Pupil Services
Students Requiring Special Services
Under federal and state statutes, children requiring special education are those children who have one or more of the following disabilities, which adversely affect their educational performance and who require specially designed instruction: autistic, deaf-blind, hearing impaired, learning disabled, intellectually disabled, multi-handicapped, orthopedically impaired, other health impaired, emotionally disturbed, speech/language impaired, visually impaired/blind, traumatic brain injury, or developmentally delayed (infants and preschool age).
Special education is available to preschool children who have attained the age of three years and whose degree and type of disability, based on an evaluation by the Planning and Placement Team, is such that the absence of special education will impair the child's educational development to the extent that it is unlikely that the child will be able to make satisfactory educational progress when the child attains school age.
Under state statutes, school districts are required to identify gifted and talented students. However, programming for such students is optional and left to the discretion of each local board of education.
The term special education means specially designed instruction, special classes, programs and services, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder
Autism Society of Connecticut
Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut
Connecticut Autism Spectrum Resource Center
Learning Disabilities Association of America
National Down Syndrome Society
The ARC of Connecticut
Connecticut State Agency Resources
Department of Developmental Services
- DDS HELP LINE: Contact the DDS Help Line to help find out what DDS supports may be available to you. Information about eligibility.
Bureau of Rehabilitative Services (BRS)
Eligibility Services
CT 211 Benefits Navigator provides a screening tool to help you find what supports you may be eligible to receive.
Important Links
Connecticut State Department of Education
Bureau of Special Education
Procedural Safeguards in English
Procedural Safeguards in Spanish
Parent Notification of Restraints
and Seclusion
Questions Often Asked about Special Education Services
A Parent's Guide to Special Education
in Connecticut
Easing Into Secondary Transition: A Comprehensive Guide to Resources and Services in Connecticut
Stepping Forward: A Self-Advocacy Guide for Middle and High School Students
Policies
Bullying
The Litchfield Public Schools are committed to safe and friendly environments for all students. The administrators and staff embrace a philosophy "If it's Mean, Intervene!" knowing that, despite our programming, sometimes mean behaviors do occur within our school communities. We recognize it is important to correct these behaviors even when they do not fit the State of Connecticut's much stricter definition of bullying. Mean behaviors which go unchecked, and which clearly violate our provisions for a safe school climate, may ultimately damage the perpetrator, the victim, and the bystander. Below you will find a detail of the Safe School Climate Plan approved by the Board of Education. In addition, you may be interested in these following important documents, the first two of which can help you discuss Bullying or Sexual Harassment in family-friendly terms with your children.
Bullying in Schools: A Parent's Guide
Sexual Harassment in Schools: A Parent's Guide
#5131.2 Bullying Behavior in Schools
#5131.2 Regulation: Bullying Behavior in Schools
Sexual Harassment
Providing information about sexual Harassment is intended to help us work together to both protect our children and to introduce the subject of sexual Harassment to our children in an age-appropriate way. It is our legal obligation as a school district to educate our students on the definition, types, effects, and protections against sexual harassment. The brochure attached below is designed to help you discuss the topic with your children.
Sexual Harassment in Schools: A Parent's Guide
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Julie G. Haggard
Director of Pupil Services
haggardj@litchfieldschools.org
860-567-7505
Sherri Irwin
Pupil Services Assistant
irwins@litchfieldschools.org
860-567-7505