[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6331762,"mediaKeyId","2309677-a95907af2538dfc933ff697a7ad359dc","parentId",2309677,"title","Advocates and advocates call for tighter oversight of outplacement centers and limits on restraint/seclusion","audioSeconds",189,"startMs",4657000,"endMs",4846000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309677-a95907af2538dfc933ff697a7ad359dc&start=4657&end=4846","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309677-a95907af2538dfc933ff697a7ad359dc/thumbnail_4657000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6331762/Connecticut/Advocates-and-advocates-call-for-tighter-oversight-of-outplacement-centers-and-limits-on-restraintseclusion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331762-ed814955142e954c82b499ed3c1b1f80/orig.mp4?Expires=1775260942&Signature=k30nss8OlTwntnHyghlgO2NCj1ub06sLRi5wsgjXIUsAGOF9uJaim7S86kFiLK0zCvTu6itkvDz5jOw4ijriKATbXj79-F--jBsVndZCztYZqbzhFI5NsC8mBlVkBHQlRymJzY07WW33nFQJN8GpN7sl393rXyoHXaGIgWkGE7HJIU9ATJxXRW7I8i4hwQy6dwXdYJDIXW4PK~9PoUYk9ulZ1Mm6irVwndKG7UsyVQpPCs9VIV1TgQ7XfJg181MWxA2WM7RqHQRYPUR5lvUfxSYdWEFomotpsiX2XgCBQwet~FxBlq7x2QbRpS-CW3RWS-FzG3Mp4XMh9zaMJ0f9aA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CGA - Select Committee on Special Education","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","Parents, disability advocates and a statewide advocate from Disability Rights Connecticut urged the committee to tighten oversight of out-of-district placement centers and to regulate tuition increases.

Core testimony: Disability advocate Tom Kosker and others said Connecticut’s outplacement rate is well above the national average: testimony cited roughly 6.3% outplacement statewide versus a ~2.4% national average (witnesses offered that figure as an estimate and said they could provide supporting data). Testimony noted that students with emotional disabilities are outplaced at higher rates (a figure around 28% was cited in testimony) and that oversight and enforcement of outplacement providers needs strengthening.

Concerns about restraint and seclusion: Witnesses asked for closer monitoring of schools and outplacements with high rates of restraint and seclusion; Kosker said corrective actions are sometimes repeated year after year without durable improvement. Several parents narrated traumatic incidents in district settings that influenced later placements, and advocates urged better enforcement and monitoring protocols.

Financial concerns: Parents and district officials asked the committee to authorize or review mechanisms to prevent runaway tuition increases at private centers and to limit private-equity takeover vulnerabilities.

Ending: Advocates asked the committee to consider regulatory changes, stronger monitoring and clearer enforcement tools for outplacement centers and to ensure the state’s oversight of those centers yields measurable improvements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2/13 Special Education Committee Listening Session","oneSentenceSummary","Parents, advocates and disability-rights speakers asked lawmakers to strengthen oversight of private outplacement providers, address rising tuition and monitor restraint and seclusion in out-of-district placements.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature CT, Connecticut","taxId",77677,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331766,"Teachers, paras and related-service staff report staffing crisis; speakers urge caseload caps and retention pay",4826,5439000,10265000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309677-a95907af2538dfc933ff697a7ad359dc&start=5439&end=10265","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309677-a95907af2538dfc933ff697a7ad359dc/thumbnail_5439000.jpg","/articles/6331766/Connecticut/Teachers-paras-and-related-service-staff-report-staffing-crisis-speakers-urge-caseload-caps-and-retention-pay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331766-70b465e7b6fd331a49f3f7e1b0f81f36/orig.mp4?Expires=1775260942&Signature=aCMOkzpIlPPNP-qlhAUU7pztAhG34E2glSrDUR5kXdaGF-f1pXFvoYxZRZPgQZYQRL2EWBt1hG7Pw4rgMSTMJhtBoFTXXaV~lggc4OceE~M~rXS7XSBY6eZbNg5Pwp81TdyKIR~v3NvjsZdTnaeM~o0jZATga2X6kx8qg7URZEBj7RptJIBOYm-EN1NcI6trb~C75mcTyL7gjINJloMd4TRLt6sIzgLnNNlmeS5HRghVBsz9pAhgu13PvjslWfE72mQ7z~x~-oeO2u93rJFGuW7LqBFXOADIJwjJvF4mzZzShEi4bCOY2i2s4JcOnm66rK86y53KIzsCL0MkCGncMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Teachers, paraeducators and school social workers told the committee that untenable caseloads and low pay are driving turnover and diminishing the services students receive.

Front line testimony: A December 2024 survey cited by Mary Yordan from Norwalk found special-education teachers were three times more likely to consider leaving by year-end; she said teachers listed competitive salaries, manageable workloads and consistent admin support as top retention factors. New Haven social workers said caseloads have grown from around 20 students to more than 50 in some cases, including crisis work that pulls clinicians out of schools.

Educators’ requests: Testimony recommended statutory caseload or workload limits for special-education teachers and all related-service providers (speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, social workers), higher pay for paraeducators and retention bonuses for certified staff. New Haven and other urban district witnesses described multi-school assignments for related-service providers that reduce service quality and continuity.

Why this matters: Speakers said the staffing crisis prevents schools from delivering timely evaluations, individualized instruction and required IEP services; several witnesses linked staff shortages to increased outplacement and to families’ need to hire private advocates.

Ending: School staff and union representatives asked the legislature to set caseload limits, invest in recruitment and retention, and align state funding so districts can hire and keep needed professionals.","Special-education teachers, paraeducators, social workers and administrators described high caseloads, burnout and turnover and asked the committee to adopt caseload caps, retention incentives and clearer workload rules.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331771,"Parents press for education ombudsman, structured-literacy training and earlier screening for dyslexia",2619,3217000,5836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309677-a95907af2538dfc933ff697a7ad359dc&start=3217&end=5836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309677-a95907af2538dfc933ff697a7ad359dc/thumbnail_3217000.jpg","/articles/6331771/Connecticut/Parents-press-for-education-ombudsman-structured-literacy-training-and-earlier-screening-for-dyslexia","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331771-1fdce26730fee98387a58a15fa69df6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775260942&Signature=mLgq8C--0wy10Q0he-puQxftZdQeun3wVM9OdThFUEVHt5Y~GU09YQHariyAT~8jzvjJ~7dJzDsuqThn~h4~NsNToh6ZjMkhnxsX6az~8P32hRiE8V5h6aiYPS3bW66YaznDR68JBbyOKgfp10DfD70RAlNSUy6bNEJ2ThF1BTBF2Uy5VIRg-69j8bur9Izb1RxUrAbeaqwZDfKwy~Cj-UvjCo~oLW182vSVh5pecvOOLs5mOxoJoAbktTAAMo3i3oYFMsT4TGhkjIZbsWya2R8juwjKEntncvCSfd9D0MNR2gGM-0FCu3HnXl5CItS8ez1lfdKFNB-DKYnJIhVWQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents, advocates and dyslexia groups asked the select committee to back a state-level education ombudsman and to require evidence-based, structured-literacy training for early-grade teachers.

Why it matters: Parents described long delays, district denials and the out-of-pocket cost of private evaluations and tutoring. Advocates said a neutral ombudsman could resolve concerns before families resort to expensive mediation and legal action.

What parents told the committee: Lisonbee Quirion, founder of Decoding Dyslexia Connecticut, told lawmakers many families cannot afford costly advocates and attorneys and urged support for an ombudsman to “listen to and facilitate solutions prior to the expense of mediation and due process.” Jennifer Zabitakis (Tolland) said her son was privately tested as severely dyslexic after a school assessment concluded he was \"fine,\" and that the family then paid for a trained structured-literacy tutor; she said the private costs equaled what a year of public university tuition would cost.

Support for legislation and screening: Several speakers specifically asked the committee to support Senate Bill 873 (education ombudsman) and related legislation to update K–3 screening statutes (testifiers cited proposals often labeled as SB 873 and SB 874 in testimony). Teachers and parents urged mandatory training in structured literacy (several mentioned Orton–Gillingham or similar supervised practicum models) for K–3 classroom teachers, reading specialists and special-education teachers.

Program-level fixes and teacher preparation: Educators at the hearing recommended raising the quality of teacher-preparation programs and ensuring current teachers receive in-service training on evidence-based reading instruction; one testifier said common classroom reading programs in use are not evidence-based and should be replaced.

Ending: Parents and specialists tied early identification and teacher training to long-term cost savings and better student outcomes; they urged the committee to place the proposed bills on a public hearing and to consider implementation and accountability measures.","Multiple parents and advocates urged lawmakers to back Senate Bill 873 (education ombudsman) and structured-literacy training for K–3 teachers, saying families often pay privately to secure evaluations and interventions.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331776,"School leaders urge state to change special-education funding formula, cite unreimbursed costs",8590,2191000,10781000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309677-a95907af2538dfc933ff697a7ad359dc&start=2191&end=10781","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309677-a95907af2538dfc933ff697a7ad359dc/thumbnail_2191000.jpg","/articles/6331776/Connecticut/School-leaders-urge-state-to-change-special-education-funding-formula-cite-unreimbursed-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331776-556576d81921370c28735b6738d1613a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775260942&Signature=E8d24o8tCZkgukC0BiFYYa-TF0M1YPXSg1nT84ByYvNCceu9V3v-UADJtFydiUD7boLlFscYcPb~wmbQZ0yt~Sdb9LekNlDK7ORWnQtN-Es~6zT5OBF9Q9cniKqOcn5UwTdNLmK4HxbQvyNjaE6-U7VR-hZUz8DAgLolhGlBaDYQyS8djF1SbL6XxXENsn3X4UoRD16uyz~5dfmXgBJnNwgc2t-GiOzTt16XQfiKFN9cSq6Gfv~4WczoS7DPu7Auz-du2X4IqmQQyc9i981UtKEOod6L1laHUfqRSMzu1pPJKxsuLjsInyCFyBAInzj0B6-YLYIw0~OdRe8yRNPw4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendents and district officials from Hartford, Meriden, Southington and New Britain told a state legislative listening session that rising special-education expenses are outpacing state aid and are forcing local budget cuts.

Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres Rodriguez said ensuring services for students with disabilities \"has encompassed some of the most demanding work during the past decade,\" and argued the state should add a weight to the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula to cover excess costs. “Our current overall revenue in Hartford is the same as it was back in 2019–20. When adjusted for inflation, this means that the total revenue has actually decreased over time,” she said.

Why it matters: District witnesses said unpredictable or partial reimbursement from the state forces towns to absorb large costs, drives program cuts in other areas and discourages districts from investing in in-district specialized programs that can keep students near home.

Most important facts first: Dr. Torres Rodriguez told the committee Hartford serves about 3,400 students who receive special-education services and another roughly 1,200 served through the district’s school-choice ecosystem; she said special-education costs account for roughly a third of the district’s total revenue. She said special-education tuition for placements outside the district has increased by about 30% since 2019 and cited $89,000,000 in outplacement tuition and roughly $22,000,000 in special-education transportation as recent statewide-scale figures discussed in her testimony. She urged a funding weight for special education; she said a weight equal to the state’s multilingual-learner weight would produce roughly $8 million more in annual revenue for Hartford (other numerical examples she offered were not specified clearly in the record).

Supporting details: Meriden Assistant Superintendent Dr. Patricia Sullivan Kowalski said Meriden’s net current expenditures per pupil are near the bottom of the state and listed the district’s per-pupil figure at $15,296. She described Meriden’s decision to internalize many services — hiring behavioral analysts, technicians and opening in-district specialized programs — and said that approach saves multimillion-dollar transportation costs (she gave examples such as $40,000–$45,000 per year to transport a student from Meriden to Hartford and $60,000 per year for longer routes). She asked the committee to push for fully funded excess-cost reimbursement and incentives for districts to build and maintain in-district programs.

Southington Superintendent Steve Madasni (identified in testimony as a district superintendent) and New Britain Superintendent Dr. Anthony Gasper said the unpredictability of reimbursement rates in recent years has left districts budgeting conservatively but still facing substantial midyear shortfalls. Southington described being eligible for millions more in reimbursement under current statute but receiving a smaller percentage in practice, leaving local taxpayers to make up the difference; New Britain said special education represents roughly 44% of its budget and asked for additional staff and predictable state funding.

Boards and administrators: Patrice McCarthy of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education and Gail Nolan of the Family Resource Center Alliance urged removing the cap on the excess-cost grant or otherwise ensuring districts know in advance what reimbursement to expect. Multiple witnesses asked for either (a) a special-education weight in the ECS formula so the state shares in costs for in-district programs, or (b) lowering the threshold used to qualify for excess-cost reimbursement so more districts qualify.

What lawmakers heard about trade-offs: Witnesses said building and maintaining high-quality in-district programs reduces transportation and outplacement costs over time but requires sustained local investment up front; because reimbursement is unpredictable, local officials said municipal leaders often view program staffing as an added local cost rather than a state-shared investment.

What happens next: Committee members said they will review testimony and task-force recommendations and plan a formal public hearing when draft legislative language is ready.

Ending: District leaders, parent advocates and school-board representatives asked for predictable, increased state funding and for the committee to consider both ECS weighting and excess-cost changes to keep more students in their home communities and ease local budget pressure.","Superintendents and district leaders testified that special-education costs are rising faster than state support, asking lawmakers to add a special-education weight to the Education Cost Sharing formula and to fix gaps in the excess-cost grant.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Advocates and advocates call for tighter oversight of outplacement centers and limits on restraint/seclusion

Teachers, paras and related-service staff report staffing crisis; speakers urge caseload caps and retention pay

Parents press for education ombudsman, structured-literacy training and earlier screening for dyslexia

School leaders urge state to change special-education funding formula, cite unreimbursed costs