Judge Moukawsher issued a monumental ruling yesterday in Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding v. Rell. Based on an extensive trial that ran from January through June, the judge determined that Connecticut’s system of funding education was irrational and unconstitutional.
Gov. Dannel Malloy has proposed massive changes in education funding and the legislature is beginning to work on his proposals. While it is extremely unlikely that the governor’s radical proposals will be adopted, the legislature needs to correct the irrational funding system that now exists.
I appreciate the opportunity to be included in this excellent panel. I commend Kathie Gabrielson for her work and creativity in putting this together.
Chairman Slossberg, Chairman Boucher, Chairman Fleischmann, Ranking Member Lavielle and members of the Committee, I am pleased to be able to present my opinion to this committee on various bills subject to hearing today before this Committee. I am an attorney in private practice in Mystic, whose entire practice revolves around representing children with disabilities.
Jonathan is a bright young man, raised by a loving couple in an affluent suburban neighborhood. He always was easily distractible and rather high strung, but not so severely so as to undermine his high B/low A average.
The young man is alone. He has no friends. He has been expelled from school.
Attorney Andrew A. Feinstein testified before the Committee on Insurance and Real Estate regarding S.B. 542, An Act Establishing the Connecticut Special Education Predictable Cost Cooperative, dated February 21, 2017. You can read the testimony here:
You may already be aware that your child’s IEP needs to address his behavioral, social, and emotional needs (among others) in addition to his academic deficits and learning challenges. For example, a student who needs specialized reading instruction may receive an IEP under the Specific Learning Disability designation.
If you’re familiar with the special education eligibility process, you may already know that the IDEA requires your school district to evaluate your child at least once every three years following the initial evaluation that determines his eligibility for special education and related services. This process is known as the triennial reevaluation, or sometimes referred to as a student’s “triennial review.”