Lyddy Appointed To State Special Ed Advisory Council

By John Voket

Just a few months after partnering on an effort to see Newtown’s Special Education system investigated by the state, Representative Chris Lyddy has been named to the state Department of Education’s Special Education Advisory Council.

“I just received a call from the Speaker of the House [Christopher Donovan] appointing me to the special ed advisory council,” Rep Lyddy told The Bee September 27. “This comes on the heels of the situations in Newtown where I was proud to have partnered with Representative [DebraLee] Hovey calling for the state to look into complaints from numerous constituents about their experiences with the special education department.”

Rep Lyddy said his first order of business after meeting with fellow advisory council members to identify their concerns, would be to “see that the kids involved get what they deserve and to provide the support parents need to understand and navigate the special education system.”

“In many conversations I’ve had with fellow representatives from across the state over the past three years, it has become clear that special education is an expensive but much needed way of delivering services. So it would be my goal to find a way to provide the most efficient way to deliver those services.”

Rep Lyddy said districts cannot put a price tag on a child’s need for special education services.

“We need to look past the cost to the nature of the services required,” he added.

As he meets with fellow advisory board members, Rep Lyddy said he is committed to learning their collective mission, and how the council might focus that mission to meet the most need, and to ensure the quality in Planning and Placement Team (PPT) through the state department of education.

Suzanne Lang, who founded a local special education support organization called Newtown PAC (Parents Advocating for their Children), hailed the announcement.

“Chris Lyddy really listens to people when they are explaining their problems,” Ms Lang said. “He knows the issues and I know he will be a wonderful advocate for children and families with special needs concerns not just here in Newtown, but across the state. I’m confident he will get something done.”

The Connecticut State Advisory Council (SAC) on Special Education has been authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act since the act’s inception in 1975. The SAC is also authorized under Chapter 164 Section 10-76i of the Connecticut General Statutes with the express purpose to “advise the General Assembly, the State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education” on special education matters.

The SAC addresses all five goals of the Comprehensive Plan of the State Board of Education and is specifically mandated to:

*Identify the unmet needs of children with special education needs;

*Review periodically the laws, regulations, standards, and guidelines pertaining to special education;

*Comment of any new or revised regulations, standards, and guidelines proposed for issuance;

*Participate with the State Board of Education in the development of any state plan for the provision of special education;

*Assist the State Department of Education in developing and reporting such data and evaluations as may be conducted pursuant to the provisions of said Act;

*Encourage compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Connecticut Statues 10-76;

*Provide a forum for individuals or groups to express their ideas related to statewide special education issues; and,

*Advise the commissioner and the State Board of Education on issues related to the provision of special education services.