CT
Connecticut Senate Bill SB01032

Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01032 Compare Versions

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3+LCO 4871 \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-01032-R01-
4+SB.docx
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7+General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1032
8+January Session, 2021
9+LCO No. 4871
10+
11+
12+Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
13+
14+
15+Introduced by:
16+(ED)
117
218
319
4-Senate Bill No. 1032
5-
6-Public Act No. 21-199
7-
8-
9-AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS AND ADDITIONS TO
10-THE STATUTES RELATING TO EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE
11-DEVELOPMENT.
20+AN ACT CONCERNING VA RIOUS REVISIONS TO THE EDUCATION
21+STATUTES.
1222 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
1323 Assembly convened:
1424
15-Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) Not later than December 1,
16-2021, and annually thereafter, any local or regional board of education
17-that participates in the National School Lunch Program, in which at least
18-one school under the jurisdiction of such board qualifies for the
19-maximum federal reimbursement for all school meals served under the
20-federal Community Eligibility Provision, but does not implement the
21-Community Eligibility Provision, shall submit a report to the
22-Department of Education that notifies the department that such board
23-is not implementing the Community Eligibility Provision and the
24-reasons for why such board is not implementing the Community
25-Eligibility Provision. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, a
26-description of the specific impediments to implementing the
27-Community Eligibility Provision, any actions that are needed to remove
28-those impediments and a plan for implementation of the Community
29-Eligibility Provision during the following school year, if possible. As
30-used in this section, "Community Eligibility Provision" means the
31-federal meal reimbursement program administered by the United States
32-Department of Agriculture, as set forth in 7 CFR 245.9, as amended from Senate Bill No. 1032
25+Section 1. (Effective from passage) Not later than May 26, 2022, the 1
26+Department of Education shall conduct a study concerning various 2
27+revisions to the education statutes. The department shall submit a report 3
28+on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of 4
29+the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 5
30+education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 6
31+general statutes. 7
32+This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
33+sections:
3334
34-Public Act No. 21-199 2 of 11
35+Section 1 from passage New section
3536
36-time to time.
37-Sec. 2. Section 10-76xx of the general statutes is repealed and the
38-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
39-(a) A local or regional board of education shall, upon the
40-identification of a student as gifted and talented, provide electronic
41-notice of such identification to the parent or guardian of such student.
42-Such notice shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) an explanation
43-of how such student was identified as gifted and talented, and (2) the
44-contact information for (A) the employee of the school district in charge
45-of the provision of services to gifted and talented students, or, if there is
46-no such employee, the employee of the school district in charge of the
47-provision of special education and related services, (B) the employee at
48-the Department of Education who has been designated as responsible
49-for providing information and assistance to boards of education and
50-parents or guardians of students related to gifted and talented students,
51-pursuant to section 10-3e, and (C) any associations in the state that
52-provide support to gifted and talented students.
53-(b) Not later than July 1, 2022, each local and regional board of
54-education shall adopt a policy for the equitable identification of gifted
55-and talented students. Such policy shall require the use of multiple
56-methods of identification of gifted and talented students that are in
57-compliance with guidance provided by the Department of Education.
58-Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) As used in this section:
59-(1) "Advanced course or program" means an honors class, advanced
60-placement class, International Baccalaureate program, Cambridge
61-International program, dual enrollment, dual credit, early college or any
62-other advanced or accelerated course or program offered by a local or
63-regional board of education in grades nine to twelve, inclusive; and
64-(2) "Prior academic performance" means the course or courses that a Senate Bill No. 1032
65-
66-Public Act No. 21-199 3 of 11
67-
68-student has taken, the grades received for such course or courses and a
69-student's grade point average.
70-(b) Not later than July 1, 2022, each local and regional board of
71-education shall adopt a policy, or revise an existing policy, concerning
72-the eligibility criteria for student enrollment in an advanced course or
73-program. Such policy shall provide for multiple methods by which a
74-student may satisfy the eligibility criteria for enrollment in an advanced
75-course or program, including, but not limited to, recommendations
76-from teachers, administrators, school counselors or other school
77-personnel. Such eligibility criteria shall not be based exclusively on a
78-student's prior academic performance and that any use of a student's
79-prior academic performance shall rely on evidence-based indicators of
80-how a student will perform in an advanced course or program.
81-(c) Any policy adopted or revised and implemented under this
82-section shall be in accordance with guidance provided by the
83-Department of Education.
84-Sec. 4. Subsection (j) of section 10-221a of the general statutes is
85-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
86-2021):
87-(j) For the school year commencing July 1, 2012, and each school year
88-thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall create a
89-student success plan for each student enrolled in a public school,
90-beginning in grade six. Such student success plan shall include a
91-student's career and academic choices in grades six to twelve, inclusive.
92-Beginning in grade six, such student success plan shall provide evidence
93-of career exploration in each grade including, but not limited to, careers
94-in manufacturing. The Department of Education shall revise and issue
95-to local and regional boards of education guidance regarding changes
96-to such student success plans. On and after July 1, 2020, in creating such
97-student success plans, consideration shall be given to career and Senate Bill No. 1032
98-
99-Public Act No. 21-199 4 of 11
100-
101-academic choices in computer science, science, technology, engineering
102-and mathematics. On and after July 1, 2021, such student success plans
103-shall be created, if possible, in collaboration with each student and the
104-parent or guardian of such student. On and after July 1, 2022, such
105-student success plans shall, to the extent it does not conflict with the
106-career choices of the student or such student's parent or guardian,
107-include an academic plan that is in compliance with the challenging
108-curriculum policy adopted by the local or regional board of education
109-pursuant to section 5 of this act.
110-Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) Not later than July 1, 2022,
111-each local and regional board of education shall adopt a challenging
112-curriculum policy. A challenging curriculum policy shall include, but
113-need not be limited to, (1) criteria for the identification of students in
114-grades eight and nine who may be eligible to take or enroll in an
115-advanced course or program, as defined in section 3 of this act, and (2)
116-a provision requiring the creation of an academic plan, in accordance
117-with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section.
118-(b) Each local and regional board of education shall create an
119-academic plan for each student identified under the criteria described in
120-subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section. In creating an academic
121-plan for a student, such plan shall be designed to enroll such student in
122-one or more advanced course or programs and allow such student to
123-earn college credit or result in career readiness. Each academic plan shall
124-be aligned with (1) the courses or programs offered by the local or
125-regional board of education, (2) such student's student success plan
126-created pursuant to subsection (j) of section 10-221a of the general
127-statutes, as amended by this act, (3) the high school graduation
128-requirements under section 10-221a of the general statutes, as amended
129-by this act, and (4) any other policies or standards adopted by the board
130-relating to the eligibility for student enrollment in advanced courses or
131-programs. A student, or the parent or guardian of a student, may decline Senate Bill No. 1032
132-
133-Public Act No. 21-199 5 of 11
134-
135-to implement the provisions of an academic plan created for such
136-student.
137-(c) A challenging curriculum policy adopted and implemented under
138-this section shall be in accordance with guidance provided by the
139-Department of Education.
140-Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) Not later than July 1, 2022, each
141-local and regional board of education shall adopt a policy to improve
142-completion rates of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by
143-students enrolled in grade twelve in a high school under the jurisdiction
144-of such board or an adult education program maintained by such board
145-pursuant to section 10-69 of the general statutes. A local or regional
146-board of education may accept gifts, grants and donations, including in-
147-kind donations, to implement the provisions of a policy adopted under
148-this section.
149-Sec. 7. Subsection (d) of section 10-262u of the general statutes is
150-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
151-2021):
152-(d) The local or regional board of education for a town designated as
153-an alliance district may apply to the Commissioner of Education, at such
154-time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, to receive any
155-increase in funds received over the amount the town received for the
156-prior fiscal year pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-262i.
157-Applications pursuant to this subsection shall include objectives and
158-performance targets and a plan that are developed, in part, on the
159-strategic use of student academic performance data. Such plan may
160-include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) A tiered system of
161-interventions for the schools under the jurisdiction of such board based
162-on the needs of such schools, (2) ways to strengthen the foundational
163-programs in reading, through the intensive reading instruction program
164-pursuant to section 10-14u, to ensure reading mastery in kindergarten Senate Bill No. 1032
165-
166-Public Act No. 21-199 6 of 11
167-
168-to grade three, inclusive, with a focus on standards and instruction,
169-proper use of data, intervention strategies, current information for
170-teachers, parental engagement, and teacher professional development,
171-(3) additional learning time, including extended school day or school
172-year programming administered by school personnel or external
173-partners, (4) a talent strategy that includes, but is not limited to, teacher
174-and school leader recruitment and assignment, career ladder policies
175-that draw upon guidelines for a model teacher evaluation program
176-adopted by the State Board of Education, pursuant to section 10-151b,
177-and adopted by each local or regional board of education. Such talent
178-strategy may include provisions that demonstrate increased ability to
179-attract, retain, promote and bolster the performance of staff in
180-accordance with performance evaluation findings and, in the case of
181-new personnel, other indicators of effectiveness, (5) training for school
182-leaders and other staff on new teacher evaluation models, (6) provisions
183-for the cooperation and coordination with early childhood education
184-providers to ensure alignment with district expectations for student
185-entry into kindergarten, including funding for an existing local Head
186-Start program, (7) provisions for the cooperation and coordination with
187-other governmental and community programs to ensure that students
188-receive adequate support and wraparound services, including
189-community school models, (8) provisions for implementing and
190-furthering state-wide education standards adopted by the State Board
191-of Education and all activities and initiatives associated with such
192-standards, (9) strategies for attracting and recruiting minority teachers
193-and administrators, (10) provisions for the enhancement of bilingual
194-education programs, pursuant to section 10-17f, or other language
195-acquisition services to English language learners, including, but not
196-limited to, participation in the English language learner pilot program,
197-established pursuant to section 10-17n, (11) entering into the model
198-school district responsibilities agreement, described in section 10-223l,
199-(12) leadership succession plans that provide training and learning
200-opportunities for administrators and are designed to assist in the Senate Bill No. 1032
201-
202-Public Act No. 21-199 7 of 11
203-
204-seamless transition of school and district personnel in and out of
205-leadership positions in the school district and the continuous
206-implementation of plans developed under this subsection, (13)
207-implementing the policy adopted pursuant to section 6 of this act to
208-improve completion rates of the Free Application for Federal Student
209-Aid by students enrolled in grade twelve in a high school under the
210-jurisdiction of such board or students enrolled in an adult education
211-program maintained by such board pursuant to section 10-69, and, as
212-applicable, the parent and guardians of such students, and [(13)] (14)
213-any additional categories or goals as determined by the commissioner.
214-Such plan shall demonstrate collaboration with key stakeholders, as
215-identified by the commissioner, with the goal of achieving efficiencies
216-and the alignment of intent and practice of current programs with
217-conditional programs identified in this subsection. The commissioner
218-may (A) require changes in any plan submitted by a local or regional
219-board of education before the commissioner approves an application
220-under this subsection, and (B) permit a local or regional board of
221-education, as part of such plan, to use a portion of any funds received
222-under this section for the purposes of paying tuition charged to such
223-board pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (k) of section 10-264l or
224-subsection (b) of section 10-264o.
225-Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) Not later than July 1, 2024, and
226-annually thereafter, the Department of Education shall publish and
227-make available on its Internet web site the student completion rate of
228-the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the graduating class for
229-each high school and each school district. The department may exclude
230-the completion data of certain subgroups of students for the purposes
231-of publishing such data under this section if the career choices of the
232-students in such subgroup are not relevant or applicable to the
233-completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
234-Sec. 9. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Education shall Senate Bill No. 1032
235-
236-Public Act No. 21-199 8 of 11
237-
238-establish a working group to develop strategies and recommendations
239-to improve the rates of student completion of the Free Application for
240-Federal Student Aid. The membership of the working group shall
241-include, but need not be limited to, (1) the executive director of the
242-Office of Higher Education, or the executive director's designee, (2) the
243-president of Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, or the
244-president's designee, (3) the president of The University of Connecticut,
245-or the president's designee, and (4) one representative from each of the
246-following associations or organizations, designated by the association
247-or organization, the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, the
248-Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, the
249-Connecticut Education Association, the American Federation of
250-Teachers-Connecticut, the Connecticut Association of Schools, the RESC
251-Alliance, the Connecticut School Counselor Association and the
252-Connecticut Students for a DREAM. Not later than December 1, 2024,
253-the working group shall submit a report on its strategies and
254-recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General
255-Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and
256-higher education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of
257-the general statutes.
258-Sec. 10. Section 10-184 of the general statutes is repealed and the
259-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
260-All parents and those who have the care of children shall bring them
261-up in some lawful and honest employment and instruct them or cause
262-them to be instructed in reading, writing, spelling, English grammar,
263-geography, arithmetic and United States history and in citizenship,
264-including a study of the town, state and federal governments. Subject to
265-the provisions of this section and section 10-15c, each parent or other
266-person having control of a child five years of age and over and under
267-eighteen years of age shall cause such child to attend a public school
268-regularly during the hours and terms the public school in the district in Senate Bill No. 1032
269-
270-Public Act No. 21-199 9 of 11
271-
272-which such child resides is in session, unless such child is a high school
273-graduate or the parent or person having control of such child is able to
274-show that the child is elsewhere receiving equivalent instruction in the
275-studies taught in the public schools. For the school [year] years
276-commencing July 1, 2011, [and each school year thereafter] to July 1,
277-2022, inclusive, the parent or person having control of a child seventeen
278-years of age may consent, as provided in this section, to such child's
279-withdrawal from school. For the school year commencing July 1, 2023,
280-and each school year thereafter, a student who is eighteen years of age
281-or older may withdraw from school. Such parent, [or] person or student
282-shall personally appear at the school district office and sign a
283-withdrawal form. Such withdrawal form shall include an attestation
284-from a guidance counselor, school counselor or school administrator of
285-the school that such school district has provided such parent, [or] person
286-or student with information on the educational options available in the
287-school system and in the community. The parent or person having
288-control of a child seventeen years of age may withdraw such child from
289-school and enroll such child in an adult education program pursuant to
290-section 10-69. Such parent or person shall personally appear at the
291-school district office and sign an adult education withdrawal and
292-enrollment form. Such adult education withdrawal and enrollment form
293-shall include an attestation (1) from a school counselor or school
294-administrator of the school that such school district has provided such
295-parent or person with information on the educational options available
296-in the school system and in the community, and (2) from such parent or
297-person that such child will be enrolled in an adult education program
298-upon such child's withdrawal from school. The parent or person having
299-control of a child five years of age shall have the option of not sending
300-the child to school until the child is six years of age and the parent or
301-person having control of a child six years of age shall have the option of
302-not sending the child to school until the child is seven years of age. The
303-parent or person shall exercise such option by personally appearing at
304-the school district office and signing an option form. The school district Senate Bill No. 1032
305-
306-Public Act No. 21-199 10 of 11
307-
308-shall provide the parent or person with information on the educational
309-opportunities available in the school system.
310-Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 10-5 of the general statutes is
311-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
312-2021):
313-(a) The Commissioner of Education shall, in accordance with this
314-section, issue a state high school diploma to any person (1) who
315-successfully completes an examination approved by the commissioner,
316-or (2) who (A) is [seventeen] eighteen years of age or older and has been
317-officially withdrawn from school in accordance with the provisions of
318-section 10-184, as amended by this act, [or is eighteen years of age or
319-older,] and (B) presents to the commissioner evidence demonstrating
320-educational qualifications which the commissioner deems equivalent to
321-those required for graduation from a public high school. Application for
322-such a diploma shall be made in the manner and form prescribed by the
323-commissioner provided, at the time of application to take the
324-examination described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, the
325-applicant [is seventeen years of age or older,] has been officially
326-withdrawn from school, in accordance with section 10-184, as amended
327-by this act, for at least six months and has been advised, in such manner
328-as may be prescribed by the commissioner, of the other options for high
329-school completion and other available educational programs. For good
330-cause shown, the commissioner may allow a person who is [sixteen]
331-seventeen years of age to apply to take the examination. [, provided the
332-commissioner may not issue a state high school diploma to such person
333-until the person has attained seventeen years of age.]
334-Sec. 12. (Effective from passage) Not later than January 1, 2022, the
335-Commissioner of Education, upon approval of the State Board of
336-Education, may submit to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and
337-Management and to the joint standing committee of the General
338-Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in Senate Bill No. 1032
339-
340-Public Act No. 21-199 11 of 11
341-
342-accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes,
343-recommendations concerning: (1) Providing information to students
344-and their families about the net cost of attending college, how applying
345-for federal Pell grants can make college more affordable for students,
346-and the varying income potential of different college and certificate
347-programs; (2) strategies to remove barriers and simplify access to high-
348-quality postsecondary education and training options, including, but
349-not limited to, non-degree programs; (3) the feasibility of establishing
350-an early graduation program in which a student who graduates from
351-high school in three years receives a scholarship from the local or
352-regional board of education responsible for educating such student to
353-attend an undergraduate, in-person program at a nonprofit institution
354-of higher education in the state; and (4) the feasibility of developing a
355-standardized exit survey for all students in grade twelve in the state. In
356-developing such recommendations, the commissioner shall consult with
357-the parents of students, teachers and school administrators, and may
358-establish a working group with members selected by the commissioner.
359-Sec. 13. Section 10-220g of the general statutes is repealed and the
360-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
361-Each local and regional board of education shall establish, and
362-update as necessary, a written policy concerning [weighted grading for
363-honors and advanced placement classes] the manner in which students'
364-grade point averages are calculated, including whether such grade point
365-average is weighted or not weighted. The policy shall provide that
366-parents and students are advised as to whether a grade in an honors
367-class, [or an] advanced placement class, International Baccalaureate
368-program, Cambridge International program, dual enrollment, dual
369-credit or early college is or is not given added weight for purposes of
370-calculating grade point average and determining class rank.
371-
37+ED Joint Favorable
37238