Connecticut House Bill HB05003 Comm Sub / Bill

                     
 
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General Assembly  Substitute Bill No. 5003  
January Session, 2023 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING EDUCATION FUNDING IN CONNECTICUT.  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. Section 10-262h of the general statutes is repealed and the 1 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 2 
(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, each town maintaining 3 
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 4 
grant as follows: (1) Any town designated as an alliance district, as 5 
defined in section 10-262u, as amended by this act, shall be entitled to 6 
an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its base grant amount; 7 
and (2) any town not designated as an alliance district shall be entitled 8 
to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to ninety-five per cent 9 
of its base grant amount. 10 
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, each town maintaining 11 
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 12 
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 13 
its base grant amount shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 14 
amount equal to its base grant amount plus four and one-tenth per cent 15 
of its grant adjustment; and (2) any town whose fully funded grant is 16 
less than its base grant amount shall be entitled to an equalization aid 17 
grant in an amount equal to its base grant amount minus twenty-five 18 
per cent of its grant adjustment, except any such town designated as an 19 
alliance district shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 20  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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amount equal to its base grant amount. 21 
(c) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2020, and June 30, 2021, each 22 
town maintaining public schools according to law shall be entitled to an 23 
equalization aid grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded 24 
grant is greater than its base grant amount shall be entitled to an 25 
equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its equalization aid grant 26 
amount for the previous fiscal year plus ten and sixty-six-one-27 
hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment; and (2) any town whose 28 
fully funded grant is less than its base grant amount shall be entitled to 29 
an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its equalization aid 30 
grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus eight and thirty-three-31 
one-hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment, except any such town 32 
designated as an alliance district shall be entitled to an equalization aid 33 
grant in an amount equal to its base grant amount. 34 
(d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, each town maintaining 35 
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 36 
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 37 
its base grant amount shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 38 
amount equal to its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal 39 
year plus ten and sixty-six-one-hundredths per cent of its grant 40 
adjustment; and (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 41 
base grant amount shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 42 
amount equal to the amount the town was entitled to for the fiscal year 43 
ending June 30, 2021. 44 
(e) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, each town maintaining 45 
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 46 
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 47 
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 48 
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 49 
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year plus sixteen 50 
and sixty-seven-one-hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment; and 51 
(2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its equalization aid 52 
grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be entitled to an 53  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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equalization aid grant in an amount equal to the amount the town was 54 
entitled to for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. 55 
(f) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, each town maintaining 56 
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 57 
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 58 
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 59 
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 60 
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year plus twenty 61 
per cent of its grant adjustment; (2) any town whose fully funded grant 62 
is less than its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year 63 
shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 64 
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus 65 
fourteen and twenty-nine-one-hundredths per cent of its grant 66 
adjustment; and (3) any town designated as an alliance district shall be 67 
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount that is the greater of 68 
(A) the amount described in either subdivision (1) of this subsection or 69 
subdivision (2) of this subsection, as applicable, (B) its base grant 70 
amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant entitlement for the previous 71 
fiscal year. 72 
(g) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, each town maintaining 73 
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 74 
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 75 
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 76 
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 77 
[equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year plus twenty-78 
five per cent of its grant adjustment] fully funded grant; (2) any town 79 
whose fully funded grant is less than its equalization aid grant amount 80 
for the previous fiscal year shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant 81 
in an amount equal to its equalization aid grant amount for the previous 82 
fiscal year minus sixteen and sixty-seven-one-hundredths per cent of its 83 
grant adjustment; and (3) any town designated as [an] a legacy alliance 84 
district or an educational reform district pursuant to section 10-262u, as 85 
amended by this act, shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 86  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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amount that is the greater of (A) the amount described in either 87 
subdivision (1) of this subsection or subdivision (2) of this subsection, as 88 
applicable, (B) its base grant amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant 89 
entitlement for the previous fiscal year. As used in this section, "legacy 90 
alliance district" means a school district for a town that was designated 91 
as an alliance district by the Commissioner of Education at any point 92 
during the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2024, inclusive. 93 
(h) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, each town maintaining 94 
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 95 
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 96 
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 97 
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 98 
[equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year plus thirty-99 
three and thirty-three-one-hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment] 100 
fully funded grant; (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than 101 
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 102 
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 103 
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus twenty 104 
per cent of its grant adjustment; and (3) any town designated as [an] a 105 
legacy alliance district or an educational reform district shall be entitled 106 
to an equalization aid grant in an amount that is the greater of (A) the 107 
amount described in either subdivision (1) of this subsection or 108 
subdivision (2) of this subsection, as applicable, (B) its base grant 109 
amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant entitlement for the previous 110 
fiscal year. 111 
(i) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, each town maintaining 112 
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 113 
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 114 
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 115 
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 116 
[equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year plus fifty per 117 
cent of its grant adjustment] fully funded grant; (2) any town whose 118 
fully funded grant is less than its equalization aid grant amount for the 119  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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previous fiscal year shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 120 
amount equal to its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal 121 
year minus twenty-five per cent of its grant adjustment; and (3) any 122 
town designated as [an] a legacy alliance district or an educational 123 
reform district shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount 124 
that is the greater of (A) the amount described in either subdivision (1) 125 
of this subsection or subdivision (2) of this subsection, as applicable, (B) 126 
its base grant amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant entitlement for 127 
the previous fiscal year. 128 
(j) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, each town maintaining 129 
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 130 
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 131 
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 132 
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 133 
funded grant; (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 134 
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 135 
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 136 
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus thirty-137 
three and thirty-three-one-hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment; 138 
and (3) any town designated as [an] a legacy alliance district or an 139 
educational reform district shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant 140 
in an amount that is the greater of (A) the amount described in either 141 
subdivision (1) of this subsection or subdivision (2) of this subsection, as 142 
applicable, (B) its base grant amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant 143 
entitlement for the previous fiscal year. 144 
(k) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, each town maintaining 145 
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 146 
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 147 
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 148 
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 149 
funded grant; (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 150 
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 151 
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 152  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus fifty 153 
per cent of its grant adjustment; and (3) any town designated as [an] a 154 
legacy alliance district or an educational reform district shall be entitled 155 
to an equalization aid grant in an amount that is the greater of (A) the 156 
amount described in either subdivision (1) of this subsection or 157 
subdivision (2) of this subsection, as applicable, (B) its base grant 158 
amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant entitlement for the previous 159 
fiscal year. 160 
(l) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 161 
thereafter, each town maintaining public schools according to law shall 162 
be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 163 
funded grant, except any town designated as [an] a legacy alliance 164 
district or an educational reform district shall be entitled to an 165 
equalization aid grant in an amount that is the greater of (1) its fully 166 
funded grant, (2) its base grant amount, or (3) its equalization aid grant 167 
entitlement for the previous fiscal year. 168 
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) As used in this section, section 169 
3 of this act and sections 10-65, 10-264l and 10-266aa of the general 170 
statutes, as amended by this act: 171 
(1) "Choice program" means (A) an interdistrict magnet school 172 
program, (B) a regional agricultural science and technology center, or 173 
(C) the interdistrict public school attendance program pursuant to 174 
section 10-266aa of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 175 
(2) "Foundation" has the same meaning as provided in section 10-262f 176 
of the general statutes, as amended by this act, except that for an 177 
interdistrict magnet school operator that is not a local or regional board 178 
of education, the foundation is (A) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 179 
2024, and June 30, 2025, eleven thousand five hundred twenty-five 180 
dollars, (B) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, eleven thousand five 181 
hundred twenty-five dollars adjusted by the percentage increase in 182 
personal income, as defined in section 2-33a of the general statutes, or 183 
the percentage increase in inflation, as defined in section 2-33a of the 184  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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general statutes, whichever is greater, and (C) for the fiscal year ending 185 
June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of the 186 
foundation for the prior fiscal year adjusted by the percentage increase 187 
in personal income, as defined in section 2-33a of the general statutes, or 188 
the percentage increase in inflation, as defined in section 2-33a of the 189 
general statutes, whichever is greater. 190 
(3) "Resident students" has the same meaning as provided in section 191 
10-262f of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 192 
(4) "Resident choice program students" means the number of part-193 
time and full-time students of a town enrolled or participating in a 194 
particular choice program. 195 
(5) "Total need students" has the same meaning as provided in section 196 
10-262f of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 197 
(6) "Total magnet school program need students" means the sum of 198 
(A) the number of part-time and full-time students enrolled in the 199 
interdistrict magnet school program of the interdistrict magnet school 200 
operator who is (i) not a local or regional board of education, (ii) the 201 
board of governors for an independent institution of higher education, 202 
as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173 of the general statutes, or 203 
the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent institution 204 
of higher education, or (iii) any other third-party not-for-profit 205 
corporation approved by the Commissioner of Education, for the school 206 
year, and (B) for the school year commencing July 1, 2024, and each 207 
school year thereafter, (i) thirty per cent of the number of part-time and 208 
full-time children enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program 209 
eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk, (ii) fifteen per cent 210 
of the number of such part-time and full-time children eligible for free 211 
or reduced price meals or free milk in excess of the number of such part-212 
time and full-time children eligible for free or reduced price meals or 213 
free milk that is equal to sixty per cent of the total number of children 214 
enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program, (iii) twenty-five 215 
per cent of the number of part-time and full-time students enrolled in 216  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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such interdistrict magnet school program who are English language 217 
learners, as defined in section 10-76kk of the general statutes, and (iv) if 218 
such interdistrict magnet school program is assisting the state in 219 
meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238, 220 
Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as 221 
determined by the commissioner, (I) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 222 
2025, thirty per cent of the number of part-time and full-time students 223 
enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program, (II) for the fiscal 224 
year ending June 30, 2026, twenty-eight per cent of the number of part-225 
time and full-time students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school 226 
program, (III) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, twenty-six per 227 
cent of the number of part-time and full-time students enrolled in such 228 
interdistrict magnet school program, (IV) for the fiscal year ending June 229 
30, 2028, twenty-four per cent of the number of part-time and full-time 230 
students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program, (V) for 231 
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, twenty-two per cent of the number 232 
of part-time and full-time students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet 233 
school program, and (VI) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and 234 
each fiscal year thereafter, twenty per cent of the number of part-time 235 
and full-time students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school 236 
program. 237 
(7) "Sending town" means the town that sends resident choice 238 
program students, which it would otherwise be legally responsible for 239 
educating, to a choice program. 240 
(8) "Receiving district" has the same meaning as provided in section 241 
10-266aa of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 242 
(9) "Weighted funding amount per pupil" means the quotient of (A) 243 
the product of the foundation and a town's total need students for the 244 
fiscal year prior to the year in which the grant is to be paid, and (B) the 245 
number of resident students of the town. 246 
(10) "Weighted funding amount per sending town" means the 247 
product of a town's (A) weighted funding amount per pupil, and (B) 248  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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number of resident choice program students for a particular choice 249 
program. 250 
(11) "In-district student" means a student enrolled or participating in 251 
a choice program operated or maintained by a local or regional board of 252 
education and whom such local or regional board of education is legally 253 
responsible for educating. 254 
(12) "Total revenue per pupil" means the sum of (A) the per student 255 
amount of the grant for a choice program student for the fiscal year 256 
ending June 30, 2024, and (B) the per student amount of any general 257 
education tuition for a student in such choice program for the fiscal year 258 
ending June 30, 2024. 259 
(13) "Sending town adjustment factor" means the product of (A) the 260 
weighted funding amount per pupil or the total revenue per pupil, 261 
whichever is greater, for a sending town, and (B) the number of its 262 
resident choice program students. 263 
(b) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 264 
thereafter, an interdistrict magnet school program operator that is not a 265 
local or regional board of education shall be entitled to a grant in an 266 
amount equal to the product of the foundation and its total magnet 267 
school program need students, except that, for each student enrolled in 268 
the interdistrict magnet school program of such operator, such operator 269 
shall not receive less than the total revenue per pupil. 270 
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 271 
thereafter, an interdistrict magnet school operator that is a local or 272 
regional board of education shall be entitled to a grant in an amount 273 
equal to the sum of (A) the sum of the sending town adjustment factor 274 
for each sending town, and (B) the product of (i) the number of in-275 
district students enrolled in the interdistrict magnet school program of 276 
such board, and (ii) the per student amount of the grant under section 277 
10-264l of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for an in-district 278 
student enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program for the 279  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. 280 
(c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 281 
thereafter, a local or regional board of education that operates a regional 282 
agricultural science and technology center shall be entitled to a grant in 283 
an amount equal to the sum of (1) the sum of the sending town 284 
adjustment factors for each sending town, and (2) the product of (A) the 285 
number of in-district students enrolled in such center, and (B) the per 286 
student amount of the grant under section 10-65 of the general statutes, 287 
as amended by this act, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. 288 
(d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 289 
thereafter, the local or regional board of education for each receiving 290 
district that accepts students under the interdistrict public school 291 
attendance program pursuant to section 10-266aa of the general statutes, 292 
as amended by this act, shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal 293 
to the sum of the sending town adjustment factors for each sending 294 
town. 295 
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than February 1, 296 
2024, and annually thereafter, the Department of Education shall 297 
calculate an estimated amount of each grant under section 2 of this act 298 
for the next fiscal year using data collected during the current fiscal year, 299 
and notify each local and regional board of education and interdistrict 300 
magnet school program operator that is not a local or regional board of 301 
education of such estimated amounts. 302 
(b) Not later than February 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the 303 
Department of Education shall calculate an estimated amount that each 304 
town is entitled to receive under the provisions of section 10-262h of the 305 
general statutes, as amended by this act for the next fiscal year using 306 
data collected during the current fiscal year, and notify each such town 307 
of such estimated amount. 308 
(c) Not later than February 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the 309 
Department of Education shall calculate the product of the foundation 310  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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and total charter need students, as defined in section 10-66ee of the 311 
general statutes, as amended by this act, for each fiscal authority for a 312 
state charter school for the next fiscal year using data collected during 313 
the current fiscal year, and notify each such fiscal authority of such 314 
product. 315 
Sec. 4. Section 10-264l of the general statutes is repealed and the 316 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 317 
(a) The Department of Education shall, within available 318 
appropriations, establish a grant program (1) to assist (A) local and 319 
regional boards of education, (B) regional educational service centers, 320 
(C) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on 321 
behalf of Quinebaug Valley Community College and Three Rivers 322 
Community College, and (D) cooperative arrangements pursuant to 323 
section 10-158a, and (2) in assisting the state in meeting its obligations 324 
pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any 325 
related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 326 
commissioner, to assist (A) the Board of Trustees of the Community-327 
Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, 328 
(B) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on 329 
behalf of a state university, (C) the Board of Trustees of The University 330 
of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (D) the board of governors 331 
for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in 332 
subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on 333 
behalf of the independent institution of higher education, and (E) any 334 
other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the 335 
commissioner with the operation of interdistrict magnet school 336 
programs. All interdistrict magnet schools shall be operated in 337 
conformance with the same laws and regulations applicable to public 338 
schools. For the purposes of this section "an interdistrict magnet school 339 
program" means a program which (i) supports racial, ethnic and 340 
economic diversity, (ii) offers a special and high quality curriculum, and 341 
(iii) requires students who are enrolled to attend at least half-time. An 342 
interdistrict magnet school program does not include a regional 343  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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agricultural science and technology school, a technical education and 344 
career school or a regional special education center. For the school years 345 
commencing July 1, 2017, to July 1, 2023, inclusive, the governing 346 
authority for each interdistrict magnet school program shall (I) restrict 347 
the number of students that may enroll in the school from a participating 348 
district to seventy-five per cent of the total school enrollment, and (II) 349 
maintain a total school enrollment that is in accordance with the 350 
reduced-isolation setting standards for interdistrict magnet school 351 
programs, developed by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to 352 
section 10-264r. 353 
(b) (1) Applications for interdistrict magnet school program 354 
operating grants awarded pursuant to this section shall be submitted 355 
annually to the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such 356 
manner as the commissioner prescribes, except that on and after July 1, 357 
2009, applications for such operating grants for new interdistrict magnet 358 
schools, other than those that the commissioner determines will assist 359 
the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. 360 
O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, 361 
as determined by the commissioner, shall not be accepted until the 362 
commissioner develops a comprehensive state-wide interdistrict 363 
magnet school plan. The commissioner shall submit such 364 
comprehensive state-wide interdistrict magnet school plan on or before 365 
October 1, 2016, to the joint standing committees of the General 366 
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and 367 
appropriations. 368 
(2) In determining whether an application shall be approved and 369 
funds awarded pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall 370 
consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to: (A) Whether the 371 
program offered by the school is likely to increase student achievement; 372 
(B) whether the program is likely to reduce racial, ethnic and economic 373 
isolation; (C) the percentage of the student enrollment in the program 374 
from each participating district; and (D) the proposed operating budget 375 
and the sources of funding for the interdistrict magnet school. For a 376  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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magnet school not operated by a local or regional board of education, 377 
the commissioner shall only approve a proposed operating budget that, 378 
on a per pupil basis, does not exceed the maximum allowable threshold 379 
established in accordance with this subdivision. The maximum 380 
allowable threshold shall be an amount equal to one hundred twenty 381 
per cent of the state average of the quotient obtained by dividing net 382 
current expenditures, as defined in section 10-261, by average daily 383 
membership, as defined in said section, for the fiscal year two years 384 
prior to the fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. The 385 
Department of Education shall establish the maximum allowable 386 
threshold no later than December fifteenth of the fiscal year prior to the 387 
fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. If requested by an 388 
applicant that is not a local or regional board of education, the 389 
commissioner may approve a proposed operating budget that exceeds 390 
the maximum allowable threshold if the commissioner determines that 391 
there are extraordinary programmatic needs. For the fiscal years ending 392 
June 30, 2017, June 30, 2018, June 30, 2020, and June 30, 2021, in the case 393 
of an interdistrict magnet school that will assist the state in meeting its 394 
obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 395 
(1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 396 
commissioner, the commissioner shall also consider whether the school 397 
is meeting the reduced-isolation setting standards for interdistrict 398 
magnet school programs, developed by the commissioner pursuant to 399 
section 10-264r. If such school has not met such reduced-isolation setting 400 
standards, it shall not be entitled to receive a grant pursuant to this 401 
section unless the commissioner finds that it is appropriate to award a 402 
grant for an additional year or years and approves a plan to bring such 403 
school into compliance with such reduced-isolation setting standards. If 404 
requested by the commissioner, the applicant shall meet with the 405 
commissioner or the commissioner's designee to discuss the budget and 406 
sources of funding. 407 
(3) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, to June 30, 2023, 408 
inclusive, the commissioner shall not award a grant to an interdistrict 409 
magnet school program that (A) has more than seventy-five per cent of 410  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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the total school enrollment from one school district, or (B) does not 411 
maintain a total school enrollment that is in accordance with the 412 
reduced-isolation setting standards for interdistrict magnet school 413 
programs, developed by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to 414 
section 10-264r, except the commissioner may award a grant to such 415 
school for an additional year or years if the commissioner finds it is 416 
appropriate to do so and approves a plan to bring such school into 417 
compliance with such residency or reduced-isolation setting standards. 418 
(4) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, to June 30, 2021, 419 
inclusive, if an interdistrict magnet school program does not maintain a 420 
total school enrollment that is in accordance with the reduced-isolation 421 
setting standards for interdistrict magnet school programs, developed 422 
by the commissioner pursuant to section 10-264r, for two or more 423 
consecutive years, the commissioner may impose a financial penalty on 424 
the operator of such interdistrict magnet school program, or take any 425 
other measure, in consultation with such operator, as may be 426 
appropriate to assist such operator in complying with such reduced-427 
isolation setting standards. 428 
(5) For the purposes of equalization aid under section 10-262h, as 429 
amended by this act, a student enrolled in an interdistrict magnet school 430 
program shall be counted as a resident student, as defined in section 10-431 
262f, as amended by this act, of the town in which such student resides. 432 
(c) (1) [The maximum amount each interdistrict magnet school 433 
program, except those described in subparagraphs (A) to (G), inclusive, 434 
of subdivision (3) of this subsection, shall be eligible to receive per 435 
enrolled student who is not a resident of the town operating the magnet 436 
school shall be (A) six thousand sixteen dollars for the fiscal year ending 437 
June 30, 2008, (B) six thousand seven hundred thirty dollars for the fiscal 438 
years ending June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2012, inclusive, (C) seven 439 
thousand eighty-five dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to 440 
June 30, 2019, inclusive, and (D) seven thousand two hundred twenty-441 
seven dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year 442 
thereafter. The per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is a 443  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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resident of the town operating the magnet school program shall be (i) 444 
three thousand dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2008, to June 445 
30, 2019, inclusive, and (ii) three thousand sixty dollars for the fiscal year 446 
ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter.] For the fiscal year 447 
ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, each interdistrict 448 
magnet school operator shall be paid a grant equal to the amount the 449 
operator is entitled to receive under the provisions of section 2 of this 450 
act. 451 
(2) (A) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year 452 
thereafter, any interdistrict magnet school operator that is not a local or 453 
regional board of education may charge tuition to the local or regional 454 
board of education for a sending town if the grant to which such 455 
operator is entitled to under section 2 of this act is not calculated using 456 
a foundation amount that is adjusted by the greater of either the 457 
percentage increase in personal income, as defined in section 2-33a, or 458 
the percentage increase in inflation, as defined in section 2-33a. Such 459 
tuition charged shall not exceed the difference between the amount of 460 
the grant such operator would have been entitled to receive for the fiscal 461 
year if such grant was calculated using the foundation, as defined in 462 
section 2 of this act, and the amount of the grant that such operator will 463 
receive for such fiscal year.  464 
(B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year 465 
thereafter, any interdistrict magnet school operator that is not a local or 466 
regional board of education that charges tuition under this subdivision 467 
shall notify the Department of Education of the (i) per-student amount 468 
of tuition charged for the fiscal year, (ii) local or regional boards of 469 
education for sending towns that were charged tuition by such operator 470 
for such fiscal year, (iii) total amount of tuition charged to each such 471 
sending town for such fiscal year, and (iv) total amount of tuition 472 
charged for such fiscal year. The department shall develop an annual 473 
report of such tuition charged and, not later than January first of each 474 
year, submit such report to the joint standing committees of the General 475 
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and 476  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. 477 
[(2)] (3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, and each fiscal year 478 
thereafter, the commissioner may, within available appropriations, 479 
provide supplemental grants for the purposes of enhancing educational 480 
programs in such interdistrict magnet schools, as the commissioner 481 
determines. Such grants shall be made after the commissioner has 482 
conducted a comprehensive financial review and approved the total 483 
operating budget for such schools, including all revenue and 484 
expenditure estimates. 485 
[(3) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (C) to (G), 486 
inclusive, of this subdivision, each interdistrict magnet school operated 487 
by a regional educational service center that enrolls less than fifty-five 488 
per cent of the school's students from a single town shall receive a per 489 
pupil grant in the amount of (i) six thousand two hundred fifty dollars 490 
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, (ii) six thousand five hundred 491 
dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, (iii) seven thousand sixty 492 
dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, (iv) seven thousand six 493 
hundred twenty dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2009, to June 494 
30, 2012, inclusive, (v) seven thousand nine hundred dollars for the 495 
fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2019, inclusive, and (vi) 496 
eight thousand fifty-eight dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, 497 
and each fiscal year thereafter. 498 
(B) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (C) to (G), 499 
inclusive, of this subdivision, each interdistrict magnet school operated 500 
by a regional educational service center that enrolls at least fifty-five per 501 
cent of the school's students from a single town shall receive a per pupil 502 
grant for each enrolled student who is not a resident of the district that 503 
enrolls at least fifty-five per cent of the school's students in the amount 504 
of (i) six thousand sixteen dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, 505 
(ii) six thousand seven hundred thirty dollars for the fiscal years ending 506 
June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2012, inclusive, (iii) seven thousand eighty-five 507 
dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2019, 508 
inclusive, and (iv) seven thousand two hundred twenty-seven dollars 509  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter. 510 
The per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is a resident of the 511 
district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent of the school's students 512 
shall be three thousand sixty dollars. 513 
(C) (i) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, to June 30, 2019, 514 
inclusive, each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional 515 
educational service center that began operations for the school year 516 
commencing July 1, 2001, and that for the school year commencing July 517 
1, 2008, enrolled at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than eighty per 518 
cent of the school's students from a single town, shall receive a per pupil 519 
grant (I) for each enrolled student who is a resident of the district that 520 
enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than eighty per cent of the 521 
school's students, up to an amount equal to the total number of such 522 
enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the 523 
amount of eight thousand one hundred eighty dollars, (II) for each 524 
enrolled student who is a resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-525 
five per cent, but not more than eighty per cent of the school's students, 526 
in an amount greater than the total number of such enrolled students as 527 
of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the amount of three 528 
thousand dollars, (III) for each enrolled student who is not a resident of 529 
the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than 530 
eighty per cent of the school's students, up to an amount equal to the 531 
total number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the 532 
data of record, in the amount of eight thousand one hundred eighty 533 
dollars, and (IV) for each enrolled student who is not a resident of the 534 
district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but not more than eighty 535 
per cent of the school's students, in an amount greater than the total 536 
number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the data 537 
of record, in the amount of seven thousand eighty-five dollars. 538 
(ii) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year 539 
thereafter, each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional 540 
educational service center that began operations for the school year 541 
commencing July 1, 2001, and that for the school year commencing July 542  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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1, 2008, enrolled at least fifty-five per cent, but not more than eighty per 543 
cent of the school's students from a single town, shall receive a per pupil 544 
grant (I) for each enrolled student who is a resident of the district that 545 
enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but not more than eighty per cent of 546 
the school's students, up to an amount equal to the total number of such 547 
enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the 548 
amount of eight thousand three hundred forty-four dollars, (II) for each 549 
enrolled student who is a resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-550 
five per cent, but not more than eighty per cent of the school's students, 551 
in an amount greater than the total number of such enrolled students as 552 
of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the amount of three 553 
thousand sixty dollars, (III) for each enrolled student who is not a 554 
resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but no more 555 
than eighty per cent of the school's students, up to an amount equal to 556 
the total number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using 557 
the data of record, in the amount of eight thousand three hundred forty-558 
four dollars, and (IV) for each enrolled student who is not a resident of 559 
the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but not more than 560 
eighty per cent of the school's students, in an amount greater than the 561 
total number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the 562 
data of record, in the amount of seven thousand two hundred twenty-563 
seven dollars. 564 
(D) (i) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (D)(ii) of this 565 
subdivision, each interdistrict magnet school operated by (I) a regional 566 
educational service center, (II) the Board of Trustees of the Community-567 
Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, 568 
(III) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on 569 
behalf of a state university, (IV) the Board of Trustees for The University 570 
of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (V) the board of governors 571 
for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in 572 
subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on 573 
behalf of the independent institution of higher education, except as 574 
otherwise provided in subparagraph (E) of this subdivision, (VI) 575 
cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, (VII) any other 576  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the commissioner, 577 
and (VIII) the Hartford school district for the operation of Great Path 578 
Academy on behalf of Manchester Community College, that enrolls less 579 
than sixty per cent of its students from Hartford shall receive a per pupil 580 
grant in the amount of nine thousand six hundred ninety-five dollars for 581 
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, ten thousand four hundred forty-582 
three dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2011, to June 30, 2019, 583 
inclusive, and ten thousand six hundred fifty-two dollars for the fiscal 584 
year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter. 585 
(ii) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, to June 30, 2019, 586 
inclusive, any interdistrict magnet school described in subparagraph 587 
(D)(i) of this subdivision that enrolls less than fifty per cent of its 588 
incoming students from Hartford shall receive a per pupil grant in the 589 
amount of seven thousand nine hundred dollars for one-half of the total 590 
number of non-Hartford students enrolled in the school over fifty per 591 
cent of the total school enrollment and shall receive a per pupil grant in 592 
the amount of ten thousand four hundred forty-three dollars for the 593 
remainder of the total school enrollment. For the fiscal year ending June 594 
30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter, any interdistrict magnet school 595 
described in subparagraph (D)(i) of this subdivision that enrolls less 596 
than fifty per cent of its incoming students from Hartford shall receive 597 
a per pupil grant in the amount of eight thousand fifty-eight dollars for 598 
one-half of the total number of non-Hartford students enrolled in the 599 
school over fifty per cent of the total school enrollment and shall receive 600 
a per pupil grant in the amount of ten thousand six hundred fifty-two 601 
dollars for the remainder of the total school enrollment, except the 602 
commissioner may, upon the written request of an operator of such 603 
school, waive such fifty per cent enrollment minimum for good cause. 604 
(E) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and each fiscal year 605 
thereafter, each interdistrict magnet school operated by the board of 606 
governors for an independent institution of higher education, as defined 607 
in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on 608 
behalf of the independent institution of higher education, that (i) began 609  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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operations for the school year commencing July 1, 2014, (ii) enrolls less 610 
than sixty per cent of its students from Hartford pursuant to the decision 611 
in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order 612 
in effect, as determined by the commissioner, and (iii) enrolls students 613 
at least half-time, shall be eligible to receive a per pupil grant (I) equal 614 
to sixty-five per cent of the grant amount determined pursuant to 615 
subparagraph (D) of this subdivision for each student who is enrolled 616 
at such school for at least two semesters in each school year, and (II) 617 
equal to thirty-two and one-half per cent of the grant amount 618 
determined pursuant to subparagraph (D) of this subdivision for each 619 
student who is enrolled at such school for one semester in each school 620 
year. 621 
(F) Each interdistrict magnet school operated by a local or regional 622 
board of education, pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 623 
Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, shall receive 624 
a per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is not a resident of the 625 
district in the amount of (i) twelve thousand dollars for the fiscal year 626 
ending June 30, 2010, (ii) thirteen thousand fifty-four dollars for the 627 
fiscal years ending June 30, 2011, to June 30, 2019, inclusive, and (iii) 628 
thirteen thousand three hundred fifteen dollars for the fiscal year ending 629 
June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter. 630 
(G) In addition to the grants described in subparagraph (E) of this 631 
subdivision, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, the commissioner 632 
may, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 633 
Management and the Finance Advisory Committee, established 634 
pursuant to section 4-93, provide supplemental grants to the Hartford 635 
school district of up to one thousand fifty-four dollars for each student 636 
enrolled at an interdistrict magnet school operated by the Hartford 637 
school district who is not a resident of such district. 638 
(H) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year 639 
thereafter, the half-day Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts 640 
interdistrict magnet school operated by the Capital Region Education 641 
Council shall be eligible to receive a per pupil grant equal to sixty-five 642  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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per cent of the per pupil grant specified in subparagraph (A) of this 643 
subdivision. 644 
(I) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, to June 30, 2018, inclusive, 645 
the half-day Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science 646 
interdistrict magnet school operated by the Capitol Region Education 647 
Council shall be eligible to receive a per pupil grant equal to six 648 
thousand seven hundred eighty-seven dollars for (i) students enrolled 649 
in grades ten to twelve, inclusive, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, 650 
(ii) students enrolled in grades eleven and twelve for the fiscal year 651 
ending June 30, 2017, and (iii) students enrolled in grade twelve for the 652 
fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, 653 
and each fiscal year thereafter, the half-day Greater Hartford Academy 654 
of Mathematics and Science interdistrict magnet school shall not be 655 
eligible for any additional grants pursuant to subsection (c) of this 656 
section. 657 
(4) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, and June 30, 2016, the 658 
department may limit payment to an interdistrict magnet school 659 
operator to an amount equal to the grant that such magnet school 660 
operator was eligible to receive based on the enrollment level of the 661 
interdistrict magnet school program on October 1, 2013. Approval of 662 
funding for enrollment above such enrollment level shall be prioritized 663 
by the department as follows: (A) Increases in enrollment in an 664 
interdistrict magnet school program that is adding planned new grade 665 
levels for the school years commencing July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016; (B) 666 
increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program that 667 
added planned new grade levels for the school year commencing July 1, 668 
2014, and was funded during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015; (C) 669 
increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program that 670 
is moving into a permanent facility for the school years commencing 671 
July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2016, inclusive; (D) increases in enrollment in an 672 
interdistrict magnet school program to ensure compliance with 673 
subsection (a) of this section; and (E) new enrollments for a new 674 
interdistrict magnet school program commencing operations on or after 675  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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July 1, 2014, pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 676 
(1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 677 
commissioner. Any interdistrict magnet school program operating less 678 
than full-time, but at least half-time, shall be eligible to receive a grant 679 
equal to sixty-five per cent of the grant amount determined pursuant to 680 
this subsection. 681 
(5) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, the department may limit 682 
payment to an interdistrict magnet school operator to an amount equal 683 
to the grant that such magnet school operator was eligible to receive 684 
based on the enrollment level of the interdistrict magnet school program 685 
on October 1, 2013, or October 1, 2015, whichever is lower. Approval of 686 
funding for enrollment above such enrollment level shall be prioritized 687 
by the department as follows: (A) Increases in enrollment in an 688 
interdistrict magnet school program that is adding planned new grade 689 
levels for the school years commencing July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016; (B) 690 
increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program that 691 
added planned new grade levels for the school year commencing July 1, 692 
2014, and was funded during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015; (C) 693 
increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program that 694 
added planned new grade levels for the school year commencing July 1, 695 
2015, and was funded during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016; and 696 
(D) increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program to 697 
ensure compliance with subsection (a) of this section. Any interdistrict 698 
magnet school program operating less than full-time, but at least half-699 
time, shall be eligible to receive a grant equal to sixty-five per cent of the 700 
grant amount determined pursuant to this subsection. 701 
(6) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, and within available 702 
appropriations, the department may limit payment to an interdistrict 703 
magnet school operator to an amount equal to the grant that such 704 
magnet school operator was eligible to receive based on the enrollment 705 
level of the interdistrict magnet school program on October 1, 2013, 706 
October 1, 2015, or October 1, 2016, whichever is lower. Approval of 707 
funding for enrollment above such enrollment level shall be prioritized 708  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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by the department and subject to the commissioner's approval, 709 
including increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school 710 
program as a result of planned and approved new grade levels. Any 711 
interdistrict magnet school program operating less than full-time, but at 712 
least half-time, shall be eligible to receive a grant equal to sixty-five per 713 
cent of the grant amount determined pursuant to this subsection. 714 
(7) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, and within available 715 
appropriations, the department may limit payment to an interdistrict 716 
magnet school operator to an amount equal to the grant that such 717 
magnet school operator was eligible to receive based on the enrollment 718 
level of the interdistrict magnet school program on October 1, 2013, 719 
October 1, 2015, October 1, 2016, or October 1, 2017, whichever is lower. 720 
Approval of funding for enrollment above such enrollment level shall 721 
be prioritized by the department and subject to the commissioner's 722 
approval, including increases in enrollment in an interdistrict magnet 723 
school program as a result of planned and approved new grade levels. 724 
Any interdistrict magnet school program operating less than full-time, 725 
but at least half-time, shall be eligible to receive a grant equal to sixty-726 
five per cent of the grant amount determined pursuant to this 727 
subsection. 728 
(8) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and within available 729 
appropriations, the department may limit payment to an interdistrict 730 
magnet school operator to an amount equal to the grant that such 731 
magnet school operator was eligible to receive based on the enrollment 732 
level of the interdistrict magnet school program on October 1, 2013, 733 
October 1, 2015, October 1, 2016, October 1, 2017, or October 1, 2018, 734 
whichever is lower. Approval of funding for enrollment above such 735 
enrollment level shall be prioritized by the department and subject to 736 
the commissioner's approval, including increases in enrollment in an 737 
interdistrict magnet school program as a result of planned and 738 
approved new grade levels. Any interdistrict magnet school program 739 
operating less than full-time, but at least half-time, shall be eligible to 740 
receive a grant equal to sixty-five per cent of the grant amount 741  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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determined pursuant to this subsection. 742 
(9) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, and within available 743 
appropriations, the department may limit payment to an interdistrict 744 
magnet school operator to an amount equal to the grant that such 745 
magnet school operator was eligible to receive based on the enrollment 746 
level of the interdistrict magnet school program on October 1, 2013, 747 
October 1, 2015, October 1, 2016, October 1, 2017, October 1, 2018, or 748 
October 1, 2019, whichever is lower. Approval of funding for enrollment 749 
above such enrollment level shall be prioritized by the department and 750 
subject to the commissioner's approval, including increases in 751 
enrollment in an interdistrict magnet school program as a result of 752 
planned and approved new grade levels. Any interdistrict magnet 753 
school program operating less than full-time, but at least half-time, shall 754 
be eligible to receive a grant equal to sixty-five per cent of the grant 755 
amount determined pursuant to this subsection.] 756 
[(10)] (4) Within available appropriations, the commissioner may 757 
make grants to the following entities that operate an interdistrict magnet 758 
school that assists the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the 759 
decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation 760 
or order in effect, as determined by the commissioner and that provide 761 
academic support programs and summer school educational programs 762 
approved by the commissioner to students participating in such 763 
interdistrict magnet school program: (A) Regional educational service 764 
centers, (B) local and regional boards of education, (C) the Board of 765 
Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional 766 
community-technical college, (D) the Board of Trustees of the 767 
Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (E) 768 
the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the 769 
university, (F) the board of governors for an independent institution of 770 
higher education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the 771 
equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent institution of 772 
higher education, (G) cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-773 
158a, and (H) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved 774  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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by the commissioner. 775 
[(11)] (5) Within available appropriations, the Commissioner of 776 
Education may make grants, in an amount not to exceed seventy-five 777 
thousand dollars, for start-up costs associated with the development of 778 
new interdistrict magnet school programs that assist the state in meeting 779 
its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 780 
(1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 781 
commissioner, to the following entities that develop such a program: (A) 782 
Regional educational service centers, (B) local and regional boards of 783 
education, (C) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical 784 
Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (D) the 785 
Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf 786 
of a state university, (E) the Board of Trustees for The University of 787 
Connecticut on behalf of the university, (F) the board of governors for 788 
an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subsection 789 
(a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the 790 
independent institution of higher education, (G) cooperative 791 
arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, and (H) any other third-party 792 
not-for-profit corporation approved by the commissioner. 793 
[(12)] (6) In no case shall the total grant paid to an interdistrict magnet 794 
school operator pursuant to this section exceed the aggregate total of the 795 
reasonable operating budgets of the interdistrict magnet school 796 
programs of such operator, less revenues from other sources. 797 
(d) [(1)] Grants made pursuant to this section [, except those made 798 
pursuant to subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of this section and 799 
subdivision (2) of this subsection,] and section 2 of this act shall be paid 800 
as follows: Seventy per cent not later than September first and the 801 
balance not later than May first of each fiscal year. The May first 802 
payment shall be adjusted to reflect actual interdistrict magnet school 803 
program enrollment as of the preceding October first using the data of 804 
record as of the intervening January thirty-first, if the actual level of 805 
enrollment is lower than the projected enrollment stated in the 806 
approved grant application. The May first payment shall be further 807  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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adjusted for the difference between the total grant received by the 808 
magnet school operator in the prior fiscal year and the revised total 809 
grant amount calculated for the prior fiscal year in cases where the 810 
aggregate financial audit submitted by the interdistrict magnet school 811 
operator pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (n) of this section 812 
indicates an overpayment by the department. Notwithstanding the 813 
provisions of this section to the contrary, grants made pursuant to this 814 
section may be paid to each interdistrict magnet school operator as an 815 
aggregate total of the amount that the interdistrict magnet schools 816 
operated by each such operator are eligible to receive under this section. 817 
Each interdistrict magnet school operator may distribute such aggregate 818 
grant among the interdistrict magnet school programs that such 819 
operator is operating pursuant to a distribution plan approved by the 820 
Commissioner of Education. 821 
[(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year 822 
thereafter, grants made pursuant to subparagraph (E) of subdivision (3) 823 
of subsection (c) of this section shall be paid as follows: Fifty per cent of 824 
the amount not later than September first based on estimated student 825 
enrollment for the first semester on September first, and another fifty 826 
per cent not later than May first of each fiscal year based on actual 827 
student enrollment for the second semester on February first. The May 828 
first payment shall be adjusted to reflect actual interdistrict magnet 829 
school program enrollment for those students who have been enrolled 830 
at such school for at least two semesters of the school year, using the 831 
data of record, and actual student enrollment for those students who 832 
have been enrolled at such school for only one semester, using data of 833 
record. The May first payment shall be further adjusted for the 834 
difference between the total grant received by the magnet school 835 
operator in the prior fiscal year and the revised total grant amount 836 
calculated for the prior fiscal year where the financial audit submitted 837 
by the interdistrict magnet school operator pursuant to subdivision (1) 838 
of subsection (n) of this section indicates an overpayment by the 839 
department.] 840  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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(e) The Department of Education may retain up to one-half of one per 841 
cent of the amount appropriated, in an amount not to exceed five 842 
hundred thousand dollars, for purposes of this section for program 843 
evaluation and administration. 844 
(f) Each local or regional school district in which an interdistrict 845 
magnet school is located shall provide the same kind of transportation 846 
to its children enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school as it provides 847 
to its children enrolled in other public schools in such local or regional 848 
school district. The parent or guardian of a child denied the 849 
transportation services required to be provided pursuant to this 850 
subsection may appeal such denial in the manner provided in sections 851 
10-186 and 10-187. 852 
(g) On or before October fifteenth of each year, the Commissioner of 853 
Education shall determine if interdistrict magnet school enrollment is 854 
below the number of students for which funds were appropriated. If the 855 
commissioner determines that the enrollment is below such number, the 856 
additional funds shall not lapse but shall be used by the commissioner 857 
for grants for interdistrict cooperative programs pursuant to section 10-858 
74d. 859 
(h) (1) In the case of a student identified as requiring special 860 
education, the school district in which the student resides shall: (A) 861 
Hold the planning and placement team meeting for such student and 862 
shall invite representatives from the interdistrict magnet school to 863 
participate in such meeting; and (B) pay the interdistrict magnet school 864 
an amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of 865 
educating such student and the sum of the amount received by the 866 
interdistrict magnet school for such student pursuant to subsection (c) 867 
of this section and amounts received from other state, federal, local or 868 
private sources calculated on a per pupil basis. Such school district shall 869 
be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 10-76g. If a student 870 
requiring special education attends an interdistrict magnet school on a 871 
full-time basis, such interdistrict magnet school shall be responsible for 872 
ensuring that such student receives the services mandated by the 873  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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student's individualized education program whether such services are 874 
provided by the interdistrict magnet school or by the school district in 875 
which the student resides. 876 
(2) In the case of a student with a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the 877 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, the school 878 
district in which the student resides shall pay the interdistrict magnet 879 
school an amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of 880 
educating such student and the sum of the amount received by the 881 
interdistrict magnet school for such student pursuant to subsection (c) 882 
of this section and amounts received from other state, federal, local or 883 
private sources calculated on a per pupil basis. If a student with a plan 884 
pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 885 
from time to time, attends an interdistrict magnet school on a full-time 886 
basis, such interdistrict magnet school shall be responsible for ensuring 887 
that such student receives the services mandated by the student's plan, 888 
whether such services are provided by the interdistrict magnet school 889 
or by the school district in which the student resides. 890 
(i) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the 891 
enrollment of nonpublic school students in an interdistrict magnet 892 
school program that operates less than full-time, provided (1) such 893 
students constitute no more than five per cent of the full-time equivalent 894 
enrollment in such magnet school program, and (2) such students are 895 
not counted for purposes of determining the amount of grants pursuant 896 
to this section and section 10-264i. 897 
(j) After accommodating students from participating districts in 898 
accordance with an approved enrollment agreement, an interdistrict 899 
magnet school operator that has unused student capacity may enroll 900 
directly into its program any interested student. A student from a 901 
district that is not participating in an interdistrict magnet school or the 902 
interdistrict student attendance program pursuant to section 10-266aa, 903 
as amended by this act, to an extent determined by the Commissioner 904 
of Education shall be given preference. [The local or regional board of 905 
education otherwise responsible for educating such student shall 906  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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contribute funds to support the operation of the interdistrict magnet 907 
school in an amount equal to the per student tuition, if any, charged to 908 
participating districts.] 909 
[(k) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year 910 
thereafter, any tuition charged to a local or regional board of education 911 
by a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict 912 
magnet school or any tuition charged by the Hartford school district 913 
operating the Great Path Academy on behalf of Manchester Community 914 
College for any student enrolled in kindergarten to grade twelve, 915 
inclusive, in such interdistrict magnet school shall be in an amount equal 916 
to the difference between (A) the average per pupil expenditure of the 917 
magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (B) the amount of any per 918 
pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus 919 
any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. If any 920 
such board of education fails to pay such tuition, the commissioner may 921 
withhold from such board's town or towns a sum payable under section 922 
10-262i in an amount not to exceed the amount of the unpaid tuition to 923 
the magnet school and pay such money to the fiscal agent for the magnet 924 
school as a supplementary grant for the operation of the interdistrict 925 
magnet school program. In no case shall the sum of such tuitions exceed 926 
the difference between (i) the total expenditures of the magnet school 927 
for the prior fiscal year, and (ii) the total per pupil state subsidy 928 
calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue from 929 
other sources. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive 930 
financial review of the operating budget of a magnet school to verify 931 
such tuition rate. 932 
(2) (A) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, and June 30, 2014, a 933 
regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet 934 
school offering a preschool program that is not located in the Sheff 935 
region may charge tuition to the Department of Education for a child 936 
enrolled in such preschool program in an amount not to exceed an 937 
amount equal to the difference between (i) the average per pupil 938 
expenditure of the preschool program offered at the magnet school for 939  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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the prior fiscal year, and (ii) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy 940 
calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue from 941 
other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. The commissioner may 942 
conduct a comprehensive financial review of the operating budget of 943 
any such magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate. 944 
For purposes of this subdivision, "Sheff region" means the school 945 
districts for the towns of Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, East Granby, East 946 
Hartford, East Windsor, Ellington, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, 947 
Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South 948 
Windsor, Suffield, Vernon, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor and 949 
Windsor Locks. 950 
(B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, a regional educational 951 
service center operating an interdistrict magnet school offering a 952 
preschool program that is not located in the Sheff region may charge 953 
tuition to the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool 954 
program in an amount that is in accordance with the sliding tuition scale 955 
adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-264p. 956 
The Department of Education shall be financially responsible for any 957 
unpaid portion of the tuition not charged to such parent or guardian 958 
under such sliding tuition scale. Such tuition shall not exceed an amount 959 
equal to the difference between (i) the average per pupil expenditure of 960 
the preschool program offered at the magnet school for the prior fiscal 961 
year, and (ii) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under 962 
subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue from other sources 963 
calculated on a per pupil basis. The commissioner may conduct a 964 
comprehensive financial review of the operating budget of any such 965 
magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate.] 966 
[(C)] (k) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year 967 
thereafter, a regional educational service center operating an 968 
interdistrict magnet school offering a preschool program that is not 969 
located in the Sheff region shall charge tuition to the parent or guardian 970 
of a child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount up to four 971 
thousand fifty-three dollars, except such regional educational service 972  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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center shall not charge tuition to such parent or guardian with a family 973 
income at or below seventy-five per cent of the state median income. 974 
The Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, be 975 
financially responsible for any unpaid tuition charged to such parent or 976 
guardian with a family income at or below seventy-five per cent of the 977 
state median income. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive 978 
financial review of the operating budget of any such magnet school 979 
charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate. 980 
(l) A participating district shall provide opportunities for its students 981 
to attend an interdistrict magnet school in a number that is at least equal 982 
to the number specified in any written agreement with an interdistrict 983 
magnet school operator or in a number that is at least equal to the 984 
average number of students that the participating district enrolled in 985 
such magnet school during the previous three school years. 986 
(m) (1) On or before May 15, 2010, and annually thereafter, each 987 
interdistrict magnet school operator shall provide written notification to 988 
any school district that is otherwise responsible for educating a student 989 
who resides in such school district and will be enrolled in an interdistrict 990 
magnet school under the operator's control for the following school 991 
year. Such notification shall include (A) the number of any such 992 
students, by grade, who will be enrolled in an interdistrict magnet 993 
school under the control of such operator, (B) the name of the school in 994 
which such student has been placed, and (C) the amount of tuition to be 995 
charged to the local or regional board of education for such student. 996 
Such notification shall represent an estimate of the number of students 997 
expected to attend such interdistrict magnet schools in the following 998 
school year, but shall not be deemed to limit the number of students 999 
who may enroll in such interdistrict magnet schools for such year. 1000 
(2) For the school year commencing July 1, [2015] 2024, and each 1001 
school year thereafter, any interdistrict magnet school operator that is a 1002 
local or regional board of education [and did] shall not charge tuition to 1003 
[a] another local or regional board of education. [for the school year 1004 
commencing July 1, 2014, may not charge tuition to such board unless 1005  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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(A) such operator receives authorization from the Commissioner of 1006 
Education to charge the proposed tuition, and (B) if such authorization 1007 
is granted, such operator provides written notification on or before 1008 
September first of the school year prior to the school year in which such 1009 
tuition is to be charged to such board of the tuition to be charged to such 1010 
board for each student that such board is otherwise responsible for 1011 
educating and is enrolled at the interdistrict magnet school under such 1012 
operator's control. In deciding whether to authorize an interdistrict 1013 
magnet school operator to charge tuition under this subdivision, the 1014 
commissioner shall consider (i) the average per pupil expenditure of 1015 
such operator for each interdistrict magnet school under the control of 1016 
such operator, and (ii) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy and 1017 
any revenue from other sources received by such operator. The 1018 
commissioner may conduct a comprehensive financial review of the 1019 
operating budget of the magnet school of such operator to verify that 1020 
the tuition is appropriate. The provisions of this subdivision shall not 1021 
apply to any interdistrict magnet school operator that is a regional 1022 
educational service center or assisting the state in meeting its obligations 1023 
pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any 1024 
related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 1025 
Commissioner of Education.] 1026 
(3) Not later than two weeks following an enrollment lottery for an 1027 
interdistrict magnet school conducted by a magnet school operator, the 1028 
parent or guardian of a student (A) who will enroll in such interdistrict 1029 
magnet school in the following school year, or (B) whose name has been 1030 
placed on a waiting list for enrollment in such interdistrict magnet 1031 
school for the following school year, shall provide written notification 1032 
of such prospective enrollment or waiting list placement to the school 1033 
district in which such student resides and is otherwise responsible for 1034 
educating such student. 1035 
(n) (1) Each interdistrict magnet school operator shall annually file 1036 
with the Commissioner of Education, at such time and in such manner 1037 
as the commissioner prescribes, (A) a financial audit for each 1038  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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interdistrict magnet school operated by such operator, and (B) an 1039 
aggregate financial audit for all of the interdistrict magnet schools 1040 
operated by such operator. 1041 
(2) Annually, the commissioner shall randomly select one 1042 
interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional educational service 1043 
center to be subject to a comprehensive financial audit conducted by an 1044 
auditor selected by the commissioner. The regional educational service 1045 
center shall be responsible for all costs associated with the audit 1046 
conducted pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision. 1047 
(o) For the school [years commencing July 1, 2009, to July 1, 2018, 1048 
inclusive] year commencing July 1, 2024, and each school year 1049 
thereafter, any local or regional board of education operating an 1050 
interdistrict magnet school pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 1051 
238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, shall not 1052 
charge tuition for any student enrolled in [a preschool program or in] 1053 
kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, in an interdistrict magnet 1054 
school operated by such school district. [, except the Hartford school 1055 
district may charge tuition for any student enrolled in the Great Path 1056 
Academy.] 1057 
[(p) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year 1058 
thereafter, if the East Hartford school district or the Manchester school 1059 
district has greater than four per cent of its resident students, as defined 1060 
in section 10-262f, enrolled in an interdistrict magnet school program, 1061 
then the board of education for the town of East Hartford or the town of 1062 
Manchester shall not be financially responsible for four thousand four 1063 
hundred dollars of the portion of the per student tuition charged for 1064 
each such student in excess of such four per cent. The Department of 1065 
Education shall, within available appropriations, be financially 1066 
responsible for such excess per student tuition. Notwithstanding the 1067 
provisions of this subsection, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, 1068 
and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of the grants payable to the 1069 
boards of education for the towns of East Hartford and Manchester in 1070 
accordance with this subsection shall be reduced proportionately if the 1071  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for 1072 
purposes of this subsection. 1073 
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, if the local or regional 1074 
board of education for (A) a town located in the Sheff region, as defined 1075 
in subsection (k) of this section, other than a local board of education 1076 
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, (B) the town of New 1077 
Britain, and (C) the town of New London, has greater than four per cent 1078 
of its resident students, as defined in section 10-262f, enrolled in an 1079 
interdistrict magnet school program, then such board of education shall 1080 
not be financially responsible for four thousand four hundred dollars of 1081 
the portion of the per student tuition charged for each such student in 1082 
excess of such four per cent. The Department of Education shall, within 1083 
available appropriations, be financially responsible for such excess per 1084 
student tuition. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for 1085 
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the amount of the grants payable to 1086 
any such board of education in accordance with this subsection shall be 1087 
reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds 1088 
the amount allocated for said year in accordance with the provisions of 1089 
special act 21-1, from the federal funds designated for the state pursuant 1090 
to the provisions of section 602 of Subtitle M of Title IX of the American 1091 
Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, as amended from time to time, for 1092 
purposes of this subsection.] 1093 
Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 10-264o of the general statutes is 1094 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1095 
2024): 1096 
(b) [For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year 1097 
thereafter, any tuition charged to a local or regional board of education 1098 
by] Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of 1099 
section 10-264l, as amended by this act, for the fiscal year ending June 1100 
30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, a regional educational service 1101 
center operating an interdistrict magnet school assisting the state in 1102 
meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 1103 
Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as 1104  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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determined by the Commissioner of Education, shall not charge tuition 1105 
to a local or regional board of education for any student enrolled in 1106 
kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, in such interdistrict magnet 1107 
school. [shall be in an amount equal to the difference between (1) the 1108 
average per pupil expenditure of the magnet school for the prior fiscal 1109 
year, and (2) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under 1110 
subsection (c) of section 10-264l, plus any revenue from other sources 1111 
calculated on a per pupil basis. If any such board of education fails to 1112 
pay such tuition, the commissioner may withhold from such board's 1113 
town or towns a sum payable under section 10-262i in an amount not to 1114 
exceed the amount of the unpaid tuition to the magnet school and pay 1115 
such money to the fiscal agent for the magnet school as a supplementary 1116 
grant for the operation of the interdistrict magnet school program. In no 1117 
case shall the sum of such tuitions exceed the difference between (A) the 1118 
total expenditures of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (B) 1119 
the total per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of 1120 
section 10-264l, plus any revenue from other sources. The commissioner 1121 
may conduct a comprehensive review of the operating budget of a 1122 
magnet school to verify such tuition rate.] 1123 
Sec. 6. Subsection (d) of section 10-66ee of the general statutes is 1124 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1125 
2023): 1126 
(d) (1) As used in this subsection: 1127 
(A) "Total charter need students" means the sum of (i) the number of 1128 
students enrolled in state charter schools under the control of the 1129 
governing authority for such state charter schools for the school year, 1130 
and (ii) for the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school 1131 
year thereafter, (I) thirty per cent of the number of children enrolled in 1132 
such state charter schools eligible for free or reduced price meals or free 1133 
milk, (II) fifteen per cent of the number of such children eligible for free 1134 
or reduced price meals or free milk in excess of the number of such 1135 
children eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk that is equal 1136 
to sixty per cent of the total number of children enrolled in such state 1137  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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charter schools, and (III) twenty-five per cent of the number of students 1138 
enrolled in such state charter schools who are English language learners, 1139 
as defined in section 10-76kk. 1140 
(B) "Foundation" [has the same meaning as provided in section 10-1141 
262f] means (i) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2024, and June 30, 1142 
2025, eleven thousand five hundred twenty-five dollars, (ii) for the fiscal 1143 
year ending June 30, 2026, eleven thousand five hundred twenty-five 1144 
dollars adjusted by the percentage increase in personal income, as 1145 
defined in section 2-33a, or the percentage increase in inflation, as 1146 
defined in section 2-33a, whichever is greater, and (iii) for the fiscal year 1147 
ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of the 1148 
foundation for the prior fiscal year adjusted by the percentage increase 1149 
in personal income, as defined in section 2-33a, or the percentage 1150 
increase in inflation, as defined in section 2-33a, whichever is greater.  1151 
(C) "Charter full weighted funding per student" means the quotient 1152 
of (i) the product of the total charter need students and the foundation, 1153 
and (ii) the number of students enrolled in state charter schools under 1154 
the control of the governing authority for such state charter schools for 1155 
the school year. 1156 
(D) "Charter grant adjustment" means the absolute value of the 1157 
difference between the foundation and charter full weighted funding 1158 
per student for state charter schools under the control of the governing 1159 
authority for such state charter schools for the school year. 1160 
(2) For the fiscal year ending July 1, 2022, the state shall pay in 1161 
accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter 1162 
school for each student enrolled in such school, the foundation plus four 1163 
and one-tenth per cent of its charter grant adjustment. 1164 
(3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the state shall pay in 1165 
accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter 1166 
school for each student enrolled in such school, the foundation plus 1167 
twenty-five and forty-two-one-hundredths per cent of its charter grant 1168  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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adjustment. 1169 
(4) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, the state shall pay in 1170 
accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter 1171 
school for each student enrolled in such school, the foundation plus 1172 
thirty-six and eight-one-hundredths per cent of its charter grant 1173 
adjustment. 1174 
(5) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 1175 
thereafter, the state shall pay in accordance with this subsection, to the 1176 
fiscal authority for a state charter school, the product of the foundation 1177 
and its total charter need students. 1178 
[(4)] (6) Payments under subdivisions (2) [and (3)] to (5), inclusive, of 1179 
this subsection shall be paid as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the 1180 
amount not later than July fifteenth and September first based on 1181 
estimated student enrollment on May first, and twenty-five per cent of 1182 
the amount not later than January first and the remaining amount not 1183 
later than April first, each based on student enrollment on October first. 1184 
[(5)] (7) In the case of a student identified as requiring special 1185 
education, the school district in which the student resides shall: (A) 1186 
Hold the planning and placement team meeting for such student and 1187 
shall invite representatives from the charter school to participate in such 1188 
meeting; and (B) pay the state charter school, on a quarterly basis, an 1189 
amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of educating 1190 
such student and the sum of the amount received by the state charter 1191 
school for such student pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection 1192 
and amounts received from other state, federal, local or private sources 1193 
calculated on a per pupil basis. Such school district shall be eligible for 1194 
reimbursement pursuant to section 10-76g. The charter school a student 1195 
requiring special education attends shall be responsible for ensuring 1196 
that such student receives the services mandated by the student's 1197 
individualized education program whether such services are provided 1198 
by the charter school or by the school district in which the student 1199 
resides. 1200  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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Sec. 7. Section 10-65 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1201 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1202 
(a) Each local or regional school district operating an agricultural 1203 
science and technology education center approved by the State Board of 1204 
Education for program, educational need, location and area to be served 1205 
shall be eligible for the following grants: (1) In accordance with the 1206 
provisions of chapter 173, through progress payments in accordance 1207 
with the provisions of section 10-287i, (A) for projects for which an 1208 
application was filed prior to July 1, 2011, ninety-five per cent, and (B) 1209 
for projects for which an application was filed on or after July 1, 2011, 1210 
eighty per cent of the net eligible costs of constructing, acquiring, 1211 
renovating and equipping approved facilities to be used exclusively for 1212 
such agricultural science and technology education center, for the 1213 
expansion or improvement of existing facilities or for the replacement 1214 
or improvement of equipment therein, and (2) subject to the provisions 1215 
of section 10-65b, [and within available appropriations, in an amount 1216 
equal to five thousand two hundred dollars per student for every 1217 
secondary school student who was enrolled in such center on October 1218 
first of the previous year] for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and 1219 
each fiscal year thereafter, a grant equal to the amount such board is 1220 
entitled to receive under the provisions of section 2 of this act. 1221 
(b) Each local or regional board of education not maintaining an 1222 
agricultural science and technology education center shall provide 1223 
opportunities for its students to enroll in one or more such centers. [in a 1224 
number that is at least equal to the number specified in any written 1225 
agreement with each such center or centers, or in the absence of such an 1226 
agreement, a number that is at least equal to the average number of its 1227 
students that the board of education enrolled in each such center or 1228 
centers during the previous three school years, provided, in addition to 1229 
such number, each such board of education shall provide opportunities 1230 
for its students to enroll in the ninth grade in a number that is at least 1231 
equal to the number specified in any written agreement with each such 1232 
center or centers, or in the absence of such an agreement, a number that 1233  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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is at least equal to the average number of students that the board of 1234 
education enrolled in the ninth grade in each such center or centers 1235 
during the previous three school years.] If a local or regional board of 1236 
education provided opportunities for students to enroll in more than 1237 
one center for the school year commencing July 1, 2007, such board of 1238 
education shall continue to provide such opportunities to students in 1239 
accordance with this subsection. The board of education operating an 1240 
agricultural science and technology education center [may] shall not 1241 
charge, subject to the provisions of section 10-65b, tuition [for a school 1242 
year in an amount not to exceed fifty-nine and two-tenths per cent of the 1243 
foundation level pursuant to subdivision (9) of section 10-262f, per 1244 
student for the fiscal year in which the tuition is paid] to another local 1245 
or regional board of education, except that such board may charge 1246 
tuition for [(1) students enrolled under shared-time arrangements on a 1247 
pro rata basis, and (2)] special education students which shall not exceed 1248 
the actual costs of educating such students minus the amounts received 1249 
pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section. [and 1250 
subsection (c) of this section.] Any tuition paid by such board for special 1251 
education students [in excess of the tuition paid for non-special-1252 
education students] shall be reimbursed pursuant to section 10-76g. 1253 
[(c) In addition to the grants described in subsection (a) of this section, 1254 
within available appropriations, (1) each local or regional board of 1255 
education operating an agricultural science and technology education 1256 
center in which more than one hundred fifty of the students in the prior 1257 
school year were out-of-district students shall be eligible to receive a 1258 
grant in an amount equal to five hundred dollars for every secondary 1259 
school student enrolled in such center on October first of the previous 1260 
year, (2) on and after July 1, 2000, if a local or regional board of education 1261 
operating an agricultural science and technology education center that 1262 
received a grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection no longer 1263 
qualifies for such a grant, such local or regional board of education shall 1264 
receive a grant in an amount determined as follows: (A) For the first 1265 
fiscal year such board of education does not qualify for a grant under 1266 
said subdivision (1), a grant in the amount equal to four hundred dollars 1267  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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for every secondary school student enrolled in its agricultural science 1268 
and technology education center on October first of the previous year, 1269 
(B) for the second successive fiscal year such board of education does 1270 
not so qualify, a grant in an amount equal to three hundred dollars for 1271 
every such secondary school student enrolled in such center on said 1272 
date, (C) for the third successive fiscal year such board of education does 1273 
not so qualify, a grant in an amount equal to two hundred dollars for 1274 
every such secondary school student enrolled in such center on said 1275 
date, and (D) for the fourth successive fiscal year such board of 1276 
education does not so qualify, a grant in an amount equal to one 1277 
hundred dollars for every such secondary school student enrolled in 1278 
such center on said date, and (3) each local and regional board of 1279 
education operating an agricultural science and technology education 1280 
center that does not receive a grant pursuant to subdivision (1) or (2) of 1281 
this subsection shall receive a grant in an amount equal to sixty dollars 1282 
for every secondary school student enrolled in such center on said date. 1283 
(d) (1) If there are any remaining funds after the amount of the grants 1284 
described in subsections (a) and (c) of this section are calculated, within 1285 
available appropriations, each local or regional board of education 1286 
operating an agricultural science and technology education center shall 1287 
be eligible to receive a grant in an amount equal to one hundred dollars 1288 
for each student enrolled in such center on October first of the previous 1289 
school year. (2) If there are any remaining funds after the amount of the 1290 
grants described in subdivision (1) of this subsection are calculated, 1291 
within available appropriations, each local or regional board of 1292 
education operating an agricultural science and technology education 1293 
center that had more than one hundred fifty out-of-district students 1294 
enrolled in such center on October first of the previous school year shall 1295 
be eligible to receive a grant based on the ratio of the number of out-of-1296 
district students in excess of one hundred fifty out-of-district students 1297 
enrolled in such center on said date to the total number of out-of-district 1298 
students in excess of one hundred fifty out-of-district students enrolled 1299 
in all agricultural science and technology education centers that had in 1300 
excess of one hundred fifty out-of-district students enrolled on said 1301  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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date. 1302 
(e) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2012, and June 30, 2013, the 1303 
Department of Education shall allocate five hundred thousand dollars 1304 
to local or regional boards of education operating an agricultural science 1305 
and technology education center in accordance with the provisions of 1306 
subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section.] 1307 
[(f)] (c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year 1308 
thereafter, if a local or regional board of education receives an increase 1309 
in funds pursuant to this section over the amount it received for the 1310 
prior fiscal year such increase shall not be used to supplant local funding 1311 
for educational purposes. 1312 
[(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 10-51 and 10-222, for 1313 
the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, to June 30, 2017, inclusive, any 1314 
amount received by a local or regional board of education pursuant to 1315 
subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section that exceeds the amount 1316 
appropriated for education by the municipality or the amount in the 1317 
budget approved by such regional board of education for purposes of 1318 
said subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section, shall be available 1319 
for use by such local or regional board of education, provided such 1320 
excess amount is spent in accordance with the provisions of subdivision 1321 
(2) of subsection (a) of this section.] 1322 
(d) For the purposes of equalization aid under section 10-262h, as 1323 
amended by this act, a student enrolled in an agricultural science and 1324 
technology education center shall be counted as a resident student, as 1325 
defined in section 10-262f, as amended by this act, of the town in which 1326 
such student resides. 1327 
Sec. 8. Subsection (d) of section 10-64 of the general statutes is 1328 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1329 
2024): 1330 
(d) Any local or regional board of education which does not furnish 1331 
agricultural science and technology education approved by the State 1332  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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Board of Education shall designate a school or schools having such a 1333 
course approved by the State Board of Education as the school which 1334 
any person may attend who has completed an elementary school course 1335 
through the eighth grade. The board of education shall pay the [tuition 1336 
and] reasonable and necessary cost of transportation of any person 1337 
under twenty-one years of age who is not a graduate of a high school or 1338 
technical education and career school or an agricultural science and 1339 
technology education center and who attends the designated school, 1340 
provided transportation services may be suspended in accordance with 1341 
the provisions of section 10-233c. Each such board's reimbursement 1342 
percentage pursuant to section 10-266m for expenditures in excess of 1343 
eight hundred dollars per pupil incurred in the fiscal year beginning 1344 
July 1, 2004, and in each fiscal year thereafter, shall be increased by an 1345 
additional twenty percentage points. 1346 
Sec. 9. Subsection (b) of section 10-97 of the general statutes is 1347 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1348 
2024): 1349 
(b) Any local or regional board of education which does not furnish 1350 
agricultural science and technology education approved by the State 1351 
Board of Education shall designate a school or schools having such a 1352 
course approved by the State Board of Education as the school which 1353 
any person may attend who has completed an elementary school course 1354 
through the eighth grade. The board of education shall pay the [tuition 1355 
and] reasonable and necessary cost of transportation of any person 1356 
under twenty-one years of age who is not a graduate of a high school or 1357 
technical education and career school and who attends the designated 1358 
school, provided transportation services may be suspended in 1359 
accordance with the provisions of section 10-233c. Each such board's 1360 
reimbursement percentage pursuant to section 10 -266m for 1361 
expenditures in excess of eight hundred dollars per pupil incurred in 1362 
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1987, and in each fiscal year thereafter, 1363 
shall be increased by an additional twenty percentage points. 1364 
Sec. 10. Subsection (g) of section 10-266aa of the general statutes is 1365  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1366 
2024): 1367 
[(g) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this 1368 
subsection, the Department of Education shall provide, within available 1369 
appropriations, an annual grant to the local or regional board of 1370 
education for each receiving district in an amount not to exceed two 1371 
thousand five hundred dollars for each out-of-district student who 1372 
attends school in the receiving district under the program. 1373 
(2) (A) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year 1374 
thereafter, the department shall provide, within avai lable 1375 
appropriations, an annual grant to the local or regional board of 1376 
education for each receiving district if one of the following conditions 1377 
are met as follows: (i) Three thousand dollars for each out-of-district 1378 
student who attends school in the receiving district under the program 1379 
if the number of such out-of-district students is less than two per cent of 1380 
the total student population of such receiving district plus any amount 1381 
available pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, (ii) four 1382 
thousand dollars for each out-of-district student who attends school in 1383 
the receiving district under the program if the number of such out-of-1384 
district students is greater than or equal to two per cent but less than 1385 
three per cent of the total student population of such receiving district 1386 
plus any amount available pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this 1387 
subdivision, (iii) six thousand dollars for each out-of-district student 1388 
who attends school in the receiving district under the program if the 1389 
number of such out-of-district students is greater than or equal to three 1390 
per cent but less than four per cent of the total student population of 1391 
such receiving district plus any amount available pursuant to 1392 
subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, (iv) six thousand dollars for each 1393 
out-of-district student who attends school in the receiving district under 1394 
the program if the Commissioner of Education determines that the 1395 
receiving district has an enrollment of greater than four thousand 1396 
students and has increased the number of students in the program by at 1397 
least fifty per cent from the previous fiscal year plus any amount 1398  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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available pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, or (v) eight 1399 
thousand dollars for each out-of-district student who attends school in 1400 
the receiving district under the program if the number of such out-of-1401 
district students is greater than or equal to four per cent of the total 1402 
student population of such receiving district plus any amount available 1403 
pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. 1404 
(B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year 1405 
thereafter, the department shall, in order to assist the state in meeting 1406 
its obligations under commitment 9B of the Comprehensive School 1407 
Choice Plan pursuant to the settlement in Sheff v. O'Neill, HHD-X07-1408 
CV89-4026240-S, provide, within available appropriations, an 1409 
additional grant to the local or regional board of education for each 1410 
receiving district in the amount of two thousand dollars for each out-of-1411 
district student who resides in the Hartford region and attends school 1412 
in the receiving district under the program. 1413 
(3) (A) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the department shall 1414 
provide a grant to the local or regional board of education for each 1415 
receiving district described in subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of this 1416 
section in an amount of four thousand dollars for each out-of-district 1417 
student who resides in Danbury or Norwalk and attends school in the 1418 
receiving district under the pilot program. 1419 
(B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and each fiscal year 1420 
thereafter, the department shall provide an annual grant to the local or 1421 
regional board of education for each receiving district described in 1422 
subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of this section for each out-of-district 1423 
student who resides in Danbury or Norwalk and attends school in the 1424 
receiving district under the pilot program in accordance with the 1425 
provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection.] 1426 
(g) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 1427 
thereafter, each receiving district shall be paid a grant equal to the 1428 
amount the receiving district is entitled to receive under the provisions 1429 
of section 2 of this act. 1430  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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[(C)] (2) Not later than January 1, 2025, the department shall submit 1431 
a report on the pilot program in operation in Danbury and Norwalk, 1432 
pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of this section, to the joint 1433 
standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 1434 
matters relating to education and appropriations, in accordance with the 1435 
provisions of section 11-4a. Such report shall include, but need not be 1436 
limited to, the total number of students participating in the pilot 1437 
program, the number of students from each town participating in the 1438 
pilot program, the total amount of the grant paid under the pilot 1439 
program and the amount of the grant paid to each town participating in 1440 
the pilot program. 1441 
[(4)] (3) Each town which receives funds pursuant to this subsection 1442 
shall make such funds available to its local or regional board of 1443 
education in supplement to any other local appropriation, other state or 1444 
federal grant or other revenue to which the local or regional board of 1445 
education is entitled. 1446 
Sec. 11. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established the Building 1447 
Educational Responsibility with Greater Improvement Networks 1448 
Commission. The commission shall study (1) issues relating to 1449 
education funding entitled to local and regional boards of education, 1450 
charter schools and interdistrict magnet school operators under the 1451 
provisions of section 10-262h of the general statutes, as amended by this 1452 
act, section 10-66ee of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and 1453 
section 2 of this act, (2) accountability measures for alliance districts, and 1454 
(3) accountability measures for charter schools. 1455 
(b) (1) The portion of such study regarding issues relating to 1456 
education funding entitled to local and regional boards of education, 1457 
charter schools and interdistrict magnet schools shall include, but need 1458 
not be limited to, an analysis of and recommendations relating to (A) 1459 
the compensation, benefits, retention and recruitment of teachers, 1460 
paraprofessionals and social workers, (B) restrictions on the use of any 1461 
additional funds received pursuant to section 10-262h of the general 1462 
statutes, as amended by this act, and section 2 of this act, (C) reporting 1463  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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requirements for school districts receiving additional funds provided 1464 
under the provisions of section 10-262h of the general statutes, as 1465 
amended by this act, and section 2 of this act, and (D) optimal class sizes. 1466 
(2) The portion of such study regarding alliance districts shall 1467 
include, but need not be limited to, (A) an analysis of the process by 1468 
which alliance district plans are developed by boards of education and 1469 
are reviewed and approved by the Commissioner of Education, and 1470 
recommendations for narrowing the focus of or replacing such plans, 1471 
(B) a consideration of the removal of the withholding of a portion of an 1472 
alliance district's equalization aid grant under section 10-262u of the 1473 
general statutes, as amended by this act, (C) the feasibility of creating 1474 
independent financial audits of the expenditures under the entire 1475 
budget of boards of education for alliance districts, (D) the feasibility of 1476 
requiring boards of education for alliance districts to hold hearings on 1477 
interventions and make annual evaluations of any new programming 1478 
established in the school district, (E) a consideration of establishing 1479 
guidelines for the hiring of nonclassroom personnel, and (F) a 1480 
consideration of interventions that the Department of Education may 1481 
take in regard to the operations of an alliance district.  1482 
(3) The portion of such study regarding charter schools shall include, 1483 
but need not be limited to, (A) the feasibility of allowing for a full grade 1484 
expansion of existing charters, including grade expansion, (B) an 1485 
examination of the impact of moratoriums on the granting of new 1486 
charters, as well as the approval of new interdistrict magnet school 1487 
programs, and (C) a consideration of the duration of the length of a 1488 
charter's validity and the standards used by the State Board of 1489 
Education during its determination of whether to renew a charter. 1490 
(c) The commission shall consist of the following members: 1491 
(1) Three appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 1492 
one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Association of Public 1493 
School Superintendents, one of whom is a representative of the 1494 
Connecticut Council of Administrators of Special Education and one of 1495  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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whom is a representative of the RESC Alliance; 1496 
(2) Three appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one 1497 
of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Association of Board of 1498 
Education, one of whom is a representative of Special Education Equity 1499 
for Kids and one of whom is a representative of the Center for Children's 1500 
Advocacy; 1501 
(3) Three appointed by the majority leader of the House of 1502 
Representatives, one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut 1503 
School Counselor Association, one of whom is a representative of the 1504 
Connecticut Education Association and one of whom is a 1505 
superintendent of an alliance district; 1506 
(4) Three appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom 1507 
is a representative of the American Federation of Teachers-Connecticut, 1508 
one of whom is a representative of ConnCAN and one of whom is a 1509 
representative of the School and State Finance Project; 1510 
(5) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of 1511 
Representatives, one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut 1512 
Association of School Administrators and one of whom is a 1513 
representative of the Connecticut Association of School Business 1514 
Officials; 1515 
(6) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom 1516 
is a representative of the Connecticut Charter School Association and 1517 
one of whom is the executive director of an agricultural science and 1518 
technology education center; 1519 
(7) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; 1520 
and 1521 
(8) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 1522 
secretary's designee. 1523 
(d) All initial appointments to the commission shall be made not later 1524  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall 1525 
be filled by the appointing authority. 1526 
(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro 1527 
tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the commission 1528 
from among the members of the commission. Such chairpersons shall 1529 
schedule the first meeting of the commission, which shall be held not 1530 
later than sixty days after the effective date of this section. 1531 
(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 1532 
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education 1533 
shall serve as administrative staff of the commission. 1534 
(g) (1) Not later than February 1, 2024, the commission shall submit a 1535 
report on the portion of the study described in subdivision (1) of 1536 
subsection (b) of this section, in accordance with the provisions of 1537 
section 11-4a of the general statutes, on its findings and 1538 
recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General 1539 
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and 1540 
appropriations.  1541 
(2) Not later than January 15, 2025, the commission shall submit a 1542 
report on the portion of the study described in subdivisions (2) and (3) 1543 
of subsection (b) of this section, in accordance with the provisions of 1544 
section 11-4a of the general statutes, on its findings and 1545 
recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General 1546 
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education. 1547 
(3) The commission shall terminate on the date that it submits the last 1548 
of such reports or July 1, 2025, whichever is later. 1549 
Sec. 12. Section 10-4a of the general statutes is repealed and the 1550 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 1551 
For purposes of sections 10-4, 10-4b and 10-220 and subdivision (1) of 1552 
subsection (b) of section 10-66dd, as amended by this act, the 1553 
educational interests of the state shall include, but not be limited to, the 1554  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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concern of the state that (1) each child shall have for the period 1555 
prescribed in the general statutes equal opportunity to receive a suitable 1556 
program of educational experiences; (2) each school district shall finance 1557 
at a reasonable level at least equal to the minimum budget requirement 1558 
pursuant to the provisions of section 10-262j an educational program 1559 
designed to achieve this end; (3) in order to reduce racial, ethnic and 1560 
economic isolation, each school district shall provide educational 1561 
opportunities for its students to interact with students and teachers from 1562 
other racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds and may provide such 1563 
opportunities with students from other communities; and (4) the 1564 
mandates in the general statutes pertaining to education within the 1565 
jurisdiction of the State Board of Education be implemented. 1566 
Sec. 13. Subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-66dd of the 1567 
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1568 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 1569 
(b) (1) Subject to the provisions of this subsection and except as may 1570 
be waived pursuant to subsection (d) of section 10-66bb, charter schools 1571 
shall be subject to all federal and state laws governing public schools, 1572 
including the provisions of sections 10-4a, as amended by this act, and 1573 
10-4b. 1574 
Sec. 14. Section 10-262u of the general statutes is repealed and the 1575 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1576 
(a) As used in this section and section 10-262i: 1577 
(1) ["Alliance district"] "Educational reform district" means a school 1578 
district for a town that [(A)] is among the towns with the [thirty-three] 1579 
twenty lowest accountability index scores, as calculated by the 1580 
Department of Education. [, or (B) was previously designated as an 1581 
alliance district by the Commissioner of Education for the fiscal years 1582 
ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2022, inclusive.] 1583 
(2) "Legacy alliance district" means a school district for a town that 1584 
was designated as an alliance district by the Commissioner of Education 1585  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2024, inclusive. 1586 
[(2)] (3) "Accountability index" has the same meaning as provided in 1587 
section 10-223e. 1588 
[(3)] (4) "Mastery test data of record" has the same meaning as 1589 
provided in section 10-262f, as amended by this act. 1590 
[(4) "Educational reform district" means an alliance district that is 1591 
among the ten lowest accountability index scores when all towns are 1592 
ranked highest to lowest in accountability index scores.] 1593 
(b) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, the Commissioner of 1594 
Education shall designate thirty school districts as alliance reform 1595 
districts. Any school district designated as an alliance district shall be so 1596 
designated for a period of five years. On or before June 30, 2016, the 1597 
Department of Education shall determine if there are any additional 1598 
alliance districts. 1599 
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, the commissioner shall 1600 
designate thirty-three school districts as alliance districts. Any school 1601 
district designated as an alliance district shall be so designated for a 1602 
period of five years. 1603 
(3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the commissioner shall 1604 
designate thirty-six school districts as alliance districts. Any school 1605 
district designated as an alliance district shall be so designated for a 1606 
period of [five] two years. 1607 
(4) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the commissioner shall 1608 
designate twenty school districts as educational reform districts. Any 1609 
school district designated as an educational reform district shall be so 1610 
designated for a period of two years. 1611 
(c) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, [2023, and each fiscal year 1612 
thereafter, the Comptroller shall withhold from any town that (A) was 1613 
designated as an alliance district pursuant to subdivision (2) of 1614  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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subsection (b) of this section any increase in funds received over the 1615 
amount the town received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, 1616 
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-262i, and (B) was designated as 1617 
an alliance district for the first time pursuant to subdivision (3) of 1618 
subsection (b) of this section, any increase in funds received over the 1619 
amount the town received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, 1620 
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-262i.] 2025, and each fiscal year 1621 
thereafter, the Comptroller shall withhold from any town that was 1622 
designated as an educational reform district pursuant to subdivision (4) 1623 
of subsection (b) of this section any increase in funds received over the 1624 
amount the town received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, 1625 
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-262i. The Comptroller shall 1626 
transfer such funds to the Commissioner of Education. 1627 
(2) Upon receipt of an application pursuant to subsection (d) of this 1628 
section or section 10-156gg, the Commissioner of Education may pay 1629 
such funds to the town designated as an [alliance] educational reform 1630 
district and such town shall pay all such funds to the local or regional 1631 
board of education for such town on the condition that such funds shall 1632 
be expended in accordance with (A) the plan described in subsection (d) 1633 
of this section, (B) the minority candidate certification, retention or 1634 
residency year program pursuant to section 10-156gg, (C) the provisions 1635 
of subsection (c) of section 10-262i, and (D) any guidelines developed by 1636 
the State Board of Education for such funds. Such funds shall be used to 1637 
improve student achievement and recruit and retain minority teachers 1638 
in such [alliance] educational reform district and to offset any other local 1639 
education costs approved by the commissioner. 1640 
(d) The local or regional board of education for a town designated as 1641 
an [alliance] educational reform district may apply to the Commissioner 1642 
of Education, at such time and in such manner as the commissioner 1643 
prescribes, to receive any increase in funds received over the amount 1644 
the town received for the prior fiscal year pursuant to subsection (a) of 1645 
section 10-262i. Applications pursuant to this subsection shall include 1646 
objectives and performance targets and a plan that are developed, in 1647  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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part, on the strategic use of student academic performance data. Such 1648 
plan may include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) A tiered 1649 
system of interventions for the schools under the jurisdiction of such 1650 
board based on the needs of such schools, (2) ways to strengthen the 1651 
foundational programs in reading, through the intensive reading 1652 
instruction program pursuant to section 10-14u, to ensure reading 1653 
mastery in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, with a focus on 1654 
standards and instruction, proper use of data, intervention strategies, 1655 
current information for teachers, parental engagement, and teacher 1656 
professional development, (3) additional learning time, including 1657 
extended school day or school year programming administered by 1658 
school personnel or external partners, (4) a talent strategy that includes, 1659 
but is not limited to, teacher and school leader recruitment and 1660 
assignment, career ladder policies that draw upon guidelines for a 1661 
model teacher evaluation program adopted by the State Board of 1662 
Education, pursuant to section 10-151b, and adopted by each local or 1663 
regional board of education. Such talent strategy may include 1664 
provisions that demonstrate increased ability to attract, retain, promote 1665 
and bolster the performance of staff in accordance with performance 1666 
evaluation findings and, in the case of new personnel, other indicators 1667 
of effectiveness, (5) training for school leaders and other staff on new 1668 
teacher evaluation models, (6) provisions for the cooperation and 1669 
coordination with early childhood education providers to ensure 1670 
alignment with district expectations for student entry into kindergarten, 1671 
including funding for an existing local Head Start program, (7) 1672 
provisions for the cooperation and coordination with other 1673 
governmental and community programs to ensure that students receive 1674 
adequate support and wraparound services, including community 1675 
school models, (8) provisions for implementing and furthering state-1676 
wide education standards adopted by the State Board of Education and 1677 
all activities and initiatives associated with such standards, (9) strategies 1678 
for attracting and recruiting minority teachers and administrators, (10) 1679 
provisions for the enhancement of bilingual education programs, 1680 
pursuant to section 10-17f, or other language acquisition services to 1681 
English language learners, including, but not limited to, participation in 1682  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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the English language learner pilot program, established pursuant to 1683 
section 10-17n, (11) entering into the model school district 1684 
responsibilities agreement, described in section 10-223l, (12) leadership 1685 
succession plans that provide training and learning opportunities for 1686 
administrators and are designed to assist in the seamless transition of 1687 
school and district personnel in and out of leadership positions in the 1688 
school district and the continuous implementation of plans developed 1689 
under this subsection, (13) implementing the policy adopted pursuant 1690 
to section 10-223m to improve completion rates of the Free Application 1691 
for Federal Student Aid by students enrolled in grade twelve in a high 1692 
school under the jurisdiction of such board or students enrolled in an 1693 
adult education program maintained by such board pursuant to section 1694 
10-69, and, as applicable, the parent and guardians of such students, and 1695 
(14) any additional categories or goals as determined by the 1696 
commissioner. Such plan shall demonstrate collaboration with key 1697 
stakeholders, as identified by the commissioner, with the goal of 1698 
achieving efficiencies and the alignment of intent and practice of current 1699 
programs with conditional programs identified in this subsection. The 1700 
commissioner may (A) require changes in any plan submitted by a local 1701 
or regional board of education before the commissioner approves an 1702 
application under this subsection, and (B) permit a local or regional 1703 
board of education, as part of such plan, to use a portion of any funds 1704 
received under this section for the purposes of paying tuition charged 1705 
to such board pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (k) of section 10-1706 
264l, as amended by this act, or subsection (b) of section 10-264o, as 1707 
amended by this act. 1708 
(e) The State Board of Education may develop guidelines and criteria 1709 
for the administration of such funds under this section. 1710 
(f) The commissioner may withhold such funds if the local or regional 1711 
board of education fails to comply with the provisions of this section. 1712 
The commissioner may renew such funding if the local or regional 1713 
board of education provides evidence that the school district of such 1714 
board is achieving the objectives and performance targets approved by 1715  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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the commissioner stated in the plan submitted under this section. 1716 
(g) Any local or regional board of education receiving funding under 1717 
this section shall submit an annual expenditure report to the 1718 
commissioner on such form and in such manner as requested by the 1719 
commissioner. The commissioner shall determine if (1) the local or 1720 
regional board of education shall repay any funds not expended in 1721 
accordance with the approved application, or (2) such funding should 1722 
be reduced in a subsequent fiscal year up to an amount equal to the 1723 
amount that the commissioner determines is out of compliance with the 1724 
provisions of this subsection. 1725 
(h) Any balance remaining for each local or regional board of 1726 
education at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward for such 1727 
local or regional board of education for the next fiscal year. 1728 
(i) The local or regional board of education of a school district for a 1729 
town that is among the fifty towns with the lowest accountability index 1730 
scores, as calculated by the Department of Education, but has not been 1731 
designated as an educational reform district by the Commissioner of 1732 
Education, may request technical assistance or other specialized 1733 
interventions from the department for the provision of academic 1734 
support services to students. 1735 
Sec. 15. Subdivision (2) of section 10-262f of the general statutes is 1736 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1737 
2024): 1738 
(2) "Base aid ratio" means for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, and 1739 
each fiscal year thereafter, the sum of (A) one minus the town's wealth 1740 
adjustment factor, and (B) the town's base aid ratio adjustment factor, if 1741 
any, except that a town's base aid ratio shall not be less than (i) ten per 1742 
cent for a town designated as an educational reform district or a legacy 1743 
alliance district, as those terms are defined in section 10-262u, as 1744 
amended by this act, or a priority school district, as described in section 1745 
10-266p, and (ii) one per cent for a town that is not designated as an 1746  Substitute Bill No. 5003 
 
 
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alliance district or a priority school district. 1747 
Sec. 16. Subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of section 12-18b of the 1748 
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1749 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1750 
(3) Each [municipality] (A) town designated as an educational reform 1751 
district or a legacy alliance district pursuant to section 10-262u, as 1752 
amended by this act, or (B) municipality in which more than fifty per 1753 
cent of the property is state-owned real property shall be classified as a 1754 
tier one municipality. 1755 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 July 1, 2023 10-262h 
Sec. 2 July 1, 2024 New section 
Sec. 3 from passage New section 
Sec. 4 July 1, 2024 10-264l 
Sec. 5 July 1, 2024 10-264o(b) 
Sec. 6 July 1, 2023 10-66ee(d) 
Sec. 7 July 1, 2024 10-65 
Sec. 8 July 1, 2024 10-64(d) 
Sec. 9 July 1, 2024 10-97(b) 
Sec. 10 July 1, 2024 10-266aa(g) 
Sec. 11 from passage New section 
Sec. 12 July 1, 2023 10-4a 
Sec. 13 July 1, 2023 10-66dd(b)(1) 
Sec. 14 July 1, 2024 10-262u 
Sec. 15 July 1, 2024 10-262f(2) 
Sec. 16 July 1, 2024 12-18b(d)(3) 
 
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:   
In Section 11(b)(3), "build out" was changed to "grade expansion", for 
clarity; in Section 14, "previously" was deleted in Subsec. (a)(2), for 
proper form, and in Subsec. (i), "the towns with the fifty lowest" was 
changed to "the fifty towns with the lowest", for proper form. 
 
ED Joint Favorable Subst.