“Troubling.” CT Senate GOP Statement Regarding Report on CT Students Enrolled in Out-of-State Special Ed Schools

Sen. John A. Kissel, Sen. Eric Berthel, Sen. Jason Perillo, and Sen. Stephen Harding today issued the following statement regarding a report released by Disability Rights Connecticut and the state Office of the Child Advocate which is recommending that the state Department of Education provide more oversight of out-of-state special education schools where Connecticut students are sent. (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5952983059cc68ff83ce3153/t/6989fa85ae85bd7a9599ffb2/1770650245706/News+Release+Out-of-State+Special+Education+-+DRCT+OCA+Investigative+Report++2.10.2026.pdf)
“We will be requesting meetings with key state education and children’s protection officials to discuss action steps in response to this troubling report.

Our dialogue will center on the need to strengthen oversight and monitoring of out-of-state special education schools where Connecticut students are sent by the state Department of Education and local school districts.

We will also focus on ways to redirect money currently spent on out-of-state special education placements and instead guide those funds toward local educational services within Connecticut and its school districts.

We appreciate Disability Rights Connecticut and the state Office of the Child Advocate for shining a spotlight on this important issue impacting special education and at-risk students.”