Report: Connecticut Special Education Schools Falling Short on Required Services

Connecticut’s private special education system is facing a lot of heat after a new state audit revealed major lapses in delivering services for some of the state’s most vulnerable students.

The audit looked at five schools in places like Wallingford, Hartford, Cromwell, Bridgeport, and West Hartford. It found big gaps in the support listed in students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).

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The report points to problems with compliance, staffing, and oversight. That’s a lot of kids who could be missing out.

Audit Exposes Widespread Service Gaps

The state review found that some essential services — counseling, fine motor skill support, you name it — just weren’t being delivered at the levels students’ IEPs require.

In a few cases, the shortfalls were shocking. Some kids missed more than half their mandated sessions. How does that even happen?

Schools Named in the Report

Here’s who got audited:

High Road School of Wallingford – Gave out less than a third of the fine motor therapy required and didn’t deliver even half the counseling sessions needed.
Grace S. Webb School in Hartford – Only about half the group counseling services happened.
Adelbrook Academy in Cromwell – Usually met service requirements but skipped documenting some counseling sessions.
University School JPE in Bridgeport – Ran into big staffing problems, with uncertified teachers and a principal without a valid license.
American School for the Deaf – Didn’t have policies to make sure all staff got their background checks in time.

Staffing and Compliance Failures

Missed services weren’t the only problem. The audit also flagged serious staffing issues.

Some schools had teachers without the right certifications. Others had employees with no criminal background checks on file, which goes against state law and basic safety standards.

Background Check Lapses Raise Safety Concerns

At University School JPE in Bridgeport, none of the nine teachers reviewed had documented background checks. Two didn’t have the teaching credentials they needed.

Both Grace Webb School and American School for the Deaf lacked solid systems to make sure everyone got the required security screening. That leaves some worrying gaps in student safety.

Link to Broader Oversight Problems

This audit lines up with a 2024 report from the Office of the Child Advocate and Disability Rights Connecticut. That earlier review found over 1,200 cases of restraint and seclusion in High Road schools.

It said students were “grossly underserved” and called for real reforms. It’s hard not to wonder why these problems keep repeating.

Who Is Accountable?

Individual schools have to deliver IEP services, but local school districts — like those in New Haven, Stamford, Manchester, and New Britain — are legally supposed to make sure their contracted special ed providers meet all the rules.

Advocates say state-level enforcement just isn’t strong enough. Oversight slips through the cracks.

State Response and Next Steps

The Connecticut Department of Education says it takes these findings seriously. It’s brought in an independent firm to review how it oversees private special education programs.

Officials want to tighten up accountability and boost compliance. Whether that actually happens is another story.

Staffing Shortages Remain a Barrier

One stubborn problem is the shortage of qualified educators. The audit says there are about 2,500 staff vacancies in Connecticut’s private special ed programs.

Recruitment efforts are in motion, but the shortage makes it tough for schools to keep up with students’ service needs.

The Road Ahead for Connecticut Special Education

Parents, teachers, and advocates from Hartford to Middletown are pushing for urgent changes. They want students with disabilities to get the support they’re promised by law.

It’s clear that fixing staffing alone won’t cut it. The system needs deeper oversight changes if it’s going to work for everyone.

Advocates Call for Stronger Enforcement

Special education advocates keep saying that without strong enforcement, quick interventions, and enough funding, Connecticut will keep seeing failures like the ones in the audit. For kids who depend on counseling, therapy, and personalized instruction, these aren’t just paperwork problems—they’re setbacks that can change lives.

The audit really jolts communities across Connecticut—from Bridgeport to Norwich. It’s a reminder for everyone involved that real equity in education takes both commitment and accountability.

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Here is the source article for this story: Report: Special education schools fail to provide required services

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