State education officials in Connecticut have ordered Bridgeport schools to take corrective action after finding that local officials systematically failed to identify students eligible for special education services.
The education department began investigating after the Center for Children’s Advocacy filed a complaint in October. The review determined that the district violated its obligations under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act and state law.
Most of the examples listed in the complaint were from the 2012-13 school year, when there was an effort to reduce special education costs under schools Superintendent Paul Vallas, who is leaving to run for lieutenant governor in Illinois.