by Jeffrey L. Forte, Esq. | Connecticut Special Education Attorney Parents often call Forte Law Group to ask what is a diagnostic placement. This article provides a brief overview. Interestingly, neither the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) nor the implementing federal regulations define a diagnostic placement. In application, a diagnostic placement is a structured program setting that more fully assesses the special education and related services needs for a Continue Reading

The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) recently issued guidance to school districts on remote learning and dual instruction. The released guidance seeks to clarify the requirements of remote learning and dual instruction. The guidance authorizes remote learning to student in grades 9 through 12. For more information about remote learning and dual instruction guidelines click here to read the full released guidance. Continue Reading

In July 2022, the Connecticut State Department of Education implemented a new IEP form and data collection system. Special education attorneys Jeffrey Forte, JD, and Jill Hornig, JD, of Forte Law Group will walk you through the new form, page by page, and explain what you need to know to be a knowledgeable member of your child’s PPT team. Click here to view Forte Law Group’s power point presentation on Continue Reading

Just six days before students were scheduled to return to school, Hearst Connecticut Media highlighted how special education teachers were blindsided when the Hamden school district relocated Wintergreen School’s program for those with autism. According to Hamden special education teachers, the program at Wintergreen is being relocated to ill-suited space that will not meet the needs of students with autism: no kitchen to teach life skills; no noise-proof walls for Continue Reading

As of July 1, 2022, Connecticut’s new individualized education plan (IEP) will no longer contain a prior written notice (PWN) page within the IEP. Rather, the new PWN document will now be a separate from the IEP itself. Although this “appears” to just be intended as a formatting change, it is critical that prior written notice remains part of the discussion during a planning and placement team meeting (PPT) anytime Continue Reading