On Monday, February 3rd, Governor Ned Lamont proposed increasing funding for special education services across Connecticut. His plan includes additional funding for the Excess Cost Grant and the creation of the High-Quality Special Education Incentive Grant program. The goal? To ensure that students with special needs are well supported in their home districts and that schools are better equipped to implement individualized education programs (IEPs).
Governor Lamont’s proposal represents a well-balanced, thoughtful approach to supporting the diverse needs of students supported by special education services in the state of Connecticut. Special education encompasses a spectrum of services designed to meet a school’s population’s wide variety of needs. While students with very complex behavioral or social-emotional needs may be best served in a private outplacement with a highly specialized team of staff supporting them, many students with other learning needs often can be well-supported in their home schools within their districts.
What does this mean for Connecticut school districts?
This proposed funding offers school districts an opportunity to expand and enhance their special education services, especially for students with complex needs. As districts gain access to this funding, they may be interested in investing in program consultation to build high-quality, state-of-the-art programming for students with complex learning needs. Aspire Living & Learning is proud to offer program consultation services that can assist with this development.
What does a program consultant do?
The program consultation process begins with a Needs Assessment that includes direct observation of special education services, a review of permanent products, and interviews with relevant stakeholders. The program consultant uses the data collected to define the current state of affairs and establish the desired outcome for special education services in a district. From there, the program consultant will create a recommended collaborative plan to help the district move from the current state of affairs to the desired one. Depending on the district’s vision and needs, Aspire’s program consultation can range from periodic visits offering ongoing recommendations to consistent, weekly support for program development.
What populations can Aspire support?
Aspire program consultants have expertise in working with children with developmental disabilities, specific learning disorders, and social-emotional and behavioral challenges.
Why choose Aspire?
If you’re ready to strengthen your district’s special education services and provide more opportunities for student success, Aspire is here to partner with you. We specialize in building effective programs within school districts, ensuring students remain in their home districts whenever possible. Our operation of three private outplacement schools across Connecticut also gives us a well-rounded perspective on the full spectrum of special education services. This unique combination enables us to help parents and school teams work together to ensure students receive the right mix of services and are placed in environments best suited to their individual needs.
What’s the first step?
Take the first step by connecting with Courtney Cotter, senior director of children’s mental health. Courtney will work with you to understand your district’s unique needs and vision. Reach out via email at ccotter@allinc.org or click here to contact us and get started today.