By Jeffrey L. Forte, Esq. | Special Education Attorney & Advocate The Connecticut State Department of Education recently issued a notice to all Connecticut school district superintendents and directors of special education regarding the availability of mediation services for parents and guardians of children requiring special education. ​ The notice is in response to Public Act No. ​ 23-137, which requires the distribution of a notice of mediation services at Continue Reading

By Jeffrey L. Forte, Esq. | Connecticut Special Education Advocate & Attorney The State Advisory Council for Special Education in Connecticut recently released its annual report for 2023. The report outlines the process and activities undertaken to determine the “unmet needs” of students with disabilities. ​ The report highlights the Council’s priorities for the upcoming 2024-2025 year, including areas such as least restrictive environment, special education staffing, student voice in Continue Reading

By Jeffrey L. Forte, Esq. | Forte Law Group LLLC | Special Education Lawyer Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, children must be 5 years old on or before September 1st, 2024 to start kindergarten. This change is based on new state law that was approved in June 2023. According to Connecticut Public Act 23-208, Section 1(a), the Connecticut Legislature changed how old a child must be to start kindergarten. Continue Reading

Ensuring that children with disabilities receive appropriate educational support is crucial for their growth and development. As child advocates in Connecticut, Forte Law Group is committed to representing families and guiding them through the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) process to advance their child’s special education rights. In this article, we briefly explore the PPT process and how securing a special education child advocate can make all difference for families Continue Reading

The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), recently launched an online software application designed to empower parents, educators, and administrators with valuable insights into a child’s school and their broader school district. The app is called “EdExplorer” and the site can be accessed here. For parents that have a child with a diability, EdExplorer is a game changer because you have immediate access and insights into your child’s school and Continue Reading