Tell state policymakers that you want neuroscience-based education for Connecticut kids!
Request that Connecticut invest in innovation—or at least correct applications of existing special education funding law that prevent innovation here in Connecticut, locking our state into outdated approaches that over-burdened taxpayers as well
Across the nation and certainly across Connecticut, special education costs have been on a trajectory that is, objectively speaking, unsustainable. We need to find new solutions that can better address those costs. But simply cutting off the funds required to meet children’s needs under the current approaches isn’t going to solve the problem.
Instead, we need to follow the same course we have to solve most challenges: by partnering with private organizations that are creating innovative new ways of doing things that can deliver better outcomes at lower costs.
Unfortunately, special education funding legislation is doing just the opposite, at least as it’s being applied by local public school districts today.
Here’s what our policymakers may not know—and need to:
The special education ‘blueprint’ used in public schools presumes that learning and social-emotional disabilites are immutable and thus seeks to accommodate those differences—yet it is by now well established that the brain is constantly rewiring itself through “neuroplasticity,” and a homegrown Connecticut school has proven that this principle can be applied to reduce or even remove those challenges for at least some profiles of kids.
The regulations proscribing what’s required to become a state approved school presume the same accommodations-based special education blueprint that we use in the public schools. This misses the opportunity to actually reduce or remove student disabilities, reducing costs while transforming lives. This stifles innovation in the state of Connecticut, by denying funds to programs that are developing new blueprints that keep up with the new science and can move all our schools forward. Other states don’t do that. We already have a first-of-its-kind innovation right here in Connecticut. We can’t let our state fall behind where we need it most: innovation that can lead to new solutions like ours that improve student outcomes and reduce costs.
Today, school districts are refusing to even consider schools that aren’t on the '“state-approved” list. That hurts families while effectively eliminating a key cost savings opportunity for our towns—and limits access to only the wealthiest families in our communities. Honoring or at least considering parent choice where it can reduce public costs makes more sense than pouring money into litigations that leave vulnerable families feeling under attack and alienated from their communities.
There are whole cohorts of kids—starting with ones who have twice exceptional profiles like the children we serve—who are not just under-served but hurt by mainstream educational approaches. Denying them access to innovative settings like Cajal (the only Connecticut school tailored to twice exceptional children’s needs) leads many to give up and homeschool not because they want to but because they don’t feel they can keep forcing their child to go some place where they repeatedly get hurt. Let’s keep these kids in the system, where they can get the help and support they need.
As a state, we need to be investing in Innovative programs like Cajal that make a commitment to developing, publishing and disseminating innovative new approaches: as in other sectors, private schools can be the partners that develop the next wave of solutions we need to secure our position as a leader in education for all students, including those with special needs.
Why your voice matters: Legislators hear from bureaucrats protecting the status quo constantly. They need to hear from constituents saying "Connecticut can't afford to fall behind—invest in innovation that positions us to lead."
Below is a template letter making the complete case. It takes 5-10 minutes to personalize and send—and tells legislators Connecticut voters want forward-looking leadership, not just budget patches.
Here’s how to do this in just 5 minutes!
Click on the ‘plus’ sign beside each title to get the details!
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Subject: Connecticut Special Education Innovation Opportunity
Dear Senator/Representative _______,
I am a voter in your district reaching out about an opportunity to improve special education outcomes while reducing taxpayer costs—but it requires action.
Connecticut has a chance to lead the nation in special education innovation. A South Norwalk nonprofit school has developed a research-backed approach that reduces or even removes learning and in some cases social-emotional and executive function disabilities—not just accommodates them—by applying modern neuroscience. Rather than accommodating disabilities year after year (costly and built on outdated assumptions that disabilities can't change), this approach ‘rewires’ the fundamentals of how the child approaches the skill, through neuroplasticity. This approach has led to dramatic results, with students gaining as much as 6 grade levels in both reading and writing in just 6 months time, and students who were told they were destined for costly therapeutic placements becoming recognized for their leadership abilities in social settings in their community with typically-developing peers. These programs are priced similar to approved school programs for analogous profiles in year 1, but decline by up to $30,000 as the child progresses to the next stage in the process. Some students may be able to transition back to a mainstream environment with no IEP in as little as 1-3 school years, reducing the costs of meeting the child’s educational needs by as much as $50-100,000 per child per year for the remaining K-12 years.
This is exactly what Connecticut needs: innovation that improves outcomes while reducing costs, with commitment to share these findings so public schools can implement these approaches (it's in their nonprofit charter). Yet without legislative action, only the wealthiest children in our communities, whose parents can afford full tuition, can access this. Public school districts throughout the area are refusing parent requests because of what appears to be a misunderstanding of recent legislation.
The May 2025 legislation (HB 5001) sought to control costs. However, as implemented this has had unintended consequences that are limiting innovation:
State regulators have been enthusiastic about Cajal’s results, but innovative schools are concerned by regulations requiring that state approved schools adopt the public school IEP, because that locks in the old ways of doing things. This undermines the efforts of those schools that we should most seek to encourage: ones that are innovating on the blueprint itself, proving out new models that could eventually transform our public schools as well.
More critically, districts are categorically refusing non-state-approved schools — even where they reduce costs. Creating in-house programs using the same blueprint doesn't help students for whom that blueprint doesn't work—or is actively traumatizing, like twice-exceptional students. Some kids need different approaches, not just smaller settings using the same or similar methods and the accommodations-based blueprint.
I'm asking you to help address this in four ways. First, support legislation enabling districts to partner with innovative programs following new models—let public schools focus on their blueprint while encouraging the private sector to develop alternatives for specialized needs. Second, reexamine state approval requirements that favor the status quo in how student programs are developed and who is hired to deliver them, or create an "Innovative Schools" category for cost-effective programs that don't follow the traditional blueprint. Third, foster innovation through pilot programs or public-private partnerships with programs like Cajal Academy that are developing next-generation approaches Connecticut public schools could eventually implement. Finally, provide clarity for our families and our districts on how they should proceed when there is no school on the state-approved list that can meet a child’s needs.
Our kids and our towns can't afford not to innovate. This is homegrown Connecticut innovation with national impact potential—if policy enables rather than blocks it.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Your town/district]
P.S. I'd be happy to facilitate an introduction to Cajal Academy leadership for a briefing. This is Connecticut innovation worth supporting.
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Make it stronger by adding:
Local angle:
"As a [Town] resident, I'm proud Connecticut has this innovation..."
"Our town's special ed costs have increased [X%]—we need approaches that actually reduce costs..."
Personal connection:
“As a parent of a child with special needs, I have experienced first hand the fact that the typical ways of doing things aren’t always the right approach”
"As a parent of a child with learning differences, I wish this existed when my child was young..."
"As a taxpayer, I'm frustrated watching costs spiral while outcomes don't improve..."
“As a parent of a student who has attended Cajal…”
Specific to your rep:
"Given your leadership on [education/fiscal/innovation] issues, I thought you'd be interested..."
"You've supported [X initiative]—this aligns with that commitment..."
Keep it:
Respectful and professional
Focused on Connecticut pride
Fiscally responsible framing
Specific about what you're asking
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Click here to find your state representative
Send to:
Your state representative (House)
Your state senator (Senate)
Bonus impact: CC the Education Committee chairs
Format:
Email: Usually [firstname.lastname]@cga.ct.gov
Postal mail: State Capitol, Hartford, CT 06106
Both: Maximum impact!
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We're tracking which legislators are hearing about this—helps us understand where to focus advocacy efforts.
Plus, if your representative responds positively, we can help provide additional information.
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Best case: Office responds, schedules meeting or visit
Likely case: Form letter acknowledging receipt
Possible: Staff reaches out for more information
Sometimes: No response (they're overwhelmed)
Don't be discouraged! Your letter is read and logged. Multiple constituents writing = increased attention.
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Q: I don't know much about education policy. Should I still write? A: Yes! You're a constituent—your voice matters. The template gives you everything you need.
Q: Will this be seen as too political? A: The letter is carefully framed as fiscally responsible innovation—appeals across political spectrum.
Q: What if my representative is on Education Committee? A: Even better! They're especially important to reach. Consider calling their office too.
Q: Should I mention my political party? A: Not necessary. This transcends partisan politics—it's about innovation, fiscal responsibility, and children.
Q: Can I send the same letter to House and Senate? A: Yes, though personalizing slightly for each is even better.
Q: What if I get a form letter response? A: That's normal. The important thing is your voice was heard and logged.
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Already wrote your state rep? Amplify your impact:
Follow up in 2 weeks:
Call their district office
Ask if they received your letter
Request a meeting or briefing
Attend events:
Town halls with your representative
Coffee hours / constituent meetings
Bring this up in person
Coordinate:
Ask neighbors to write too
Organize letter-writing event
Collect signatures on petition
Share:
Post on social media that you wrote
Encourage others to do same
Tag your representative (respectfully)
Contact Your State Representative
Time Commitment: 8 minutes
What You're Asking For:
✅ Recognize Connecticut has homegrown innovation worth supporting
✅ Consider state pilot funding for proven innovation
✅ Balance "state-approved blueprint" requirements with space for innovation
✅ Provide clarity for districts and families about how to proceed where there’s no appropriate school on the state approved list for a given child’s needs
You're NOT:
❌ Asking to eliminate state approval process or in-district programs
❌ Criticizing special education in general, or pitting student profiles against one another
❌ Making partisan political arguments
Done! What’s next?
Thank You! Here are some more quick and easy actions you can take to support our movement to #ReframeTheDebate on Education!
