Connecticut bureau outlines IDEA (Part B) federal grant application and seeks council input on state activities

The Connecticut State Department of Education’s Bureau of Special Education on March 26 reviewed the federal fiscal year 2025 IDEA (Part B) application, described how funds are allocated to administration, other state activities and local education agencies (LEAs), and solicited input from the State Advisory Council for Special Education.

Alicia Trakis, who recently assumed lead responsibilities for the IDEA grant, told the council the application is posted for a 60-day public comment period (March 12–May 12) with a required 30-day public comment window from April 1–30; the bureau will hold two in-person hearings for public input on April 11 at the New England Assistive Technology Center and April 25 at the State Education Resource Center (SERC). Written comments are welcome.

Trakis said the bureau has not yet received the federal state allocation table for FFY 2025 and is using the FY 2024 award as a working baseline. For the most recent award the bureau described (FFY 2024): - IDEA 611 (ages 3–through end of school year when student turns 22): total award about $159,000,000. Of that, approximately 2.5% (roughly $4 million) supported state administration, about 10% (roughly $16.5 million) was held for other state activities, and the remainder (about $139 million) flowed to LEAs. - IDEA 619 (preschool ages 3–5): roughly $5 million total; smaller administration and other state activities shares; remainder to LEAs.

Trakis described required other-state-activity uses (mediation, due process, surrogate parent program, complaint resolution) and optional activities the bureau funds through contracts with vendors such as SERC and the RESC Alliance (professional development, personnel preparation, assistive technology, CT SED data system, CPAC parent training and call center support). She noted the bureau reduced some other-state-activities funds in the prior year to offset a decrease in LEA allocations.

The bureau asked the council for feedback on how to deploy other-state-activities funds, pointing to existing contracts that support activities aligned to federal State Performance Plan indicators (graduation, assessment, least restrictive environment). Council members suggested further detail on specific contracted activities and proposed additional work on translation/interpretation quality and training for bilingual district staff to ensure families can access services in their preferred language.

Why it matters: IDEA (Part B) federal funds support the state’s special education system; how the state allocates other-state activities affects professional development, dispute-resolution, assistive technology and family supports across districts.

What happens next: The application remains open for public comment through May 12; two in-person hearings are scheduled April 11 and April 25; the bureau will update the interactive allocation spreadsheet once the federal allocation table is posted and will circulate materials for further SAC input.

Ending: Trakis provided contact information for written comments and encouraged council members to submit feedback on proposed other-state-activity uses.