Hovey Reappointed To

Advisory Council For Special Education

House Minority Leader Robert M. Ward, R-86th District, recently reappointed state Representative DebraLee Hovey, R-112th District, to the Advisory Council for Special Education.

“Special education is one of my top concerns as a legislator and education professional,” Ms Hovey said. “One of the most important challenges facing the General Assembly over the next two years will be to enable local school districts to continue providing quality special education services while easing the burden on local property taxpayers.”

The Advisory Council for Special Education is responsible for advising the state Department of Education on unmet needs in educating students with disabilities, periodically reviewing the laws, regulations, standards, and guidelines proposed for issuance, working with the state board of education in the development of any state plan for providing special education, assisting the state department of education in developing and reporting such data and evaluations as may be conducted under provisions of the Education of the Handicapped Act, and reporting recommendations for changes in special education laws to the General Assembly.

“I hope that your service in this position will continue to be challenging and satisfying,” said Mr Ward in a letter to Representative Hovey informing her of her reappointment to the council. “On behalf of the people of Connecticut, please accept my thanks for your willingness to once again accept the challenge of this public service.”

“With special education expense continuing to rise, the need for the state to increase its share of the cost to Connecticut school districts is becoming more critical every year,” said Ms Hovey. “If towns like Newtown and Monroe are to continue to provide quality education for all students and ensure they are fully prepared to enter the work force or go to college, the General Assembly’s top priority must be to adopt a more equitable formula for distributing special education funding to Connecticut’s suburban and rural communities.”