Connecticut Education Department Appoints Its First Dedicated Special Education Attorney
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) announced on Oct. 21 the appointment of Kathleen Reiser as its first dedicated special education attorney, a move the department said will strengthen its legal expertise, oversight and accountability in special education. The position sits in the department's Office of Legal and Governmental Affairs and will support special education complaint investigations.
The appointment follows an independent review of the state's special education system by WestEd, which recommended adding more legal expertise to the complaint process. Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker created the dedicated attorney position to implement that recommendation. "Every student with a disability deserves access to the high-quality education, individualized supports, and opportunities they need to succeed," she said. "We have taken a deliberate and comprehensive approach to strengthening our special education systems, from improving accountability and oversight to building the internal capacity necessary to better serve students, families, and districts."
Reiser joins CSDE from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), where she served as Director of the Office of Adjudications, overseeing operations, policy and staff, presiding over administrative hearings and leading mediations of complex legal and regulatory matters. She previously practiced special education law in private practice. (GSM, based on reporting from the Connecticut State Department of Education)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons（CC BY-SA 4.0，Shah Ronak S 摄）
