Special Education Terms in Connecticut
What special education terms does Connecticut use?
Connecticut uses several state-specific terms throughout its special education system that differ from federal IDEA terminology and from other states. The most important is 'Planning and Placement Team' (PPT) — Connecticut's statutory term for the IEP team, used throughout Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 164 and all CSDE communications. Other key Connecticut terms: 'Approved Private Special Education Program' (APSEP) — a CSDE-approved private school placement for students whose FAPE cannot be provided by the LEA; 'Special Education Resource Center' (SERC) — Connecticut's free statewide mediation and professional development resource; 'Regional Educational Service Center' (RESC) — Connecticut's intermediate education agency that provides cooperative special education services to member districts; 'Connecticut Alternate Assessment' (CTAA) — the alternate assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities; 'Smarter Balanced' (SBAC) — Connecticut's primary state assessment; and 'Bureau of Special Education' (BSE) — Connecticut's state-level special education agency within CSDE. Connecticut's recording consent law (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-570d) makes Connecticut unusual — the 'all-party consent' rule applies to PPT meetings.
What Connecticut Requires
PPT (Planning and Placement Team): Connecticut's statutory term for the IEP team — used in all CT law, regulations, forms, and communications; equivalent to 'IEP Team' under IDEA (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-76d; Conn. Agencies Regs. § 10-76d-1).
APSEP (Approved Private Special Education Program): a CSDE-approved private school placement for students whose needs cannot be met by the LEA; subject to state approval and oversight (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-76d(e)).
SERC (Special Education Resource Center): Connecticut's free statewide mediation, facilitation, and professional development resource for families and educators.
RESC (Regional Educational Service Center): Connecticut's intermediate agency that delivers cooperative special education services for member districts — analogous to ESAs or BOCEs in other states.
CTAA (Connecticut Alternate Assessment): the alternate assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, replacing general state assessments for eligible students.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-570d: governs recording of telephone communications only — does not apply to in-person PPT meetings. No state statute prohibits recording in-person PPT meetings; district recording policies vary.
Key Timelines
PPT meetings must be convened within Connecticut's 60-calendar-day evaluation timeline (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-76d(b)(2)).
Annual PPT review is required at least once per year (Conn. Agencies Regs. § 10-76d-12).
SERC mediation is available at any time as an alternative to formal dispute resolution.