Connecticut 2022 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00229 Compare Versions

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7	7		General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 229
8	8		February Session, 2022
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13	13		AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROCESS BY WHICH A CHARTER IS
14	14		GRANTED AND FUNDING IS PROVIDED FOR A NEW CHARTER
15	15		SCHOOL.
16	16		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
17	17		Assembly convened:
18	18
19	19		Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2022) There is established an 1
20	20		account to be known as the charter school approval grant account which 2
21	21		shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The 3
22	22		account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the 4
23	23		account. Moneys in the account shall be expended by the Commissioner 5
24	24		of Education, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-66ee of the 6
25	25		general statutes, as amended by this act, for the purpose of providing 7
26	26		the initial funding for a local or state charter school that has been 8
27	27		granted a new charter pursuant to section 10-66bb of the general 9
28	28		statutes, as amended by this act, in the fiscal year immediately following 10
29	29		the fiscal year in which such charter was granted. 11
30	30		Sec. 2. Section 10-66ee of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 12
31	31		is amended by adding subsection (o) as follows (Effective July 1, 2022): 13
32	32		(NEW) (o) Any unexpended funds appropriated for purposes of this 14
33	33		section shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year but shall be deposited 15
34	34		in the charter school approval grant account, established pursuant to 16
35	35		section 1 of this act, and shall be available for expenditure during the 17
36	36		next fiscal year in accordance with the provisions of said section. 18 Substitute Bill No. 229
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43	43		Sec. 3. Section 10-66bb of the general statutes is repealed and the 19
44	44		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 20
45	45		(a) (1) On and after July 1, [1997, and prior to July 1, 2015] 2022, the 21
46	46		State Board of Education may grant charters for local and state charter 22
47	47		schools in accordance with this section. [On and after July 1, 2015, such 23
48	48		state board may grant initial certificates of approval for charters for local 24
49	49		and state charter schools in accordance with this section. Upon granting 25
50	50		an initial certificate of approval for a charter, such state board shall 26
51	51		submit a copy of the initial certificate of approval for the charter and a 27
52	52		summary of the comments made at a public hearing conducted 28
53	53		pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section or 29
54	54		subparagraph (B)(ii) of subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of this section, 30
55	55		in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 31
56	56		General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education 32
57	57		and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies.] 33
58	58		(2) The General Assembly may appropriate funds to the [Department 34
59	59		of Education for the purposes of providing grants to local and state 35
60	60		charter schools, pursuant to section 10-66ee. If such funds are 36
61	61		appropriated, an initial certificate of approval for a charter for a local or 37
62	62		state charter school shall be effective and deemed a charter as of July 38
63	63		first of the first fiscal year for which such funds are appropriated] 39
64	64		charter school approval grant account, pursuant to section 1 of this act, 40
65	65		for the purposes of providing the initial funding for a local or state 41
66	66		charter school that has been granted a new charter. The Commissioner 42
67	67		of Education shall expend, in accordance with the provisions of section 43
68	68		10-66ee, as amended by this act, the funds appropriated to such account 44
69	69		in the fiscal year immediately following the fiscal year in which such 45
70	70		charter was granted. 46
71	71		(3) A charter [or initial certificate of approval for a charter] granted 47
72	72		under this section shall not be considered a license, as defined in section 48
73	73		4-166, for the purposes of chapter 54. 49
74	74		(b) Any not-for-profit organization that is exempt from taxation 50 Substitute Bill No. 229
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81	81		under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any 51
82	82		subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, 52
83	83		as amended from time to time, public or independent institution of 53
84	84		higher education, local or regional board of education or two or more 54
85	85		boards of education cooperatively, or regional educational service 55
86	86		center may apply to the Commissioner of Education, at such time and 56
87	87		in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, to [obtain an initial 57
88	88		certificate of approval for a charter] establish a charter school, provided 58
89	89		no nonpublic elementary or secondary school may be established as a 59
90	90		charter school and no parent or group of parents providing home 60
91	91		instruction may establish a charter school for such instruction. 61
92	92		(c) On and after July 1, [2015] 2022, the State Board of Education shall 62
93	93		review, annually, all applications and grant [initial certificates of 63
94	94		approval for] charters, in accordance with subsections (e) and (f) of this 64
95	95		section, for a local or state charter school located in a town that has one 65
96	96		or more schools that have been designated as a commissioner's network 66
97	97		school, pursuant to section 10-223h, at the time of such application, or a 67
98	98		town that has been designated as a low achieving school district, 68
99	99		pursuant to section 10-223e, at the time of such application. (1) Except 69
100	100		as provided for in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no state charter 70
101	101		school shall enroll (A) (i) more than two hundred fifty students, or (ii) 71
102	102		in the case of a kindergarten to grade eight, inclusive, school, more than 72
103	103		three hundred students, or (B) twenty-five per cent of the enrollment of 73
104	104		the school district in which the state charter school is to be located, 74
105	105		whichever is less. (2) In the case of a state charter school found by the 75
106	106		State Board of Education to have a demonstrated record of achievement, 76
107	107		said board shall, upon application by such school to said board, waive 77
108	108		the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection for such school. (3) 78
109	109		The State Board of Education shall give preference to applicants for 79
110	110		charter schools (A) whose primary purpose is the establishment of 80
111	111		education programs designed to serve one or more of the following 81
112	112		student populations: (i) Students with a history of low academic 82
113	113		performance, (ii) students who receive free or reduced priced lunches 83
114	114		pursuant to federal law and regulations, (iii) students with a history of 84 Substitute Bill No. 229
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121	121		behavioral and social difficulties, (iv) students identified as requiring 85
122	122		special education, (v) students who are English language learners, or 86
123	123		(vi) students of a single gender; (B) whose primary purpose is to 87
124	124		improve the academic performance of an existing school that has 88
125	125		consistently demonstrated substandard academic performance, as 89
126	126		determined by the Commissioner of Education; (C) that will serve 90
127	127		students who reside in a priority school district pursuant to section 10-91
128	128		266p; (D) that will serve students who reside in a district in which 92
129	129		seventy-five per cent or more of the enrolled students are members of 93
130	130		racial or ethnic minorities; (E) that demonstrate highly credible and 94
131	131		specific strategies to attract, enroll and retain students from among the 95
132	132		populations described in subparagraph (A)(i) to (A)(vi), inclusive, of 96
133	133		this subdivision; or (F) that, in the case of an applicant for a state charter 97
134	134		school, such state charter school will be located at a work-site or such 98
135	135		applicant is an institution of higher education. In determining whether 99
136	136		to grant [an initial certificate of approval for] a charter, the State Board 100
137	137		of Education shall consider (i) the effect of the proposed charter school 101
138	138		on (I) the reduction of racial, ethnic and economic isolation in the region 102
139	139		in which it is to be located, (II) the regional distribution of charter 103
140	140		schools in the state, (III) the potential of over-concentration of charter 104
141	141		schools within a school district or in contiguous school districts, and (IV) 105
142	142		the state's efforts to close achievement gaps, as defined in section 10-106
143	143		16oo, and (ii) the comments made at a public hearing conducted 107
144	144		pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section or 108
145	145		subparagraph (B)(ii) of subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of this section. 109
146	146		(d) Applications pursuant to this section shall include a description 110
147	147		of: (1) The mission, purpose and any specialized focus of the proposed 111
148	148		charter school; (2) the interest in the community for the establishment of 112
149	149		the charter school; (3) the school governance and procedures for the 113
150	150		establishment of a governing council that (A) includes (i) teachers and 114
151	151		parents and guardians of students enrolled in the school, and (ii) the 115
152	152		chairperson of the local or regional board of education of the town in 116
153	153		which the charter school is located and which has jurisdiction over a 117
154	154		school that resembles the approximate grade configuration of the 118 Substitute Bill No. 229
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161	161		charter school, or the designee of such chairperson, provided such 119
162	162		designee is a member of the board of education or the superintendent of 120
163	163		schools for the school district, or the superintendent's designee, and (B) 121
164	164		is responsible for the oversight of charter school operations, provided 122
165	165		no member or employee of the governing council may have a personal 123
166	166		or financial interest in the assets, real or personal, of the school; (4) the 124
167	167		financial plan for operation of the school, provided no application fees 125
168	168		or other fees for attendance, except as provided in this section, may be 126
169	169		charged; (5) the educational program, instructional methodology and 127
170	170		services to be offered to students; (6) the number and qualifications of 128
171	171		teachers and administrators to be employed in the school; (7) the 129
172	172		organization of the school in terms of the ages or grades to be taught 130
173	173		and the total estimated enrollment of the school; (8) the student 131
174	174		admission criteria and procedures to (A) ensure effective public 132
175	175		information, (B) ensure open access on a space available basis, including 133
176	176		the enrollment of students during the school year if spaces become 134
177	177		available in the charter school, (C) promote a diverse student body, and 135
178	178		(D) ensure that the school complies with the provisions of section 10-15c 136
179	179		and that it does not discriminate on the basis of disability, athletic 137
180	180		performance or proficiency in the English language, provided the school 138
181	181		may limit enrollment to a particular grade level or specialized 139
182	182		educational focus and, if there is not space available for all students 140
183	183		seeking enrollment, the school may give preference to siblings but shall 141
184	184		otherwise determine enrollment by a lottery, except the State Board of 142
185	185		Education may waive the requirements for such enrollment lottery 143
186	186		pursuant to subsection (j) of this section; (9) a means to assess student 144
187	187		performance that includes participation in mastery examinations, 145
188	188		pursuant to section 10-14n; (10) procedures for teacher evaluation and 146
189	189		professional development for teachers and administrators; (11) the 147
190	190		provision of school facilities, pupil transportation and student health 148
191	191		and welfare services; (12) procedures to encourage involvement by 149
192	192		parents and guardians of enrolled students in student learning, school 150
193	193		activities and school decision-making; (13) procedures to document 151
194	194		efforts to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of staff; (14) a five-year 152
195	195		plan to sustain the maintenance and operation of the school; (15) a 153 Substitute Bill No. 229
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202	202		student recruitment and retention plan that shall include, but not be 154
203	203		limited to, a clear description of a plan and the capacity of the school to 155
204	204		attract, enroll and retain students from among the populations 156
205	205		described in subparagraph (A)(i) to (A)(v), inclusive, of subdivision (3) 157
206	206		of subsection (c) of this section; (16) a plan to share student learning 158
207	207		practices and experiences with the local or regional board of education 159
208	208		of the town in which the proposed charter school is to be located; and 160
209	209		(17) in the case of an application in which the governing council of the 161
210	210		proposed charter school intends to contract with a charter management 162
211	211		organization for whole school management services: (A) Evidence of the 163
212	212		charter management organization's ability to (i) serve student 164
213	213		populations that are similar to the student population that will be served 165
214	214		by the proposed charter school, (ii) create strong academic outcomes for 166
215	215		students, and (iii) successfully manage nonacademic school functions, 167
216	216		(B) a term sheet that sets forth (i) the length of the contract for whole 168
217	217		school management services, (ii) the roles and responsibilities of the 169
218	218		governing council of the proposed charter school, the staff of the 170
219	219		proposed charter school and the charter management organization, (iii) 171
220	220		the scope of services and resources to be provided by the charter 172
221	221		management organization, (iv) the performance evaluation measures 173
222	222		and timelines, (v) the compensation structure, including a clear 174
223	223		identification of all fees to be paid to the charter management 175
224	224		organization, (vi) the methods of contract oversight and enforcement, 176
225	225		and (vii) the conditions for renewal and termination of the contract, and 177
226	226		(C) evidence of compliance with the provisions of section 10-66tt. 178
227	227		Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of section 10-66dd, an 179
228	228		application may include, or a charter school may file, requests to waive 180
229	229		provisions of the general statutes and regulations not required under 181
230	230		sections 10-66aa to 10-66nn, inclusive, and which are within the 182
231	231		jurisdiction of the State Board of Education. 183
232	232		(e) An application for the establishment of a local charter school shall 184
233	233		be submitted to the local or regional board of education of the school 185
234	234		district in which the local charter school is to be located for approval 186
235	235		pursuant to this subsection. The local or regional board of education 187 Substitute Bill No. 229
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242	242		shall: (1) Review the application; (2) hold a public hearing in the school 188
243	243		district on such application; (3) survey teachers and parents in the school 189
244	244		district to determine if there is sufficient interest in the establishment 190
245	245		and operation of the local charter school; and (4) vote on a complete 191
246	246		application not later than seventy-five days after the date of receipt of 192
247	247		such application. Such board of education may approve the application 193
248	248		by a majority vote of the members of the board present and voting at a 194
249	249		regular or special meeting of the board called for such purpose. If the 195
250	250		application is approved, the board shall forward the application to the 196
251	251		State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall vote on the 197
252	252		application not later than sixty days after the date of receipt of such 198
253	253		application. Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, the 199
254	254		State Board of Education may approve the application and grant [the 200
255	255		initial certificate of approval for the] a charter for the local charter school 201
256	256		or reject such application by a majority vote of the members of the state 202
257	257		board present and voting at a regular or special meeting of the state 203
258	258		board called for such purpose. The State Board of Education may 204
259	259		condition [granting the initial certificate of approval for the charter for 205
260	260		the local charter school on the applicant] the opening of such school on 206
261	261		the school's meeting certain conditions determined by the 207
262	262		Commissioner of Education to be necessary and may authorize the 208
263	263		commissioner to release [the initial certificate of approval for] the 209
264	264		charter when the commissioner determines such conditions are met. 210
265	265		[After an initial certificate of approval for a charter for a local charter 211
266	266		school is deemed a charter pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) 212
267	267		of this section, such charter may be valid] The state board may grant the 213
268	268		charter for the local charter school for a period of time of up to five years. 214
269	269		The state board may allow the applicant to delay its opening for a period 215
270	270		of up to one school year in order for the applicant to fully prepare to 216
271	271		provide appropriate instructional services. On and after July 1, [2015, 217
272	272		any initial certificate of approval for a] 2022, a charter granted by the 218
273	273		state board to a local charter school shall include academic and 219
274	274		organizational performance goals, developed by the state board, that set 220
275	275		forth the performance indicators, measures and metrics that will be used 221
276	276		by the state board to evaluate the local charter school. 222 Substitute Bill No. 229
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283	283		(f) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (2) of this 223
284	284		subsection, an application for the establishment of a state charter school 224
285	285		shall be (A) submitted to the State Board of Education for approval in 225
286	286		accordance with the provisions of this subsection, and (B) filed with the 226
287	287		local or regional board of education in the school district in which the 227
288	288		charter school is to be located. The state board shall: (i) Review such 228
289	289		application; (ii) hold a public hearing on such application in the school 229
290	290		district in which such state charter school is to be located; (iii) solicit and 230
291	291		review comments on the application from the local or regional board of 231
292	292		education for the school district in which such charter school is to be 232
293	293		located and from the local or regional boards of education for school 233
294	294		districts that are contiguous to the district in which such school is to be 234
295	295		located; and (iv) vote on a complete application not later than ninety 235
296	296		days after the date of receipt of such application. The State Board of 236
297	297		Education may approve an application and grant [the initial certificate 237
298	298		of approval for] the charter for the state charter school by a majority vote 238
299	299		of the members of the state board present and voting at a regular or 239
300	300		special meeting of the state board called for such purpose. The State 240
301	301		Board of Education may condition [granting the initial certificate of 241
302	302		approval for the charter for the state charter school on the applicant] the 242
303	303		opening of such school on the school's meeting certain conditions 243
304	304		determined by the Commissioner of Education to be necessary and may 244
305	305		authorize the commissioner to release [the initial certificate of approval 245
306	306		for] the charter when the commissioner determines such conditions are 246
307	307		met. [After an initial certificate of approval for a charter for a state 247
308	308		charter school is deemed a charter pursuant to subdivision (2) of 248
309	309		subsection (a) of this section, such charter may be valid] Charters shall 249
310	310		be granted for a period of time of up to five years. The state board may 250
311	311		allow the applicant to delay its opening for a period of up to one school 251
312	312		year in order for the applicant to fully prepare to provide appropriate 252
313	313		instructional services. On and after July 1, [2015, any initial certificate of 253
314	314		approval for a] 2022, a charter granted by the state board to a state 254
315	315		charter school shall include academic and organizational performance 255
316	316		goals, developed by the state board, that set forth the performance 256
317	317		indicators, measures and metrics that will be used by the state board to 257 Substitute Bill No. 229
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324	324		evaluate the state charter school. 258
325	325		(2) [On and after July 1, 2012, and before July 1, 2015, the State Board 259
326	326		of Education shall not approve more than four applications for the 260
327	327		establishment of new state charter schools unless two of the four such 261
328	328		applications are for the establishment of two new state charter schools 262
329	329		whose mission, purpose and specialized focus is to provide dual 263
330	330		language programs or other models focusing on language acquisition 264
331	331		for English language learners. Approval of applications under this 265
332	332		subdivision shall be in accordance with the provisions of this section.] 266
333	333		For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year thereafter, 267
334	334		the State Board of Education shall not approve more than two 268
335	335		applications for the establishment of a new state charter school in any 269
336	336		fiscal year. 270
337	337		(g) Charters may be renewed, upon application, in accordance with 271
338	338		the provisions of this section for the granting of such charters. Upon 272
339	339		application for such renewal, the State Board of Education may 273
340	340		commission an independent appraisal of the performance of the charter 274
341	341		school that includes, but is not limited to, an evaluation of the school's 275
342	342		compliance with the provisions of this section and, on and after July 1, 276
343	343		2015, progress in meeting the academic and organizational performance 277
344	344		goals set forth in the charter granted to the charter school. The State 278
345	345		Board of Education shall consider the results of any such appraisal in 279
346	346		determining whether to renew such charter. The State Board of 280
347	347		Education may deny an application for the renewal of a charter if (1) 281
348	348		student progress has not been sufficiently demonstrated, as determined 282
349	349		by the commissioner, (2) the governing council has not been sufficiently 283
350	350		responsible for the operation of the school or has misused or spent 284
351	351		public funds in a manner that is detrimental to the educational interests 285
352	352		of the students attending the charter school, (3) the school has not been 286
353	353		in compliance with the terms of the charter, applicable laws and 287
354	354		regulations, (4) the efforts of the school have been insufficient to 288
355	355		effectively attract, enroll and retain students from among the following 289
356	356		populations: (A) Students with a history of low academic performance, 290 Substitute Bill No. 229
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363	363		(B) students who receive free or reduced priced lunches pursuant to 291
364	364		federal law and regulations, (C) students with a history of behavioral 292
365	365		and social difficulties, (D) students identified as requiring special 293
366	366		education, or (E) students who are English language learners, or (5) the 294
367	367		governing council of the state or local charter school has not provided 295
368	368		evidence that such council has initiated substantive communication 296
369	369		with the local or regional board of education of the town in which the 297
370	370		state or local charter school is located to share student learning practices 298
371	371		and experiences. If the State Board of Education does not renew a 299
372	372		charter, it shall notify the governing council of the charter school of the 300
373	373		reasons for such nonrenewal. On and after July 1, 2015, any charter 301
374	374		renewed by the State Board of Education shall include academic and 302
375	375		organizational performance goals, developed by the state board, that set 303
376	376		forth the performance indicators, measures and metrics that will be used 304
377	377		by the state board to evaluate the charter school. 305
378	378		(h) The Commissioner of Education may at any time place a charter 306
379	379		school on probation if (1) the school has failed to (A) adequately 307
380	380		demonstrate student progress, as determined by the commissioner, (B) 308
381	381		comply with the terms of its charter or with applicable laws and 309
382	382		regulations, (C) achieve measurable progress in reducing racial, ethnic 310
383	383		and economic isolation, or (D) maintain its nonsectarian status, or (2) the 311
384	384		governing council has demonstrated an inability to provide effective 312
385	385		leadership to oversee the operation of the charter school or has not 313
386	386		ensured that public funds are expended prudently or in a manner 314
387	387		required by law. If a charter school is placed on probation, the 315
388	388		commissioner shall provide written notice to the charter school of the 316
389	389		reasons for such placement, not later than five days after the placement, 317
390	390		and shall require the charter school to file with the Department of 318
391	391		Education a corrective action plan acceptable to the commissioner not 319
392	392		later than thirty-five days from the date of such placement. The charter 320
393	393		school shall implement a corrective action plan accepted by the 321
394	394		commissioner not later than thirty days after the date of such 322
395	395		acceptance. The commissioner may impose any additional terms of 323
396	396		probation on the school that the commissioner deems necessary to 324 Substitute Bill No. 229
397	397
398	398
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401	401		11 of 13
402	402
403	403		protect the educational or financial interests of the state. The charter 325
404	404		school shall comply with any such additional terms not later than thirty 326
405	405		days after the date of their imposition. The commissioner shall 327
406	406		determine the length of time of the probationary period, which may be 328
407	407		up to one year, provided the commissioner may extend such period, for 329
408	408		up to one additional year, if the commissioner deems it necessary. In the 330
409	409		event that the charter school does not file or implement the corrective 331
410	410		action plan within the required time period or does not comply with any 332
411	411		additional terms within the required time period, the Commissioner of 333
412	412		Education may withhold grant funds from the school until the plan is 334
413	413		fully implemented or the school complies with the terms of probation, 335
414	414		provided the commissioner may extend the time period for such 336
415	415		implementation and compliance for good cause shown. Whenever a 337
416	416		charter school is placed on probation, the commissioner shall notify the 338
417	417		parents or guardians of students attending the school of the 339
418	418		probationary status of the school and the reasons for such status. During 340
419	419		the term of probation, the commissioner may require the school to file 341
420	420		interim reports concerning any matter the commissioner deems relevant 342
421	421		to the probationary status of the school, including financial reports or 343
422	422		statements. No charter school on probation may increase its student 344
423	423		enrollment or engage in the recruitment of new students without the 345
424	424		consent of the commissioner. 346
425	425		(i) The State Board of Education may revoke a charter if a charter 347
426	426		school has failed to: (1) Comply with the terms of probation, including 348
427	427		the failure to file or implement a corrective action plan; (2) demonstrate 349
428	428		satisfactory student progress, as determined by the commissioner; (3) 350
429	429		comply with the terms of its charter or applicable laws and regulations; 351
430	430		or (4) manage its public funds in a prudent or legal manner. Unless an 352
431	431		emergency exists, prior to revoking a charter, the State Board of 353
432	432		Education shall provide the governing council of the charter school with 354
433	433		a written notice of the reasons for the revocation, including the 355
434	434		identification of specific incidents of noncompliance with the law, 356
435	435		regulation or charter or other matters warranting revocation of the 357
436	436		charter. The State Board of Education shall also provide the governing 358 Substitute Bill No. 229
437	437
438	438
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441	441		12 of 13
442	442
443	443		council with the opportunity to demonstrate compliance with all 359
444	444		requirements for the retention of its charter by providing the State Board 360
445	445		of Education or a subcommittee of the board, as determined by the State 361
446	446		Board of Education, with a written or oral presentation. Such 362
447	447		presentation shall include an opportunity for the governing council to 363
448	448		present documentary and testimonial evidence to refute the facts cited 364
449	449		by the State Board of Education for the proposed revocation or in 365
450	450		justification of its activities. Such opportunity shall not constitute a 366
451	451		contested case within the meaning of chapter 54. The State Board of 367
452	452		Education shall determine, not later than thirty days after the date of an 368
453	453		oral presentation or receipt of a written presentation, whether and when 369
454	454		the charter shall be revoked and notify the governing council of the 370
455	455		decision and the reasons therefor. A decision to revoke a charter shall 371
456	456		not constitute a final decision for purposes of chapter 54. In the event an 372
457	457		emergency exists in which the commissioner finds that there is 373
458	458		imminent harm to the students attending a charter school, the State 374
459	459		Board of Education may immediately revoke the charter of the school, 375
460	460		provided the notice concerning the reasons for the revocation is sent to 376
461	461		the governing council not later than ten days after the date of revocation 377
462	462		and the governing council is provided an opportunity to make a 378
463	463		presentation to the board not later than twenty days from the date of 379
464	464		such notice. 380
465	465		(j) (1) The governing council of a state or local charter school may 381
466	466		apply to the State Board of Education for a waiver of the requirements 382
467	467		of the enrollment lottery described in subdivision (8) of subsection (d) 383
468	468		of this section, provided such state or local charter school has as its 384
469	469		primary purpose the establishment of education programs designed to 385
470	470		serve one or more of the following populations: (A) Students with a 386
471	471		history of behavioral and social difficulties, (B) students identified as 387
472	472		requiring special education, (C) students who are English language 388
473	473		learners, or (D) students of a single gender. 389
474	474		(2) An enrollment lottery described in subdivision (8) of subsection 390
475	475		(d) of this section shall not be held for a local charter school that is 391 Substitute Bill No. 229
476	476
477	477
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480	480		13 of 13
481	481
482	482		established at a school that is among the schools with a percentage equal 392
483	483		to or less than five per cent when all schools are ranked highest to lowest 393
484	484		in accountability index scores, as defined in section 10-223e. 394
485	485		Sec. 4. Section 10-66rr of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 395
486	486		is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 396
487	487		1, 2022): 397
488	488		On and after July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall require 398
489	489		members of the governing council of a state or local charter school and 399
490	490		members of a charter management organization to submit to a records 400
491	491		check of the Department of Children and Families child abuse and 401
492	492		neglect registry, established pursuant to section 17a-101k, and to state 402
493	493		and national criminal history records checks before the state board 403
494	494		grants [initial certificates of approval for] charters pursuant to section 404
495	495		10-66bb, as amended by this act, or before such members may be hired 405
496	496		by the governing council of a state or local charter school or charter 406
497	497		management organization. The governing council of a state or local 407
498	498		charter school shall require each contractor doing business with a state 408
499	499		or local charter school, who performs a service involving direct student 409
500	500		contact, to submit to a records check of the Department of Children and 410
501	501		Families child abuse and neglect registry, established pursuant to 411
502	502		section 17a-101k, and to state and national criminal history records 412
503	503		checks before such contractor begins to perform such service. 413
504	504		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
505	505		sections:
506	506
507	507		Section 1 July 1, 2022 New section
508	508		Sec. 2 July 1, 2022 10-66ee
509	509		Sec. 3 July 1, 2022 10-66bb
510	510		Sec. 4 July 1, 2022 10-66rr
511	511
512	512		ED Joint Favorable Subst. C/R APP
513		-	APP Joint Favorable
514	513