Westport Board Of Education To Host Community Conversation This Week

WESTPORT, CT — The Westport Board of Education will hold a community forum on the district’s Special Education Program Review at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, in the Staples High School library classrooms.

District officials said the Board plans to hire an independent consultant to conduct the review and is seeking public input on the selection process, including the qualifications, experience and approach community members believe would best support the effort.

According to the district, the review is intended to identify districtwide opportunities to improve special education programs and services. Officials said the process will not address individual students’ individualized education programs, or IEPs, or specific personal circumstances.

Board members and administrators also noted that federal and state student privacy laws prevent them from discussing matters involving individual students. Families are encouraged to focus comments and questions on districtwide programs, services and practices rather than individual cases.