Hartford Courant

After a special education student in Seymour Public Schools was restrained and secluded 53 times in seven months, the child’s parents filed an official state complaint. The state determined that in two of the 53 occasions, it was “unclear” if physical restraints were necessary, according to documents obtained by the CT Mirror. As a result of the complaint, the district was required to provide a training for staff who interact with the student. That was one of 267 complaints filed in Connecticut last year and a part of a growing trend: More parents of special education students in Connecticut and across the nation are engaging in the formal dispute resolution process in special education. Experts say it could point to a heightened understanding of special education law — and some say parents’ use of artificial intelligence could play a role.