CT HB05001

Establishes a new Special Education and Expansion Development Grant beginning fiscal year 2025-2026, calculated using a town's base aid ratio, foundation amount, and 50% of resident students requiring special education services, with funds restricted to direct special education purposes including teachers, paraeducators, interventions, and equipment

Requires the Department of Education to establish a standardized rate schedule by January 1, 2028 for related services (speech, behavioral, occupational therapies) charged by private and public special education providers, with rates becoming mandatory for billing starting July 1, 2028

Prohibits charging entities from increasing mid-year costs for IEP services unless services change, and requires Department of Education approval for any cost increases due to substantial operational expense changes

Mandates annual unannounced site visits of private special education providers and regional educational service centers beginning July 1, 2027, with $100/day fines for failure to address corrective actions within 30 days

Expands the Building Educational Responsibility with Greater Improvement Networks Commission to conduct needs-based studies on special education program capacity, Tier 2 intervention implementation, and CT-SEDS data system accessibility, with multiple reports due by December 1, 2026