A recent federal court ruling has extended the timeframe for services offered to special needs students in Connecticut. According to Disability Rights Connecticut, more than 200 students in the state lost services last year after turning 21 and "aging out" of the program.
As a result of the ruling, the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” now allows for special education students to receive public education until the end of the school year in which they turn 22.
The state is currently appealing the one-year extension because the requirements could mean added costs for public schools in the state.
Some local school officials have voiced their concerns over the high cost of educating these students, especially for transition centers. Transition centers teach students skills for full-time employment, leisure activities, and group homes.
If a district is without a transition center, tuition to go to one in a neighboring district could be between $35,000 and $55,000.