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Resource Center

The Resource Center contains a wide collection of reports, publications, and data from Connecticut and national sources. To navigate through the Resource Center, use the keyword search below or browse by selecting a specific category using the drop-down menu below the Featured post.

Task Force to Study Special Education Services and Funding

Featured

The Task Force to Study Special Education Services and Funding was created by the Connecticut General Assembly to examine a variety of issues related to special education. Specifically, the Task Force looked at the state's severe special education staffing shortage, the lack of resources for special education, the lack of equity in special education across the state, and the failure to close the state's achievement gap.

Special Education Task Force Final Report Special Education Task Force Midterm Report Special Education Task Force Presentation to SpEd Committee
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Education Funding Special Education

CCJEF v. Rell (2016), Moukawsher Superior Court Ruling

Hartford Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher ruled partially in favor of the Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding in a lengthy, wide-reaching decision regarding Connecticut's school finance system. Judge Moukawsher found several parts of Connecticut's education system, including how the State distributes education aid, and gave the State 180 days to submit proposed changes to address the parts of Connecticut's education system that he found unconstitutional.

CCJEF v. Rell (2016), Moukawsher Superior Court Ruling OLR CCJEF v. Rell Superior Court Decision
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Education Funding Court Cases

Special Education Select Working Group - Recommendations for Legislative Action (Municipal Opportunities & Regional Efficiencies (MORE) Commission)

The Municipal Opportunities and Regional Efficiencies (MORE) Commission was created by House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey in 2010 to work on finding solutions to issues that face Connecticut’s municipalities. The Special Education Select Working Group was formed as a sub-committee of the MORE Commission in December 2013 with the mission of determining how to provide special education in a more effective manner.

MORE Commission Special Education Select Working Group
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Education Funding Special Education

Task Force to Study State Education Funding - Final Report

The final report for the State of Connecticut’s Task Force to Study State Education Funding features recommendations to address problems with the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant formula, which distributes the largest share of state education aid to towns, and certain other major state education grants. The final recommendations build on interim recommendations to (1) support efforts to increase and make more predictable ECS funding; (2) update and improve the ECS formula; (3) support equitable funding for school choice programs, including interdistrict magnet schools and regional agriscience technology centers; and (4) explore fairer and more reasonable approaches to funding services for students with special educational needs. Due to the state's budget constraints, the Task Force offered its recommendations without a specific recommendation for more ECS funding.

Task Force to Study State Education Funding Final Report
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Education Funding

CCJEF v. Rell (2010)

The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled a lower court erred in dismissing claims filed in 2005 by the Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding. CCJEF filed suit on behalf of students and families, contending the state’s failure to properly fund public schools inadequately prepares students for higher education and employment opportunities. The Court held the state constitution requires "public schools provide their students with an education suitable to give them the opportunity to be responsible citizens able to participate fully in democratic institutions, such as jury service and voting, and to prepare them to progress to institutions of higher education, or to attain productive employment and otherwise to contribute to the state's economy." The decision allows plaintiffs to continue to pursue their suit that the state has failed to adequately fund its lowest-performing schools.

CCJEF v Rell Supreme Court Plurality Decision Mar 22 2010 CCJEF v Rell Supreme Court Palmer Concurrence Mar 22 2010 CCJEF v Rell Supreme Court Schaller Concurrence Mar 22 2010 CCJEF v Rell Supreme Court Vertefeuille Dissent Mar 22 2010 CCJEF v Rell Supreme Court Zarella Dissent Mar 22 2010
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Education Funding Court Cases