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Education Matters School board to probe special ed identification Posted on January 31, 2014 | By Linda Conner Lambeck BRIDGEPORT – Caught off guard by a state report that found the district has systematically failed to identify a number of students in need of special education, the city school board plans to hold a special meeting on the matter. The state Department of Education informed the school board earlier this month that it needed to correct its identification process finding for the Center for Children’s Advocacy which filed a complaint against the district last October on behalf of six students and their parents. “I have a lot of questions,” board member Hernan Illingworth said. “I think there has to be a special meeting just on this.” The board intends to invite the state to the meeting, which they tentatively set for Feb. 5. Since that is when the state Board of Education meets it is possible the date could change. Outgoing Schools Superintendent Paul Vallas told the board that though a law requiring districts to test students who are chronically failing, absent or misbehaving has been on the books for 20 years, the Child Find law is not part of board policy. He also insisted the district is moving to serve all students through a Scientifically Research Based Intervention model. The board learned this month that model, though effective, is no where near being used as it should in all schools. http://blog.ctnews.com/education/2014/01/31/school-board-to-probe-special-ed-identification/ Questions? Please contact: Edwin D. Colon, Esq., MSW Staff Attorney, Center for Children's Advocacy (203) 223-8975 office (860) 777-8734 cellular