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Letter to CT Commissioner Wentzell: Remind School Districts of Their Obligations to Students with Emotional Disturbances

Nov. 10, 2017

On November 9, 2017, thirty-seven parent advocates, attorneys, and surrogate parents submitted a letter to Commissioner of Education Dianna R. Wentzell to request that she remind Connecticut school administrators of their duty to appropriately educate students identified as having an Emotional Disturbance as defined by IDEA and State law. In many cases, Emotionally Disturbed students require intensive mental health services as part of their individualized education plans (IEPs).

The signatories of this letter requested that Commissioner Wentzell emphasize to school districts that “consequence-based behavior plans tend to be counterproductive” to many students in this disability category. The letter also expressed dismay over the fact that many administrators continue to “promote the mythology that poor mental health is caused by things like single parenting, poverty and drugs.”

You can access the full text of the letter to Commissioner Wentzell here.