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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 948
January Session, 2021
LCO No. 3960
Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
Introduced by:
(ED)
AN ACT ADDRESSING ED UCATION FUNDING AND RACIAL EQUITY
IN CONNECTICUT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subdivision (22) of section 10-262f of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2
2021): 3
(22) "Resident students" means the number of pupils of the town 4
enrolled in public schools at the expense of the town on October first or 5
the full school day immediately preceding such date, [provided] except 6
(A) the number shall be decreased by the Department of Education for 7
failure to comply with the provisions of section 10-16, [and] (B) the 8
number shall be increased by one one-hundred-eightieth for each 9
full-time equivalent school day in the school year immediately 10
preceding such date of at least five hours of actual school work in excess 11
of one hundred eighty days and nine hundred hours of actual school 12
work and be increased by the full-time equivalent number of such 13
pupils attending the summer sessions immediately preceding such date 14
at the expense of the town, and (C) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 15 Raised Bill No. 948
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2022, the number of pupils of the town enrolled in public schools at the 16
expense of the town on October 1, 2019, or October 1, 2020, whichever 17
is greater; "enrolled" shall include pupils who are scheduled for vacation 18
on the above date and who are expected to return to school as 19
scheduled. Pupils participating in the program established pursuant to 20
section 10-266aa shall be counted in accordance with the provisions of 21
subsection (h) of section 10-266aa. 22
Sec. 2. Subdivision (25) of section 10-262f of the general statutes is 23
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 24
2021): 25
(25) "Total need students" means the sum of (A) the number of 26
resident students of the town for the school year, [(B) (i) for any school 27
year commencing prior to July 1, 1998, one-quarter the number of 28
children under the temporary family assistance program for the prior 29
fiscal year, and (ii) for the school years commencing July 1, 1998, to July 30
1, 2006, inclusive, one-quarter the number of children under the 31
temporary family assistance program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 32
1997, (C) for school years commencing July 1, 1995, to July 1, 2006, 33
inclusive, one-quarter of the mastery count for the school year, (D) for 34
school years commencing July 1, 1995, to July 1, 2006, inclusive, ten per 35
cent of the number of eligible children, as defined in subdivision (1) of 36
section 10-17e, for whom the board of education is not required to 37
provide a program pursuant to section 10-17f, (E) for the school years 38
commencing July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2012, inclusive, fifteen per cent of the 39
number of eligible students, as defined in subdivision (1) of section 10-40
17e, for whom the board of education is not required to provide a 41
program pursuant to section 10-17f, (F) for the school years commencing 42
July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2012, inclusive, thirty-three per cent of the number 43
of children below the level of poverty, (G) for the school years 44
commencing July 1, 2013, to July 1, 2016, inclusive, thirty per cent of the 45
number of children eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk, 46
and (H)] (B) for the school year commencing July 1, 2021, (i) thirty per 47
cent of the number of children eligible for free or reduced price meals or 48
free milk on October 1, 2019, or October 1, 2020, whichever is greater, 49 Raised Bill No. 948
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(ii) fifteen per cent of the number of children eligible for free or reduced 50
price meals or free milk, on October 1, 2019, or October 1, 2020, 51
whichever is greater, in excess of the number of children eligible for free 52
or reduced price meals or free milk that is equal to sixty per cent of the 53
total number of resident students of the town on October 1, 2019, or 54
October 1, 2020, whichever is greater, and (iii) twenty-five per cent of 55
the number of resident students who are English language learners, as 56
defined in section 10-76kk on October 1, 2019, or October 1, 2020, 57
whichever is greater, and (C) for the school year commencing July 1, 58
[2017] 2022, and each school year thereafter, (i) thirty per cent of the 59
number of children eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk, 60
(ii) [five] fifteen per cent of the number of children eligible for free or 61
reduced price meals or free milk in excess of the number of children 62
eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk that is equal to 63
[seventy-five] sixty per cent of the total number of resident students of 64
the town for the school year, and (iii) [fifteen] twenty-five per cent of the 65
number of resident students who are English language learners, as 66
defined in section 10-76kk. 67
Sec. 3. Section 10-262h of the general statutes is repealed and the 68
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 69
[(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, each town maintaining 70
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 71
grant as follows: (1) Any town designated as an alliance district, as 72
defined in section 10-262u, shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant 73
in an amount equal to its base grant amount; and (2) any town not 74
designated as an alliance district shall be entitled to an equalization aid 75
grant in an amount equal to ninety-five per cent of its base grant 76
amount. 77
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, each town maintaining 78
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 79
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 80
its base grant amount shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 81
amount equal to its base grant amount plus four and one-tenth per cent 82 Raised Bill No. 948
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of its grant adjustment; and (2) any town whose fully funded grant is 83
less than its base grant amount shall be entitled to an equalization aid 84
grant in an amount equal to its base grant amount minus twenty-five 85
per cent of its grant adjustment, except any such town designated as an 86
alliance district shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 87
amount equal to its base grant amount.] 88
[(c)] (a) For the fiscal years ending June 30, [2020] 2022, to June 30, 89
2027, inclusive, each town maintaining public schools according to law 90
shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant as follows: (1) Any town 91
whose fully funded grant is greater than its base grant amount shall be 92
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 93
[equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year plus ten and 94
sixty-six-one-hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment] fully funded 95
grant; and (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its base 96
grant amount shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount 97
equal to its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year 98
minus eight and thirty-three-one-hundredths per cent of its grant 99
adjustment, except any such town designated as an alliance district shall 100
be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its base 101
grant amount. 102
[(d)] (b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year 103
thereafter, each town maintaining public schools according to law shall 104
be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 105
funded grant, except any town designated as an alliance district whose 106
fully funded grant amount is less than its base grant amount shall be 107
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its base grant 108
amount. 109
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) As used in this section, and 110
sections 10-65, 10-66ee, 10-264l and 10-266aa of the general statutes, as 111
amended by this act: 112
(1) "Choice program" means (A) an interdistrict magnet school 113
program, (B) a state charter school, (C) a regional agricultural science 114 Raised Bill No. 948
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and technology center, or (D) the interdistrict public school attendance 115
program pursuant to section 10-266aa of the general statutes, as 116
amended by this act. 117
(2) "Foundation" has the same meaning as provided in section 10-262f 118
of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 119
(3) "Resident students" has the same meaning as provided in section 120
10-262f of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 121
(4) "Resident choice program students" means the number of students 122
of a town enrolled or participating in a particular choice program. 123
(5) "Total need students" has the same meaning as provided in section 124
10-262f of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 125
(6) "Total magnet school program need students" means the sum of 126
(A) the number of students enrolled in the interdistrict magnet school 127
program of the interdistrict magnet school operator, who is not a local 128
or regional board of education, for the school year, and (B) for the school 129
year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year thereafter, (i) thirty 130
per cent of the number of children enrolled in such interdistrict magnet 131
school program eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk, (ii) 132
fifteen per cent of the number of such children eligible for free or 133
reduced price meals or free milk in excess of the number of such children 134
eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk that is equal to sixty 135
per cent of the total number of children enrolled in such interdistrict 136
magnet school program, and (iii) twenty-five per cent of the number of 137
students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program who are 138
English language learners, as defined in section 10-76kk of the general 139
statutes, and (iv) fifteen per cent of the number of students enrolled in 140
such interdistrict magnet school program if such interdistrict magnet 141
school program is assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant 142
to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related 143
stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the commissioner. 144
(7) "Total state charter school need students" means the sum of (A) 145 Raised Bill No. 948
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the number of students enrolled in state charter schools under the 146
control of the governing authority for such state charter schools for the 147
school year, and (B) for the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and 148
each school year thereafter, (i) thirty per cent of the number of children 149
enrolled in such state charter schools eligible for free or reduced price 150
meals or free milk, (ii) fifteen per cent of the number of such children 151
eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk in excess of the 152
number of such children eligible for free or reduced price meals or free 153
milk that is equal to sixty per cent of the total number of children 154
enrolled in such state charter schools, and (iii) twenty-five per cent of 155
the number of students enrolled in such state charter schools who are 156
English language learners, as defined in section 10-76kk of the general 157
statutes. 158
(8) "Sending town" means the town that sends resident choice 159
program students, which it would otherwise be legally responsible for 160
educating, to a choice program. 161
(9) "Receiving district" has the same meaning as provided in section 162
10-266aa of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 163
(10) "Weighted funding amount per pupil" means the quotient of (A) 164
the product of the foundation and a town's total need students for the 165
fiscal year prior to the year in which the grant is to be paid, and (B) the 166
number of resident students of the town. 167
(11) "Weighted funding amount per sending town" means the 168
product of a town's (A) weighted funding amount per pupil, and (B) 169
number of resident choice program students for a particular choice 170
program. 171
(12) "Choice program grant" means the sum of the weighted funding 172
amount per sending town for each sending town. 173
(b) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year 174
thereafter, an interdistrict magnet school program operator, other than 175
an operator that is a local or regional board of education, shall be 176 Raised Bill No. 948
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entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the product of the foundation 177
and its total magnet school program need students. 178
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year 179
thereafter, an interdistrict magnet school operator that is a local or 180
regional board of education shall be entitled to a grant in an amount 181
equal to its choice program grant. 182
(c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year 183
thereafter, the governing authority for a state charter school shall be 184
entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the product of the foundation 185
and its total state charter school need students. 186
(d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year 187
thereafter, the local or regional board of education for each receiving 188
district shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to its choice 189
program grant. 190
(e) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year 191
thereafter, a local or regional board of education that operates a regional 192
agricultural science and technology center shall be entitled to a grant in 193
an amount equal to its choice program grant. 194
Sec. 5. Section 10-264l of the general statutes is repealed and the 195
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 196
(a) The Department of Education shall, within available 197
appropriations, establish a grant program (1) to assist (A) local and 198
regional boards of education, (B) regional educational service centers, 199
(C) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on 200
behalf of Quinebaug Valley Community College and Three Rivers 201
Community College, and (D) cooperative arrangements pursuant to 202
section 10-158a, and (2) in assisting the state in meeting its obligations 203
pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any 204
related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 205
commissioner, to assist (A) the Board of Trustees of the Community-206
Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, 207 Raised Bill No. 948
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(B) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on 208
behalf of a state university, (C) the Board of Trustees of The University 209
of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (D) the board of governors 210
for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in 211
subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on 212
behalf of the independent institution of higher education, and (E) any 213
other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the 214
commissioner with the operation of interdistrict magnet school 215
programs. All interdistrict magnet schools shall be operated in 216
conformance with the same laws and regulations applicable to public 217
schools. For the purposes of this section "an interdistrict magnet school 218
program" means a program which (i) supports racial, ethnic and 219
economic diversity, (ii) offers a special and high quality curriculum, and 220
(iii) requires students who are enrolled to attend at least half-time. An 221
interdistrict magnet school program does not include a regional 222
agricultural science and technology school, a technical education and 223
career school or a regional special education center. For the school years 224
commencing July 1, 2017, to July 1, 2020, inclusive, the governing 225
authority for each interdistrict magnet school program shall (I) restrict 226
the number of students that may enroll in the school from a participating 227
district to seventy-five per cent of the total school enrollment, and (II) 228
maintain a total school enrollment that is in accordance with the 229
reduced-isolation setting standards for interdistrict magnet school 230
programs, developed by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to 231
section 10-264r. 232
(b) (1) Applications for interdistrict magnet school program 233
operating grants awarded pursuant to this section shall be submitted 234
annually to the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such 235
manner as the commissioner prescribes, except that on and after July 1, 236
2009, applications for such operating grants for new interdistrict magnet 237
schools, other than those that the commissioner determines will assist 238
the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. 239
O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, 240
as determined by the commissioner, shall not be accepted until the 241 Raised Bill No. 948
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commissioner develops a comprehensive state-wide interdistrict 242
magnet school plan. The commissioner shall submit such 243
comprehensive state-wide interdistrict magnet school plan on or before 244
October 1, 2016, to the joint standing committees of the General 245
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and 246
appropriations. 247
(2) In determining whether an application shall be approved and 248
funds awarded pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall 249
consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to: (A) Whether the 250
program offered by the school is likely to increase student achievement; 251
(B) whether the program is likely to reduce racial, ethnic and economic 252
isolation; (C) the percentage of the student enrollment in the program 253
from each participating district; and (D) the proposed operating budget 254
and the sources of funding for the interdistrict magnet school. For a 255
magnet school not operated by a local or regional board of education, 256
the commissioner shall only approve a proposed operating budget that, 257
on a per pupil basis, does not exceed the maximum allowable threshold 258
established in accordance with this subdivision. The maximum 259
allowable threshold shall be an amount equal to one hundred twenty 260
per cent of the state average of the quotient obtained by dividing net 261
current expenditures, as defined in section 10-261, by average daily 262
membership, as defined in said section, for the fiscal year two years 263
prior to the fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. The 264
Department of Education shall establish the maximum allowable 265
threshold no later than December fifteenth of the fiscal year prior to the 266
fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. If requested by an 267
applicant that is not a local or regional board of education, the 268
commissioner may approve a proposed operating budget that exceeds 269
the maximum allowable threshold if the commissioner determines that 270
there are extraordinary programmatic needs. For the fiscal years ending 271
June 30, 2017, June 30, 2018, June 30, 2020, and June 30, 2021, in the case 272
of an interdistrict magnet school that will assist the state in meeting its 273
obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 274
(1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 275 Raised Bill No. 948
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commissioner, the commissioner shall also consider whether the school 276
is meeting the reduced-isolation setting standards for interdistrict 277
magnet school programs, developed by the commissioner pursuant to 278
section 10-264r. If such school has not met such reduced-isolation setting 279
standards, it shall not be entitled to receive a grant pursuant to this 280
section unless the commissioner finds that it is appropriate to award a 281
grant for an additional year or years and approves a plan to bring such 282
school into compliance with such reduced-isolation setting standards. If 283
requested by the commissioner, the applicant shall meet with the 284
commissioner or the commissioner's designee to discuss the budget and 285
sources of funding. 286
(3) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, to June 30, 2021, 287
inclusive, the commissioner shall not award a grant to an interdistrict 288
magnet school program that (A) has more than seventy-five per cent of 289
the total school enrollment from one school district, or (B) does not 290
maintain a total school enrollment that is in accordance with the 291
reduced-isolation setting standards for interdistrict magnet school 292
programs, developed by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to 293
section 10-264r, except the commissioner may award a grant to such 294
school for an additional year or years if the commissioner finds it is 295
appropriate to do so and approves a plan to bring such school into 296
compliance with such reduced-isolation setting standards. 297
(4) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, to June 30, 2021, 298
inclusive, if an interdistrict magnet school program does not maintain a 299
total school enrollment that is in accordance with the reduced-isolation 300
setting standards for interdistrict magnet school programs, developed 301
by the commissioner pursuant to section 10-264r, for two or more 302
consecutive years, the commissioner may impose a financial penalty on 303
the operator of such interdistrict magnet school program, or take any 304
other measure, in consultation with such operator, as may be 305
appropriate to assist such operator in complying with such reduced-306
isolation setting standards. 307
(5) For the purposes of equalization aid under section 10-262h, as 308 Raised Bill No. 948
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amended by this act, a student enrolled in an interdistrict magnet school 309
program shall be considered a student enrolled in the school district in 310
which such student resides. 311
(c) (1) [The maximum amount each interdistrict magnet school 312
program, except those described in subparagraphs (A) to (G), inclusive, 313
of subdivision (3) of this subsection, shall be eligible to receive per 314
enrolled student who is not a resident of the town operating the magnet 315
school shall be (A) six thousand sixteen dollars for the fiscal year ending 316
June 30, 2008, (B) six thousand seven hundred thirty dollars for the fiscal 317
years ending June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2012, inclusive, (C) seven 318
thousand eighty-five dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to 319
June 30, 2019, inclusive, and (D) seven thousand two hundred twenty-320
seven dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year 321
thereafter. The per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is a 322
resident of the town operating the magnet school program shall be (i) 323
three thousand dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2008, to June 324
30, 2019, inclusive, and (ii) three thousand sixty dollars for the fiscal year 325
ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter.] For the fiscal year 326
ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year thereafter, each interdistrict 327
magnet school operator shall be paid a grant equal to the amount the 328
operator is entitled to receive under the provisions of section 4 of this 329
act. 330
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, and each fiscal year 331
thereafter, the commissioner may, within available appropriations, 332
provide supplemental grants for the purposes of enhancing educational 333
programs in such interdistrict magnet schools, as the commissioner 334
determines. Such grants shall be made after the commissioner has 335
conducted a comprehensive financial review and approved the total 336
operating budget for such schools, including all revenue and 337
expenditure estimates. 338
[(3) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (C) to (G), 339
inclusive, of this subdivision, each interdistrict magnet school operated 340
by a regional educational service center that enrolls less than fifty-five 341 Raised Bill No. 948
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per cent of the school's students from a single town shall receive a per 342
pupil grant in the amount of (i) six thousand two hundred fifty dollars 343
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, (ii) six thousand five hundred 344
dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, (iii) seven thousand sixty 345
dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, (iv) seven thousand six 346
hundred twenty dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2009, to June 347
30, 2012, inclusive, (v) seven thousand nine hundred dollars for the 348
fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2019, inclusive, and (vi) 349
eight thousand fifty-eight dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, 350
and each fiscal year thereafter. 351
(B) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (C) to (G), 352
inclusive, of this subdivision, each interdistrict magnet school operated 353
by a regional educational service center that enrolls at least fifty-five per 354
cent of the school's students from a single town shall receive a per pupil 355
grant for each enrolled student who is not a resident of the district that 356
enrolls at least fifty-five per cent of the school's students in the amount 357
of (i) six thousand sixteen dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, 358
(ii) six thousand seven hundred thirty dollars for the fiscal years ending 359
June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2012, inclusive, (iii) seven thousand eighty-five 360
dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2019, 361
inclusive, and (iv) seven thousand two hundred twenty-seven dollars 362
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter. 363
The per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is a resident of the 364
district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent of the school's students 365
shall be three thousand sixty dollars. 366
(C) (i) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, to June 30, 2019, 367
inclusive, each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional 368
educational service center that began operations for the school year 369
commencing July 1, 2001, and that for the school year commencing July 370
1, 2008, enrolled at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than eighty per 371
cent of the school's students from a single town, shall receive a per pupil 372
grant (I) for each enrolled student who is a resident of the district that 373
enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than eighty per cent of the 374
school's students, up to an amount equal to the total number of such 375 Raised Bill No. 948
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enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the 376
amount of eight thousand one hundred eighty dollars, (II) for each 377
enrolled student who is a resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-378
five per cent, but not more than eighty per cent of the school's students, 379
in an amount greater than the total number of such enrolled students as 380
of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the amount of three 381
thousand dollars, (III) for each enrolled student who is not a resident of 382
the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than 383
eighty per cent of the school's students, up to an amount equal to the 384
total number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the 385
data of record, in the amount of eight thousand one hundred eighty 386
dollars, and (IV) for each enrolled student who is not a resident of the 387
district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but not more than eighty 388
per cent of the school's students, in an amount greater than the total 389
number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the data 390
of record, in the amount of seven thousand eighty-five dollars. 391
(ii) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year 392
thereafter, each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional 393
educational service center that began operations for the school year 394
commencing July 1, 2001, and that for the school year commencing July 395
1, 2008, enrolled at least fifty-five per cent, but not more than eighty per 396
cent of the school's students from a single town, shall receive a per pupil 397
grant (I) for each enrolled student who is a resident of the district that 398
enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but not more than eighty per cent of 399
the school's students, up to an amount equal to the total number of such 400
enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the 401
amount of eight thousand three hundred forty-four dollars, (II) for each 402
enrolled student who is a resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-403
five per cent, but not more than eighty per cent of the school's students, 404
in an amount greater than the total number of such enrolled students as 405
of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the amount of three 406
thousand sixty dollars, (III) for each enrolled student who is not a 407
resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but no more 408
than eighty per cent of the school's students, up to an amount equal to 409 Raised Bill No. 948
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the total number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using 410
the data of record, in the amount of eight thousand three hundred forty-411
four dollars, and (IV) for each enrolled student who is not a resident of 412
the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but not more than 413
eighty per cent of the school's students, in an amount greater than the 414
total number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the 415
data of record, in the amount of seven thousand two hundred twenty-416
seven dollars. 417
(D) (i) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (D)(ii) of this 418
subdivision, each interdistrict magnet school operated by (I) a regional 419
educational service center, (II) the Board of Trustees of the Community-420
Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, 421
(III) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on 422
behalf of a state university, (IV) the Board of Trustees for The University 423
of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (V) the board of governors 424
for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in 425
subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on 426
behalf of the independent institution of higher education, except as 427
otherwise provided in subparagraph (E) of this subdivision, (VI) 428
cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, (VII) any other 429
third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the commissioner, 430
and (VIII) the Hartford school district for the operation of Great Path 431
Academy on behalf of Manchester Community College, that enrolls less 432
than sixty per cent of its students from Hartford shall receive a per pupil 433
grant in the amount of nine thousand six hundred ninety-five dollars for 434
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, ten thousand four hundred forty-435
three dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2011, to June 30, 2019, 436
inclusive, and ten thousand six hundred fifty-two dollars for the fiscal 437
year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter. 438
(ii) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, to June 30, 2019, 439
inclusive, any interdistrict magnet school described in subparagraph 440
(D)(i) of this subdivision that enrolls less than fifty per cent of its 441
incoming students from Hartford shall receive a per pupil grant in the 442
amount of seven thousand nine hundred dollars for one-half of the total 443 Raised Bill No. 948
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number of non-Hartford students enrolled in the school over fifty per 444
cent of the total school enrollment and shall receive a per pupil grant in 445
the amount of ten thousand four hundred forty-three dollars for the 446
remainder of the total school enrollment. For the fiscal year ending June 447
30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter, any interdistrict magnet school 448
described in subparagraph (D)(i) of this subdivision that enrolls less 449
than fifty per cent of its incoming students from Hartford shall receive 450
a per pupil grant in the amount of eight thousand fifty-eight dollars for 451
one-half of the total number of non-Hartford students enrolled in the 452
school over fifty per cent of the total school enrollment and shall receive 453
a per pupil grant in the amount of ten thousand six hundred fifty-two 454
dollars for the remainder of the total school enrollment. 455
(E) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and each fiscal year 456
thereafter, each interdistrict magnet school operated by the board of 457
governors for an independent institution of higher education, as defined 458
in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on 459
behalf of the independent institution of higher education, that (i) began 460
operations for the school year commencing July 1, 2014, (ii) enrolls less 461
than sixty per cent of its students from Hartford pursuant to the decision 462
in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order 463
in effect, as determined by the commissioner, and (iii) enrolls students 464
at least half-time, shall be eligible to receive a per pupil grant (I) equal 465
to sixty-five per cent of the grant amount determined pursuant to 466
subparagraph (D) of this subdivision for each student who is enrolled 467
at such school for at least two semesters in each school year, and (II) 468
equal to thirty-two and one-half per cent of the grant amount 469
determined pursuant to subparagraph (D) of this subdivision for each 470
student who is enrolled at such school for one semester in each school 471
year. 472
(F) Each interdistrict magnet school operated by a local or regional 473
board of education, pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 474
Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, shall receive 475
a per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is not a resident of the 476
district in the amount of (i) twelve thousand dollars for the fiscal year 477 Raised Bill No. 948
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ending June 30, 2010, (ii) thirteen thousand fifty-four dollars for the 478
fiscal years ending June 30, 2011, to June 30, 2019, inclusive, and (iii) 479
thirteen thousand three hundred fifteen dollars for the fiscal year ending 480
June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter. 481
(G) In addition to the grants described in subparagraph (E) of this 482
subdivision, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, the commissioner 483
may, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 484
Management and the Finance Advisory Committee, established 485
pursuant to section 4-93, provide supplemental grants to the Hartford 486
school district of up to one thousand fifty-four dollars for each student 487
enrolled at an interdistrict magnet school operated by the Hartford 488
school district who is not a resident of such district. 489
(H) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year 490
thereafter, the half-day Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts 491
interdistrict magnet school operated by the Capital Region Education 492
Council shall be eligible to receive a per pupil grant equal to sixty-five 493
per cent of the per pupil grant specified in subparagraph (A) of this 494
subdivision. 495
(I) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, to June 30, 2018, inclusive, 496
the half-day Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science 497
interdistrict magnet school operated by the Capitol Region Education 498
Council shall be eligible to receive a per pupil grant equal to six 499
thousand seven hundred eighty-seven dollars for (i) students enrolled 500
in grades ten to twelve, inclusive, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, 501
(ii) students enrolled in grades eleven and twelve for the fiscal year 502
ending June 30, 2017, and (iii) students enrolled in grade twelve for the 503
fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, 504
and each fiscal year thereafter, the half-day Greater Hartford Academy 505
of Mathematics and Science interdistrict magnet school shall not be 506
eligible for any additional grants pursuant to subsection (c) of this 507
section. 508
(4) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, and June 30, 2016, the 509 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 17 of 37
department may limit payment to an interdistrict magnet school 510
operator to an amount equal to the grant that such magnet school 511
operator was eligible to receive based on the enrollment level of the 512
interdistrict magnet school program on October 1, 2013. Approval of 513
funding for enrollment above such enrollment level shall be prioritized 514
by the department as follows: (A) Increases in enrollment in an 515
interdistrict magnet school program that is adding planned new grade 516
levels for the school years commencing July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016; (B) 517
increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program that 518
added planned new grade levels for the school year commencing July 1, 519
2014, and was funded during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015; (C) 520
increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program that 521
is moving into a permanent facility for the school years commencing 522
July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2016, inclusive; (D) increases in enrollment in an 523
interdistrict magnet school program to ensure compliance with 524
subsection (a) of this section; and (E) new enrollments for a new 525
interdistrict magnet school program commencing operations on or after 526
July 1, 2014, pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 527
(1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 528
commissioner. Any interdistrict magnet school program operating less 529
than full-time, but at least half-time, shall be eligible to receive a grant 530
equal to sixty-five per cent of the grant amount determined pursuant to 531
this subsection. 532
(5) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, the department may limit 533
payment to an interdistrict magnet school operator to an amount equal 534
to the grant that such magnet school operator was eligible to receive 535
based on the enrollment level of the interdistrict magnet school program 536
on October 1, 2013, or October 1, 2015, whichever is lower. Approval of 537
funding for enrollment above such enrollment level shall be prioritized 538
by the department as follows: (A) Increases in enrollment in an 539
interdistrict magnet school program that is adding planned new grade 540
levels for the school years commencing July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016; (B) 541
increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program that 542
added planned new grade levels for the school year commencing July 1, 543 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 18 of 37
2014, and was funded during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015; (C) 544
increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program that 545
added planned new grade levels for the school year commencing July 1, 546
2015, and was funded during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016; and 547
(D) increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program to 548
ensure compliance with subsection (a) of this section. Any interdistrict 549
magnet school program operating less than full-time, but at least half-550
time, shall be eligible to receive a grant equal to sixty-five per cent of the 551
grant amount determined pursuant to this subsection. 552
(6) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, and within available 553
appropriations, the department may limit payment to an interdistrict 554
magnet school operator to an amount equal to the grant that such 555
magnet school operator was eligible to receive based on the enrollment 556
level of the interdistrict magnet school program on October 1, 2013, 557
October 1, 2015, or October 1, 2016, whichever is lower. Approval of 558
funding for enrollment above such enrollment level shall be prioritized 559
by the department and subject to the commissioner's approval, 560
including increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school 561
program as a result of planned and approved new grade levels. Any 562
interdistrict magnet school program operating less than full-time, but at 563
least half-time, shall be eligible to receive a grant equal to sixty-five per 564
cent of the grant amount determined pursuant to this subsection. 565
(7) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, and within available 566
appropriations, the department may limit payment to an interdistrict 567
magnet school operator to an amount equal to the grant that such 568
magnet school operator was eligible to receive based on the enrollment 569
level of the interdistrict magnet school program on October 1, 2013, 570
October 1, 2015, October 1, 2016, or October 1, 2017, whichever is lower. 571
Approval of funding for enrollment above such enrollment level shall 572
be prioritized by the department and subject to the commissioner's 573
approval, including increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet 574
school program as a result of planned and approved new grade levels. 575
Any interdistrict magnet school program operating less than full-time, 576
but at least half-time, shall be eligible to receive a grant equal to sixty-577 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 19 of 37
five per cent of the grant amount determined pursuant to this 578
subsection. 579
(8) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and within available 580
appropriations, the department may limit payment to an interdistrict 581
magnet school operator to an amount equal to the grant that such 582
magnet school operator was eligible to receive based on the enrollment 583
level of the interdistrict magnet school program on October 1, 2013, 584
October 1, 2015, October 1, 2016, October 1, 2017, or October 1, 2018, 585
whichever is lower. Approval of funding for enrollment above such 586
enrollment level shall be prioritized by the department and subject to 587
the commissioner's approval, including increases in enrollment in an 588
interdistrict magnet school program as a result of planned and 589
approved new grade levels. Any interdistrict magnet school program 590
operating less than full-time, but at least half-time, shall be eligible to 591
receive a grant equal to sixty-five per cent of the grant amount 592
determined pursuant to this subsection. 593
(9) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, and within available 594
appropriations, the department may limit payment to an interdistrict 595
magnet school operator to an amount equal to the grant that such 596
magnet school operator was eligible to receive based on the enrollment 597
level of the interdistrict magnet school program on October 1, 2013, 598
October 1, 2015, October 1, 2016, October 1, 2017, October 1, 2018, or 599
October 1, 2019, whichever is lower. Approval of funding for enrollment 600
above such enrollment level shall be prioritized by the department and 601
subject to the commissioner's approval, including increases in 602
enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program as a result of 603
planned and approved new grade levels. Any interdistrict magnet 604
school program operating less than full-time, but at least half-time, shall 605
be eligible to receive a grant equal to sixty-five per cent of the grant 606
amount determined pursuant to this subsection.] 607
[(10)] (3) Within available appropriations, the commissioner may 608
make grants to the following entities that operate an interdistrict magnet 609
school that assists the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the 610 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 20 of 37
decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation 611
or order in effect, as determined by the commissioner and that provide 612
academic support programs and summer school educational programs 613
approved by the commissioner to students participating in such 614
interdistrict magnet school program: (A) Regional educational service 615
centers, (B) local and regional boards of education, (C) the Board of 616
Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional 617
community-technical college, (D) the Board of Trustees of the 618
Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (E) 619
the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the 620
university, (F) the board of governors for an independent institution of 621
higher education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the 622
equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent institution of 623
higher education, (G) cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-624
158a, and (H) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved 625
by the commissioner. 626
[(11)] (4) Within available appropriations, the Commissioner of 627
Education may make grants, in an amount not to exceed seventy-five 628
thousand dollars, for start-up costs associated with the development of 629
new interdistrict magnet school programs that assist the state in meeting 630
its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 631
(1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 632
commissioner, to the following entities that develop such a program: (A) 633
Regional educational service centers, (B) local and regional boards of 634
education, (C) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical 635
Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (D) the 636
Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf 637
of a state university, (E) the Board of Trustees for The University of 638
Connecticut on behalf of the university, (F) the board of governors for 639
an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subsection 640
(a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the 641
independent institution of higher education, (G) cooperative 642
arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, and (H) any other third-party 643
not-for-profit corporation approved by the commissioner. 644 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 21 of 37
[(12)] (5) The amounts of the grants determined pursuant to this 645
subsection shall be proportionately adjusted, if necessary, within 646
available appropriations, and in no case shall the total grant paid to an 647
interdistrict magnet school operator pursuant to this section exceed the 648
aggregate total of the reasonable operating budgets of the interdistrict 649
magnet school programs of such operator, less revenues from other 650
sources. 651
(d) [(1)] Grants made pursuant to this section [, except those made 652
pursuant to subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of this section and 653
subdivision (2) of this subsection,] shall be paid as follows: Seventy per 654
cent not later than September first and the balance not later than May 655
first of each fiscal year. The May first payment shall be adjusted to reflect 656
actual interdistrict magnet school program enrollment as of the 657
preceding October first using the data of record as of the intervening 658
January thirty-first, if the actual level of enrollment is lower than the 659
projected enrollment stated in the approved grant application. The May 660
first payment shall be further adjusted for the difference between the 661
total grant received by the magnet school operator in the prior fiscal year 662
and the revised total grant amount calculated for the prior fiscal year in 663
cases where the aggregate financial audit submitted by the interdistrict 664
magnet school operator pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (n) of 665
this section indicates an overpayment by the department. 666
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, grants 667
made pursuant to this section may be paid to each interdistrict magnet 668
school operator as an aggregate total of the amount that the interdistrict 669
magnet schools operated by each such operator are eligible to receive 670
under this section. Each interdistrict magnet school operator may 671
distribute such aggregate grant among the interdistrict magnet school 672
programs that such operator is operating pursuant to a distribution plan 673
approved by the Commissioner of Education. 674
[(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year 675
thereafter, grants made pursuant to subparagraph (E) of subdivision (3) 676
of subsection (c) of this section shall be paid as follows: Fifty per cent of 677
the amount not later than September first based on estimated student 678 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 22 of 37
enrollment for the first semester on September first, and another fifty 679
per cent not later than May first of each fiscal year based on actual 680
student enrollment for the second semester on February first. The May 681
first payment shall be adjusted to reflect actual interdistrict magnet 682
school program enrollment for those students who have been enrolled 683
at such school for at least two semesters of the school year, using the 684
data of record, and actual student enrollment for those students who 685
have been enrolled at such school for only one semester, using data of 686
record. The May first payment shall be further adjusted for the 687
difference between the total grant received by the magnet school 688
operator in the prior fiscal year and the revised total grant amount 689
calculated for the prior fiscal year where the financial audit submitted 690
by the interdistrict magnet school operator pursuant to subdivision (1) 691
of subsection (n) of this section indicates an overpayment by the 692
department.] 693
(e) The Department of Education may retain up to one-half of one per 694
cent of the amount appropriated, in an amount not to exceed five 695
hundred thousand dollars, for purposes of this section for program 696
evaluation and administration. 697
(f) Each local or regional school district in which an interdistrict 698
magnet school is located shall provide the same kind of transportation 699
to its children enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school as it provides 700
to its children enrolled in other public schools in such local or regional 701
school district. The parent or guardian of a child denied the 702
transportation services required to be provided pursuant to this 703
subsection may appeal such denial in the manner provided in sections 704
10-186 and 10-187. 705
(g) On or before October fifteenth of each year, the Commissioner of 706
Education shall determine if interdistrict magnet school enrollment is 707
below the number of students for which funds were appropriated. If the 708
commissioner determines that the enrollment is below such number, the 709
additional funds shall not lapse but shall be used by the commissioner 710
for grants for interdistrict cooperative programs pursuant to section 10-711 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 23 of 37
74d. 712
(h) (1) In the case of a student identified as requiring special 713
education, the school district in which the student resides shall: (A) 714
Hold the planning and placement team meeting for such student and 715
shall invite representatives from the interdistrict magnet school to 716
participate in such meeting; and (B) pay the interdistrict magnet school 717
an amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of 718
educating such student and the sum of the amount received by the 719
interdistrict magnet school for such student pursuant to subsection (c) 720
of this section and amounts received from other state, federal, local or 721
private sources calculated on a per pupil basis. Such school district shall 722
be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 10-76g. If a student 723
requiring special education attends an interdistrict magnet school on a 724
full-time basis, such interdistrict magnet school shall be responsible for 725
ensuring that such student receives the services mandated by the 726
student's individualized education program whether such services are 727
provided by the interdistrict magnet school or by the school district in 728
which the student resides. 729
(2) In the case of a student with a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the 730
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, the school 731
district in which the student resides shall pay the interdistrict magnet 732
school an amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of 733
educating such student and the sum of the amount received by the 734
interdistrict magnet school for such student pursuant to subsection (c) 735
of this section and amounts received from other state, federal, local or 736
private sources calculated on a per pupil basis. If a student with a plan 737
pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 738
from time to time, attends an interdistrict magnet school on a full-time 739
basis, such interdistrict magnet school shall be responsible for ensuring 740
that such student receives the services mandated by the student's plan, 741
whether such services are provided by the interdistrict magnet school 742
or by the school district in which the student resides. 743
(i) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the 744 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 24 of 37
enrollment of nonpublic school students in an interdistrict magnet 745
school program that operates less than full-time, provided (1) such 746
students constitute no more than five per cent of the full-time equivalent 747
enrollment in such magnet school program, and (2) such students are 748
not counted for purposes of determining the amount of grants pursuant 749
to this section and section 10-264i. 750
(j) After accommodating students from participating districts in 751
accordance with an approved enrollment agreement, an interdistrict 752
magnet school operator that has unused student capacity may enroll 753
directly into its program any interested student. A student from a 754
district that is not participating in an interdistrict magnet school or the 755
interdistrict student attendance program pursuant to section 10-266aa, 756
as amended by this act, to an extent determined by the Commissioner 757
of Education shall be given preference. [The local or regional board of 758
education otherwise responsible for educating such student shall 759
contribute funds to support the operation of the interdistrict magnet 760
school in an amount equal to the per student tuition, if any, charged to 761
participating districts.] 762
[(k) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year 763
thereafter, any tuition charged to a local or regional board of education 764
by a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict 765
magnet school or any tuition charged by the Hartford school district 766
operating the Great Path Academy on behalf of Manchester Community 767
College for any student enrolled in kindergarten to grade twelve, 768
inclusive, in such interdistrict magnet school shall be in an amount equal 769
to the difference between (A) the average per pupil expenditure of the 770
magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (B) the amount of any per 771
pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus 772
any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. If any 773
such board of education fails to pay such tuition, the commissioner may 774
withhold from such board's town or towns a sum payable under section 775
10-262i in an amount not to exceed the amount of the unpaid tuition to 776
the magnet school and pay such money to the fiscal agent for the magnet 777
school as a supplementary grant for the operation of the interdistrict 778 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 25 of 37
magnet school program. In no case shall the sum of such tuitions exceed 779
the difference between (i) the total expenditures of the magnet school 780
for the prior fiscal year, and (ii) the total per pupil state subsidy 781
calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue from 782
other sources. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive 783
financial review of the operating budget of a magnet school to verify 784
such tuition rate. 785
(2) (A) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, and June 30, 2014, a 786
regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet 787
school offering a preschool program that is not located in the Sheff 788
region may charge tuition to the Department of Education for a child 789
enrolled in such preschool program in an amount not to exceed an 790
amount equal to the difference between (i) the average per pupil 791
expenditure of the preschool program offered at the magnet school for 792
the prior fiscal year, and (ii) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy 793
calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue from 794
other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. The commissioner may 795
conduct a comprehensive financial review of the operating budget of 796
any such magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate. 797
For purposes of this subdivision, "Sheff region" means the school 798
districts for the towns of Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, East Granby, East 799
Hartford, East Windsor, Ellington, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, 800
Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South 801
Windsor, Suffield, Vernon, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor and 802
Windsor Locks. 803
(B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, a regional educational 804
service center operating an interdistrict magnet school offering a 805
preschool program that is not located in the Sheff region may charge 806
tuition to the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool 807
program in an amount that is in accordance with the sliding tuition scale 808
adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-264p. 809
The Department of Education shall be financially responsible for any 810
unpaid portion of the tuition not charged to such parent or guardian 811
under such sliding tuition scale. Such tuition shall not exceed an amount 812 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 26 of 37
equal to the difference between (i) the average per pupil expenditure of 813
the preschool program offered at the magnet school for the prior fiscal 814
year, and (ii) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under 815
subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue from other sources 816
calculated on a per pupil basis. The commissioner may conduct a 817
comprehensive financial review of the operating budget of any such 818
magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate.] 819
[(C)] (k) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year 820
thereafter, a regional educational service center operating an 821
interdistrict magnet school offering a preschool program that is not 822
located in the Sheff region shall charge tuition to the parent or guardian 823
of a child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount up to four 824
thousand fifty-three dollars, except such regional educational service 825
center shall not charge tuition to such parent or guardian with a family 826
income at or below seventy-five per cent of the state median income. 827
The Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, be 828
financially responsible for any unpaid tuition charged to such parent or 829
guardian with a family income at or below seventy-five per cent of the 830
state median income. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive 831
financial review of the operating budget of any such magnet school 832
charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate. 833
(l) A participating district shall provide opportunities for its students 834
to attend an interdistrict magnet school in a number that is at least equal 835
to the number specified in any written agreement with an interdistrict 836
magnet school operator or in a number that is at least equal to the 837
average number of students that the participating district enrolled in 838
such magnet school during the previous three school years. 839
(m) (1) On or before May 15, 2010, and annually thereafter, each 840
interdistrict magnet school operator shall provide written notification to 841
any school district that is otherwise responsible for educating a student 842
who resides in such school district and will be enrolled in an interdistrict 843
magnet school under the operator's control for the following school 844
year. Such notification shall include (A) the number of any such 845 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 27 of 37
students, by grade, who will be enrolled in an interdistrict magnet 846
school under the control of such operator, (B) the name of the school in 847
which such student has been placed, and (C) the amount of tuition to be 848
charged to the local or regional board of education for such student. 849
Such notification shall represent an estimate of the number of students 850
expected to attend such interdistrict magnet schools in the following 851
school year, but shall not be deemed to limit the number of students 852
who may enroll in such interdistrict magnet schools for such year. 853
(2) For the school year commencing July 1, [2015] 2021, and each 854
school year thereafter, any interdistrict magnet school operator that is a 855
local or regional board of education [and did] shall not charge tuition to 856
[a] another local or regional board of education. [for the school year 857
commencing July 1, 2014, may not charge tuition to such board unless 858
(A) such operator receives authorization from the Commissioner of 859
Education to charge the proposed tuition, and (B) if such authorization 860
is granted, such operator provides written notification on or before 861
September first of the school year prior to the school year in which such 862
tuition is to be charged to such board of the tuition to be charged to such 863
board for each student that such board is otherwise responsible for 864
educating and is enrolled at the interdistrict magnet school under such 865
operator's control. In deciding whether to authorize an interdistrict 866
magnet school operator to charge tuition under this subdivision, the 867
commissioner shall consider (i) the average per pupil expenditure of 868
such operator for each interdistrict magnet school under the control of 869
such operator, and (ii) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy and 870
any revenue from other sources received by such operator. The 871
commissioner may conduct a comprehensive financial review of the 872
operating budget of the magnet school of such operator to verify that 873
the tuition is appropriate.] The provisions of this subdivision shall [not] 874
apply to any interdistrict magnet school operator. [that is a regional 875
educational service center or assisting the state in meeting the goals of 876
the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, 877
et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo 878
Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended.] 879 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 28 of 37
(3) Not later than two weeks following an enrollment lottery for an 880
interdistrict magnet school conducted by a magnet school operator, the 881
parent or guardian of a student (A) who will enroll in such interdistrict 882
magnet school in the following school year, or (B) whose name has been 883
placed on a waiting list for enrollment in such interdistrict magnet 884
school for the following school year, shall provide written notification 885
of such prospective enrollment or waiting list placement to the school 886
district in which such student resides and is otherwise responsible for 887
educating such student. 888
(n) (1) Each interdistrict magnet school operator shall annually file 889
with the Commissioner of Education, at such time and in such manner 890
as the commissioner prescribes, (A) a financial audit for each 891
interdistrict magnet school operated by such operator, and (B) an 892
aggregate financial audit for all of the interdistrict magnet schools 893
operated by such operator. 894
(2) Annually, the commissioner shall randomly select one 895
interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional educational service 896
center to be subject to a comprehensive financial audit conducted by an 897
auditor selected by the commissioner. The regional educational service 898
center shall be responsible for all costs associated with the audit 899
conducted pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision. 900
(o) For the school [years] year commencing [July 1, 2009, to July 1, 901
2018, inclusive] July 1, 2021, any local or regional board of education 902
operating an interdistrict magnet school pursuant to the decision in 903
Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order 904
in effect, shall not charge tuition for any student enrolled in [a preschool 905
program or in] kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, in an 906
interdistrict magnet school operated by such school district. [, except the 907
Hartford school district may charge tuition for any student enrolled in 908
the Great Path Academy.] 909
[(p) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year 910
thereafter, if the East Hartford school district has greater than seven per 911 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 29 of 37
cent of its resident students, as defined in section 10-262f, enrolled in an 912
interdistrict magnet school program, then the board of education for the 913
town of East Hartford shall not be financially responsible for four 914
thousand four hundred dollars of the portion of the per student tuition 915
charged for each such student in excess of such seven per cent. The 916
Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, be 917
financially responsible for such excess per student tuition. 918
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for the fiscal year 919
ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of the 920
grants payable to the board of education for the town of East Hartford 921
in accordance with this subsection shall be reduced proportionately if 922
the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated 923
for purposes of this subsection.] 924
Sec. 6. Subsection (b) of section 10-264o of the general statutes is 925
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 926
2021): 927
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, [2013] 2022, and each fiscal year 928
thereafter, [any tuition charged to a local or regional board of education 929
by] a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict 930
magnet school assisting the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 931
stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., 932
as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, 933
et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, as determined by the 934
Commissioner of Education, shall not charge tuition to a local or 935
regional board of education for any student enrolled in kindergarten to 936
grade twelve, inclusive, in such interdistrict magnet school. [shall be in 937
an amount equal to the difference between (1) the average per pupil 938
expenditure of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (2) the 939
amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) 940
of section 10-264l plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a 941
per pupil basis. If any such board of education fails to pay such tuition, 942
the commissioner may withhold from such board's town or towns a sum 943
payable under section 10-262i in an amount not to exceed the amount of 944
the unpaid tuition to the magnet school and pay such money to the fiscal 945 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 30 of 37
agent for the magnet school as a supplementary grant for the operation 946
of the interdistrict magnet school program. In no case shall the sum of 947
such tuitions exceed the difference between (A) the total expenditures 948
of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (B) the total per pupil 949
state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of section 10-264l plus any 950
revenue from other sources. The commissioner may conduct a 951
comprehensive review of the operating budget of a magnet school to 952
verify such tuition rate.] 953
Sec. 7. Subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of section 10-66ee of the 954
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 955
thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 956
(d) (1) [The state shall pay in accordance with this subsection, to the 957
fiscal authority for a state charter school for each student enrolled in 958
such school, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, ten thousand two 959
hundred dollars, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, ten thousand 960
five hundred dollars, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, to June 961
30, 2018, inclusive, eleven thousand dollars, and for the fiscal year 962
ending June 30, 2019, and each fiscal year thereafter, eleven thousand 963
two hundred fifty dollars.] For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and 964
each fiscal year thereafter, the fiscal authority for a state charter school 965
shall be paid a grant equal to the amount such state charter school is 966
entitled to receive under the provisions of section 4 of this act. Such 967
payments shall be made as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the amount 968
not later than July fifteenth and September first based on estimated 969
student enrollment on May first, and twenty-five per cent of the amount 970
not later than January first and the remaining amount not later than 971
April first, each based on student enrollment on October first. 972
Sec. 8. Section 10-65 of the general statutes is repealed and the 973
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 974
(a) Each local or regional school district operating an agricultural 975
science and technology education center approved by the State Board of 976
Education for program, educational need, location and area to be served 977 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 31 of 37
shall be eligible for the following grants: (1) In accordance with the 978
provisions of chapter 173, through progress payments in accordance 979
with the provisions of section 10-287i, (A) for projects for which an 980
application was filed prior to July 1, 2011, ninety-five per cent, and (B) 981
for projects for which an application was filed on or after July 1, 2011, 982
eighty per cent of the net eligible costs of constructing, acquiring, 983
renovating and equipping approved facilities to be used exclusively for 984
such agricultural science and technology education center, for the 985
expansion or improvement of existing facilities or for the replacement 986
or improvement of equipment therein, and (2) subject to the provisions 987
of section 10-65b and within available appropriations, [in an amount 988
equal to four thousand two hundred dollars per student for every 989
secondary school student who was enrolled in such center on October 990
first of the previous year] for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and 991
each fiscal year thereafter, a grant equal to the amount such board is 992
entitled to receive under the provisions of section 4 of this act. 993
(b) Each local or regional board of education not maintaining an 994
agricultural science and technology education center shall provide 995
opportunities for its students to enroll in one or more such centers in a 996
number that is at least equal to the number specified in any written 997
agreement with each such center or centers, or in the absence of such an 998
agreement, a number that is at least equal to the average number of its 999
students that the board of education enrolled in each such center or 1000
centers during the previous three school years, provided, in addition to 1001
such number, each such board of education shall provide opportunities 1002
for its students to enroll in the ninth grade in a number that is at least 1003
equal to the number specified in any written agreement with each such 1004
center or centers, or in the absence of such an agreement, a number that 1005
is at least equal to the average number of students that the board of 1006
education enrolled in the ninth grade in each such center or centers 1007
during the previous three school years. If a local or regional board of 1008
education provided opportunities for students to enroll in more than 1009
one center for the school year commencing July 1, 2007, such board of 1010
education shall continue to provide such opportunities to students in 1011 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 32 of 37
accordance with this subsection. The board of education operating an 1012
agricultural science and technology education center [may] shall not 1013
charge, subject to the provisions of section 10-65b, tuition [for a school 1014
year in an amount not to exceed fifty-nine and two-tenths per cent of the 1015
foundation level pursuant to subdivision (9) of section 10-262f, per 1016
student for the fiscal year in which the tuition is paid] to another local 1017
or regional board of education, except that such board may charge 1018
tuition for [(1) students enrolled under shared-time arrangements on a 1019
pro rata basis, and (2)] special education students which shall not exceed 1020
the actual costs of educating such students minus the amounts received 1021
pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section. [and 1022
subsection (c) of this section.] Any tuition paid by such board for special 1023
education students [in excess of the tuition paid for non-special-1024
education students] shall be reimbursed pursuant to section 10-76g. 1025
[(c) In addition to the grants described in subsection (a) of this section, 1026
within available appropriations, (1) each local or regional board of 1027
education operating an agricultural science and technology education 1028
center in which more than one hundred fifty of the students in the prior 1029
school year were out-of-district students shall be eligible to receive a 1030
grant in an amount equal to five hundred dollars for every secondary 1031
school student enrolled in such center on October first of the previous 1032
year, (2) on and after July 1, 2000, if a local or regional board of education 1033
operating an agricultural science and technology education center that 1034
received a grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection no longer 1035
qualifies for such a grant, such local or regional board of education shall 1036
receive a grant in an amount determined as follows: (A) For the first 1037
fiscal year such board of education does not qualify for a grant under 1038
said subdivision (1), a grant in the amount equal to four hundred dollars 1039
for every secondary school student enrolled in its agricultural science 1040
and technology education center on October first of the previous year, 1041
(B) for the second successive fiscal year such board of education does 1042
not so qualify, a grant in an amount equal to three hundred dollars for 1043
every such secondary school student enrolled in such center on said 1044
date, (C) for the third successive fiscal year such board of education does 1045 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 33 of 37
not so qualify, a grant in an amount equal to two hundred dollars for 1046
every such secondary school student enrolled in such center on said 1047
date, and (D) for the fourth successive fiscal year such board of 1048
education does not so qualify, a grant in an amount equal to one 1049
hundred dollars for every such secondary school student enrolled in 1050
such center on said date, and (3) each local and regional board of 1051
education operating an agricultural science and technology education 1052
center that does not receive a grant pursuant to subdivision (1) or (2) of 1053
this subsection shall receive a grant in an amount equal to sixty dollars 1054
for every secondary school student enrolled in such center on said date. 1055
(d) (1) If there are any remaining funds after the amount of the grants 1056
described in subsections (a) and (c) of this section are calculated, within 1057
available appropriations, each local or regional board of education 1058
operating an agricultural science and technology education center shall 1059
be eligible to receive a grant in an amount equal to one hundred dollars 1060
for each student enrolled in such center on October first of the previous 1061
school year. (2) If there are any remaining funds after the amount of the 1062
grants described in subdivision (1) of this subsection are calculated, 1063
within available appropriations, each local or regional board of 1064
education operating an agricultural science and technology education 1065
center that had more than one hundred fifty out-of-district students 1066
enrolled in such center on October first of the previous school year shall 1067
be eligible to receive a grant based on the ratio of the number of out-of-1068
district students in excess of one hundred fifty out-of-district students 1069
enrolled in such center on said date to the total number of out-of-district 1070
students in excess of one hundred fifty out-of-district students enrolled 1071
in all agricultural science and technology education centers that had in 1072
excess of one hundred fifty out-of-district students enrolled on said 1073
date. 1074
(e) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2012, and June 30, 2013, the 1075
Department of Education shall allocate five hundred thousand dollars 1076
to local or regional boards of education operating an agricultural science 1077
and technology education center in accordance with the provisions of 1078
subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section.] 1079 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 34 of 37
[(f)] (c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year 1080
thereafter, if a local or regional board of education receives an increase 1081
in funds pursuant to this section over the amount it received for the 1082
prior fiscal year such increase shall not be used to supplant local funding 1083
for educational purposes. 1084
[(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 10-51 and 10-222, for 1085
the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, to June 30, 2017, inclusive, any 1086
amount received by a local or regional board of education pursuant to 1087
subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section that exceeds the amount 1088
appropriated for education by the municipality or the amount in the 1089
budget approved by such regional board of education for purposes of 1090
said subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section, shall be available 1091
for use by such local or regional board of education, provided such 1092
excess amount is spent in accordance with the provisions of subdivision 1093
(2) of subsection (a) of this section.] 1094
(d) For the purposes of equalization aid under section 10-262h, as 1095
amended by this act, a student enrolled in an agricultural science and 1096
technology education center shall be considered a student enrolled in 1097
the school district in which such student resides. 1098
Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 10-64 of the general statutes is 1099
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1100
2021): 1101
(d) Any local or regional board of education which does not furnish 1102
agricultural science and technology education approved by the State 1103
Board of Education shall designate a school or schools having such a 1104
course approved by the State Board of Education as the school which 1105
any person may attend who has completed an elementary school course 1106
through the eighth grade. The board of education shall pay the [tuition 1107
and] reasonable and necessary cost of transportation of any person 1108
under twenty-one years of age who is not a graduate of a high school or 1109
technical education and career school or an agricultural science and 1110
technology education center and who attends the designated school, 1111 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 35 of 37
provided transportation services may be suspended in accordance with 1112
the provisions of section 10-233c. Each such board's reimbursement 1113
percentage pursuant to section 10-266m for expenditures in excess of 1114
eight hundred dollars per pupil incurred in the fiscal year beginning 1115
July 1, 2004, and in each fiscal year thereafter, shall be increased by an 1116
additional twenty percentage points. 1117
Sec. 10. Subsection (b) of section 10-97 of the general statutes is 1118
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1119
2021): 1120
(b) Any local or regional board of education which does not furnish 1121
agricultural science and technology education approved by the State 1122
Board of Education shall designate a school or schools having such a 1123
course approved by the State Board of Education as the school which 1124
any person may attend who has completed an elementary school course 1125
through the eighth grade. The board of education shall pay the [tuition 1126
and] reasonable and necessary cost of transportation of any person 1127
under twenty-one years of age who is not a graduate of a high school or 1128
technical education and career school and who attends the designated 1129
school, provided transportation services may be suspended in 1130
accordance with the provisions of section 10-233c. Each such board's 1131
reimbursement percentage pursuant to section 10 -266m for 1132
expenditures in excess of eight hundred dollars per pupil incurred in 1133
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1987, and in each fiscal year thereafter, 1134
shall be increased by an additional twenty percentage points. 1135
Sec. 11. Subsections (g) and (h) of section 10-266aa of the general 1136
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1137
(Effective July 1, 2021): 1138
(g) (1) [Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 1139
Department of Education shall provide, within available 1140
appropriations, an annual grant to the local or regional board of 1141
education for each receiving district in an amount not to exceed two 1142
thousand five hundred dollars for each out-of-district student who 1143 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 36 of 37
attends school in the receiving district under the program.] For the fiscal 1144
year ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year thereafter, each receiving 1145
district shall be paid a grant equal to the amount the town is entitled to 1146
receive under the provisions of section 4 of this act. 1147
[(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year 1148
thereafter, the department shall provide, within available 1149
appropriations, an annual grant to the local or regional board of 1150
education for each receiving district if one of the following conditions 1151
are met as follows: (A) Three thousand dollars for each out-of-district 1152
student who attends school in the receiving district under the program 1153
if the number of such out-of-district students is less than two per cent of 1154
the total student population of such receiving district, (B) four thousand 1155
dollars for each out-of-district student who attends school in the 1156
receiving district under the program if the number of such out-of-1157
district students is greater than or equal to two per cent but less than 1158
three per cent of the total student population of such receiving district, 1159
(C) six thousand dollars for each out-of-district student who attends 1160
school in the receiving district under the program if the number of such 1161
out-of-district students is greater than or equal to three per cent but less 1162
than four per cent of the total student population of such receiving 1163
district, (D) six thousand dollars for each out-of-district student who 1164
attends school in the receiving district under the program if the 1165
Commissioner of Education determines that the receiving district has an 1166
enrollment of greater than four thousand students and has increased the 1167
number of students in the program by at least fifty per cent from the 1168
previous fiscal year, or (E) eight thousand dollars for each out-of-district 1169
student who attends school in the receiving district under the program 1170
if the number of such out-of-district students is greater than or equal to 1171
four per cent of the total student population of such receiving district.] 1172
[(3)] (2) Each town which receives funds pursuant to this subsection 1173
shall make such funds available to its local or regional board of 1174
education in supplement to any other local appropriation, other state or 1175
federal grant or other revenue to which the local or regional board of 1176
education is entitled. 1177 Raised Bill No. 948
LCO No. 3960 37 of 37
(h) [Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, each sending 1178
district and each receiving district shall divide the number of children 1179
participating in the program who reside in such district or attend school 1180
in such district by two for purposes of the counts for subdivision (22) of 1181
section 10-262f and subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 10-261.] 1182
For the purposes of equalization aid under section 10-262h, as amended 1183
by this act, a student participating in the program shall not be 1184
considered a student enrolled in the school district in which such 1185
student resides. 1186
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2021 10-262f(22)
Sec. 2 July 1, 2021 10-262f(25)
Sec. 3 July 1, 2021 10-262h
Sec. 4 July 1, 2021 New section
Sec. 5 July 1, 2021 10-264l
Sec. 6 July 1, 2021 10-264o(b)
Sec. 7 July 1, 2021 10-66ee(d)(1)
Sec. 8 July 1, 2021 10-65
Sec. 9 July 1, 2021 10-64(d)
Sec. 10 July 1, 2021 10-97(b)
Sec. 11 July 1, 2021 10-266aa(g) and (h)
Statement of Purpose:
To make revisions to how public education is funded in the state to
address issues of equity and systemic racism.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]