On October 11, 2023, Berchem Moses secured a hearing officer’s order preventing the retroactive application of Section 47 of Public Act 23-137 concerning which party proceeds first with their evidence in a special education due process hearing to a case that had originally been filed with the Bureau of Special Education on May 1, 2023 ..read more

The Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (“LEAP”) reports success since its launch in April 2021. The program was established using federal Covid-19 relief funding with the goal of curbing student chronic absenteeism in the districts of Bridgeport, CREC, Danbury, East Hartford, Hartford, Manchester, Meriden, New Haven, New Britain, New London, Norwich, Stamford, Torrington, Waterbury and ..read more

The U.S. Department of Education recently issued a Letter to State Directors of Special Education on Ensuring a High-Quality Education for Highly Mobile Children, updating guidance and resources originally set forth in the Department’s July 19, 2013 Dear Colleague Letter. The purpose of the letter is to provide a list of resources and reminders to ..read more

On September 27, 2022 the Connecticut State Department of Education [“CSDE”] released Guidance on the recent legislation surrounding Remote Learning and Dual Instruction [“Guidance”]. Definitions The Guidance reiterates that Sections 10-4w(c-d) prohibit dual instruction as part of remote learning. “Dual instruction” was defined as “the simultaneous instruction by a teacher to students in-person in the ..read more

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights released a resource to remind school communities that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects students and employees from discrimination based on pregnancy and related conditions. Protections for Students Title IX protects students against harassment by school employees or other students because of their pregnancy ..read more

In the waning hours of the recently concluded session, the Legislature added a provision to a bill on childhood mental health requiring that all certified staff having direct contact with students receive a minimum uninterrupted lunch of 30 minutes.  While legislation (C.G.S. §10-156a) already existed requiring that teachers be provided a duty free lunch, it ..read more

Governor Lamont announced a plan to end the statewide mask mandate for schools and childcare centers in Connecticut effective February 28, 2022.  The plan places the decision whether to require masks in schools and childcare centers with local authorities. With Governor Lamont’s emergency powers set to expire on February 15, 2022, the governor reached an ..read more

As anticipated, late Monday night, the State legislature extended Governor Lamont’s emergency powers by February 22, 2022. Yesterday, the Governor issued Executive Order No. 14, which extends the deadlines for several previous Orders, including the most recent ones dealing with mandatory vaccines for certain health care workers, state employees, school employees, and those working in ..read more

The United States Department of Education released long awaited Title IX Regulations (Regulations) on May 6, 2020. The Regulations impose legal obligations on state and local educational agencies and institutions that receive federal financial assistance. The Regulations which take effect on August 14, 2020 require significant changes to how school districts, colleges and universities investigate ..read more

On June 10, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut issued a ruling regarding the age limitation for special education and related services which has significant implications for local and regional boards of education.  Connecticut General Statutes Section 10-76d(b), and Regulation 10-76d-1(a)(4) currently provides that a school district’s obligation to provide a ..read more