CCA Statement Regarding Resolution of Systemic Legal Complaint Against Bridgeport Public Schools

CCA successfully resolved a systemic legal complaint filed on behalf of CCA clients and certain similarly situated children with complex disabilities in the Bridgeport Public Schools who were in classrooms that lacked adequate staffing and credentialed staff. CCA alleged that due to BPS’ widespread staffing gaps children with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in self-contained classrooms were denied their civil right to an education. Many children lacked access to a certified special education teacher for months at a time, some for almost an entire school year. Other children were also denied access to speech and language services, essential for children with disabilities to develop functional communication. As a result of these legal violations, children were denied their right to an education, and several children individually represented by CCA were demonstrably harmed and unsafe. One child was allowed to hit her head against the wall over 250 times without anyone intervening. Another student developed significant frustration and anxiety due to the chaotic classroom environment and began demonstrating self-injurious and aggressive behavior to others. Another child, denied the speech and language supports he was entitled to, soiled his pants because staff did not understand his request to go the bathroom and was not changed or cleaned by school staff.

Upon review and investigation, state officials found that Bridgeport Public Schools violated the rights of these children and other students in these classrooms. Bridgeport is now directed to undertake a series of corrective measures to address these legal rights violations. The District must provide state officials with a plan for how all of the children will receive compensatory education services for the months of teaching they were denied; the district must contact the parent of every child identified by CCA and/or the State as having been denied services and seek consent  for the provision of compensatory education, and the District must provide the State with proof that these remedies are being implemented. Finally, the State directed Bridgeport Public Schools to appoint a lead staff to manage the required corrective action and partner with the state on the development of a monitoring plan, inclusive of a monthly report to state education officials.

CCA will monitor the timely implementation of the directed corrective action. CCA will advocate to ensure that state education officials undertake concurrent fact finding and corrective action with regard to all students with disabilities who were denied educational services due to lack of staffing and service provision. CCA will also advocate for systemic reform of the state’s education funding, necessary to remediate statewide violations of the rights of children with disabilities to an appropriate education.