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Advisory council opens ranked survey to set 2025‑26 priorities; membership changes announced
Summary
The Connecticut State Special Education Advisory Council discussed narrowing its priorities for the 2025‑26 annual report, launched a ranked survey to collect member input with a near‑term deadline, and the membership committee reported a new legislative appointee and several vacancies.
The Connecticut State Special Education Advisory Council on Sept. 24 began the process of setting priorities for its 2026 annual report, launched a ranked survey for members to select top priority areas and received a membership update noting a new legislative appointee.
Chair Missy Wrigley reminded members that the council’s annual report is due Feb. 15, 2026, and that the executive committee will set a timeline for drafting recommendations. She said the council aims to identify a short list of priorities — historically three to five — that can yield focused, actionable recommendations to the State Department of Education and the General Assembly.
Consultant Christine Kellowin demonstrated a ranked survey hosted on Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) that allows members to indicate first, second and third choices among eight draft priority areas that came out of the council’s summer retreat. She told the council the survey produces an immediate view of results and that members who could not attend the meeting would receive the link by email.
Several council members urged tight, actionable priorities. “We want to consider, maybe that’s still important to us, but we’re not working directly with it,” parent‑member Jen Lussier said, urging the council to focus on recommendations where SAC can have influence. Tom Cosker, an advocate with Disability Rights Connecticut, said earlier preparation is helpful for the legislature and said he will begin preparing in November and December to raise issues with committee chairs.
Members discussed a short deadline for survey responses so results can be compiled before the council’s next executive committee meeting. Multiple members suggested a deadline of the following Monday so staff can pull results in time for the Oct. 8 executive committee meeting; staff agreed to send the survey link, a QR code and the draft priorities and to set a firm short‑term deadline.
On membership, Catherine (surname not specified on the record) reported that Senator Sujata Gadkar Wilcox was appointed as a legislative appointee to the SAC. The membership committee also reported an open seat for a paraeducator representative and several student vacancies because members aged out or graduated in the prior year; committee leadership asked members to recruit paraeducators and students to apply.
Minutes from the April 23, 2025 meeting were moved for approval, and a motion to approve passed after members registered abstentions for those who had not attended the April meeting; the meeting record indicates the minutes “have passed.”
Why this matters: the council’s priorities guide the recommendations it transmits to the State Department of Education and to legislators; a narrower, actionable set of priorities helps the council and its ad hoc committees target limited time and resources.
Next steps: staff will distribute the survey link, the draft SAC priorities and slide decks; the executive committee will review compiled results at its October meeting and bring tightened priorities back to the full council.
