Connecticut House Bill HB05356

Connecticut 2012 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/29/12
• Refer: 2/29/12

Caption

An Act Concerning Bridges Between Public Schools And Institutions Of Higher Education.

Impact

The bill will directly impact the education laws in Connecticut by requiring local or regional boards of education in the identified priority school districts to work alongside public institutions of higher education. This collaboration is expected to foster a connection between high school and higher education, ultimately aiming to boost the college readiness of students. Additionally, the program will entail testing students in grade eleven to assess their preparedness, with results reported annually to relevant educational authorities.

Summary

House Bill 5356 aims to enhance the preparedness of students for college by establishing a pilot program that aligns high school curricula with college-level programs. To achieve this, the bill mandates collaboration between the Department of Education, the Board of Regents for Higher Education, and the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut. This initiative is specifically targeted at priority school districts, with the intention of improving educational outcomes through standardized curricula that meet Connecticut's common core state standards.

Contention

Potential points of contention surrounding HB 5356 may arise regarding the implementation and funding of the pilot program. Local school districts may express concerns about the costs associated with aligning curricula and the effectiveness of partnering with higher education institutions. Moreover, questions about accountability and the standardization of assessments could be raised, as differing educational philosophies and operational needs might lead to challenges in uniform implementation across diverse districts.