Gov: $10.6M State Grants Strengthen In-District Special Education Programs, East Haven Award $303K

EAST HAVEN, CT —Gov. Ned Lamont and state Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker announced Monday that 41 special education programs across Connecticut are receiving $10.6 million in state grants under the first round of Connecticut’s newly established High-Quality Special Education Incentive Grant Program.

The recipients receiving grants under this first round of the program include East Haven. Just over $300,000 is earmarked for the school district.

This competitive grant program, administered by the state education department, was created by legislation proposed by Lamont and approved by the state General Assembly.

It is intended to help local and regional boards of education build in-district or regional special education services that support students with disabilities and reduce reliance on out-of-district placements, a news release from Lamont reads.

"It is important that school districts have the resources to support special education programming that allows more students to learn alongside their peers in their own communities," Lamont is quoted as saying.

"Over the last several years, special education services have been one of the largest cost drivers for school districts due to the increase in the number of students eligible for special education services and the rapid increase in the cost of those services, particularly for students outplaced in approved special education programs," he said. "This increased investment supports our municipalities and our students with special needs."

Local and regional boards of education seeking a grant under this round were required to submit applications to the state by July 10, 2026. Under the terms of this competitive grant program, individual district applications were eligible for up to $350,000, while collaborative proposals were eligible for up to $500,000.

The approved grants provide approximately $8.9 million for programmatic costs and $1.7 million for eligible capital improvements. Programmatic funding will support planning and start-up costs, staffing, assistive technology, instructional materials, professional development, and flexible learning models, while capital funding is designated for facilities, renovations, equipment, transportation, and other infrastructure needed to support those programs.

East Haven is set to receive $300,000 for programming and $2,500 for capital improvements.

From the joint news release from Lamont and Russell-Tucker:

Specific examples for programmatic grant awards include:

• Establishing a new Intensive Learning and Independence Program for Pre-K through Grade 8 students with significant disabilities who require individualized instruction, structured teaching, functional life-skills instruction, and behavioral supports. The program will provide more opportunities for students to learn and participate alongside their peers in their home school.
• Establishing therapeutic social, emotional, and behavioral support programs at two district high schools for students with disabilities to improve attendance and behavior concerns.
• Expanding inclusive co-teaching classrooms, coaching, and professional learning to increase meaningful learning opportunities for students with disabilities in general education settings to reduce out-of-district placements.

Specific examples for combined programmatic and capital improvement awards include:

• Establishing a new community-based Transition Center Education Program for students ages 18 to 22 with disabilities that will return 15 students currently in out-of-district placements to their home community. Grant funding will support construction, rental and equipment costs, instructional materials, and staffing.
• Establishing a new facility for students with emotional disabilities and autism who need additional behavioral and emotional supports, reducing the need for out-of-district placements. The program will serve students from 15 area school districts with grant funding supporting rental costs, construction, staffing, and instructional materials.