{"data":{"id":"us-ct/conn.-gen.-stat.-10-15o","jurisdiction":"us-ct","citation":"Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-15o","heading":"Office of the Educational Ombudsperson.","body":"(a) There is established an Office of the Educational Ombudsperson, which shall be within the Office of Governmental Accountability for administrative purposes only. The Office of the Educational Ombudsperson shall serve students and families of students in the pursuit of preschool, elementary and secondary education, special education, vocational education and adult education. The Office of the Educational Ombudsperson shall be under the direction of an Educational Ombudsperson who shall be appointed by the Governor and be selected from among individuals with expertise and experience in educational advocacy, special education and educational law.\n(b) The Office of the Educational Ombudsperson shall:\n(1) Receive, review and attempt to resolve any complaints from students and students' families, including, but not limited to, attempts to resolve such complaints in collaboration with schools and educators;\n(2) Compile and analyze data on students and young people, through available data systems, including, but not limited to, the Connecticut Preschool through Twenty and Workforce Information Network, established pursuant to section 10a-57g;\n(3) Assist employees of local and regional boards of education involved in planning and placement team meetings;\n(4) Provide information to the public, agencies, legislators and others regarding the issues and concerns of students and make recommendations for resolving such issues and concerns;\n(5) Analyze and monitor the development and implementation of federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies relating to students and recommend any changes the Educational Ombudsperson deems necessary;\n(6) Disseminate information concerning the availability of the Office of the Educational Ombudsperson to assist students and families of students, as well as local and regional boards of education with educational resource concerns;\n(7) On and after July 1, 2027, prioritize the office's efforts on those school districts that have been identified in the study conducted pursuant to section 10-76ooo as disproportionately or over-identifying minority students for special education and related services; and\n(8) Take any other actions necessary to fulfill the duties of the Office of the Educational Ombudsperson and the Educational Ombudsperson as set forth in this subsection.\n(c) On or before January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Educational Ombudsperson shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the Office of Governmental Accountability and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and children. The Educational Ombudsperson shall report on: (1) The implementation of this section; (2) the overall effectiveness of the Educational Ombudsperson position; and (3) additional steps that need to be taken for the Educational Ombudsperson to be more effective.","path":["TITLE 10. EDUCATION AND CULTURE","CHAPTER 164. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES","PART I. GENERAL"],"source_url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/sup/chap_164.htm#sec_10-15o","current_through":"Revised to January 1, 2026 (2026 Supplement to the General Statutes of Connecticut, applied over the base revision of January 1, 2025)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T19:07:21Z","sha256":"fee885168f1c2ddfda9dba2834855547f765ba1532fed0b43425b92ad3f3efb5","source_id":"us-ct","stale":false,"prev":"us-ct/conn.-gen.-stat.-10-116l-to-10-116s","next":"us-ct/conn.-gen.-stat.-10-19f"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}