South Windsor Schools Awarded Vital Grant

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — South Windsor Public Schools will receive $301,240 in state funding for special education programming under a newly created grant program, Gov. Ned Lamont’s office announced Aug. 17.

The full award is designated for programming, with no capital-improvement funding listed for South Windsor in the state’s announcement.

South Windsor is one of 41 recipients statewide in the first round of Connecticut’s High-Quality Special Education Incentive Grant Program. The grants total $10.6 million, including about $8.9 million for programming costs.

The state release does not identify the particular program South Windsor proposed to develop or expand. Eligible programming expenses include planning and start-up costs, staffing, assistive technology, instructional materials, professional development and flexible learning models.

The program was established through Public Act 25-93 and is intended to help local and regional school districts build services that allow more students with disabilities to learn in their home communities, rather than requiring out-of-district placements.

State officials said special education costs have become one of the largest drivers of local school budgets, particularly as the cost of out-of-district services rises.

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