a “least
restrictive environment”?
How is a child determined to be eligible for special education? Is there an assessment or
evaluation?
Once a child is identified as being eligible for special education, what are the next steps?
What is an “IEP” (Individualized Education Program)? Do parents have any say so in the IEP?
What if a parent believes the school district is not doing its job (i.e. failing to implement a
valid Individualized Education Plan (IEP))?
What options does a parent have if the parent disagrees with the proposed IEP placement or
services? What are the procedures for due process?
Can a special education student be disciplined?
Can parents see the school records of their special education child?
Where to go for more information:
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© 2011 Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law