Session Update: Funding Special Education

Earlier this week, the House debated and passed House Bill 7067, which among multiple unrelated items, including providing an additional $40 million in special education funding to help Connecticut municipalities cover some of their costs through the current fiscal year.

In an effort to fully fund special education, I supported a House Republican amendment that would have provided the full $108 million needed to cover special education excess costs statewide. Unfortunately, Democrats rejected our amendment along party lines, 96 to 48.

Last April, House Republicans proposed a budget adjustment that included $79 million to fully fund the special education Excess Cost Grant for the first time since 2009. The grant is essential for helping municipalities manage extraordinary special education expenses, including out-of-district placements. Democrats ignored the Republican plan, choosing instead to leave the budget unbalanced while allocating $245 million in federal ARPA funds to higher education. Since then, special education costs have only continued to rise.

Make no mistake, this latest $40 million infusion is only a temporary fix and still does not fully cover the actual costs of special education in Connecticut.

Through the final bill, Darien is estimated to receive $2,855,671; and Norwalk will receive $4,360,871.