Special education in Connecticut

What Connecticut calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.

Special education in Connecticut

Special education is called

Special Education

The IEP meeting

Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meeting

Eligibility team

PPT

Evaluation timeline

45 school days. 45 school days from referral to IEP implementation, not counting time to get consent; 60 school days for out-of-district placement (RCSA 10-76d-13)

IEP timeline

Within the same 45 school days

Transition planning starts

14 (PA 19-49, verified CSDE memo)

Rights transfer to the student at

Developmental delay category

3 to 5 (child count)

Dyslexia law

yes: C.G.S. 10-14t: K-3 universal reading assessments identifying students at risk incl. dyslexia characteristics

Find your district and schools

207 districts and charter districts. 57 special education schools and 21 public charter schools.

Get your Hall Pass Schools in Connecticut Services for children in Connecticut (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office

Connecticut State Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education (860) 713-6910

Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)

Read the state's notice

Mediation

Ask for mediation

State complaint

File a state complaint

Due process

Ask for a due process hearing

Free help for families

Parent centers

AFCAMP, Hartford-New Haven
Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), Hartford
(860) 548-9959
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), New London
(860) 739-3089

Disability rights agency

Disability Rights Connecticut
Protection and Advocacy Agency, Hartford
(860) 297-4300

Advocacy groups in Connecticut

Paying for it

Medicaid for children

HUSKY Health (HUSKY A)

CHIP

HUSKY B

Apply

Apply for coverage

Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income

yes: Katie Beckett Waiver (1915(c))

Schools bill Medicaid for health services

yes (limited: 504/health plan students)

Autism insurance law

yes. no visit limits; caps not listed

Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities

none

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How Connecticut scores

First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.

State of Schools

Rank 1 of 51

State of Support

C+

Rank 26 of 51

Combined

B-

Rank 6 of 51

Pillar	Grade
Following the law	B+
Learning together	C
Results	A-
School funding	A
Family protections	A-
Options and transition	C

IDEA determination 2026: Meets. How we grade.

Sources for this page are listed in the SPED Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.