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Vermont special-education leaders urge district-led, voluntary CSAs with guardrails to protect inclusion
Summary
Witnesses told the House Education committee that Cooperative Service Agencies (CSAs) could expand access to special education supports if they remain voluntary, district-governed and compliant with IDEA; they warned CSAs require upfront investment, careful governance and must not increase segregation.
House Education heard detailed testimony on Feb. 18 from two Vermont special-education leaders advocating for Cooperative Service Agencies (CSAs) that are voluntary, district-governed and designed to protect inclusion while expanding access to services.
Chris Benway, president of the Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators and director of special services for his district, said CSAs can address staffing shortages and improve services for students with low-incidence disabilities, but must operate with local control and clear guardrails. “CSIS cannot serve as the l as the decision makers for eligibility, placement, or IEP determinations,” Benway said, stressing that federal and state law leave those legal responsibilities with Local Education Agencies.
The witnesses argued that CSAs should be flexible and responsive to regional needs — for example, contracting for occupational or physical therapy, or board-certified behavior analysts where they are scarce — rather than offering a uniform menu of…
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