Connecticut 2023 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06762 Compare Versions

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	3	+	LCO 4818 \\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06762-R01-
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	7	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6762
	8	+	January Session, 2023
	9	+	LCO No. 4818
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	12	+	Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
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	14	+
	15	+	Introduced by:
	16	+	(ED)
1	17
2	18
3	19
4		-	House Bill No. 6762
5		-
6		-	Public Act No. 23-150
7		-
8		-
9		-	AN ACT CONCERNING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AN
10		-	AUDIT OF THE STATE -WIDE MASTERY EXAMINATION, THE
11		-	ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CONNECTICUT CIVICS EDUCATION
12		-	AND MEDIA LITERACY TASK FORCE, THE PROVISION OF
13		-	SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND A BILL OF RIGHTS FOR
14		-	MULTILINGUAL LEARNER STUDENTS.
	20	+	AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOLS.
15	21		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
16	22		Assembly convened:
17	23
18		-	Section 1. Subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-16q of the
19		-	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
20		-	thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
21		-	(b) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the per child cost of
22		-	the Office of Early Childhood school readiness program offered by a
23		-	school readiness provider shall not exceed eight thousand nine hundred
24		-	twenty-seven dollars. For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2021,
25		-	[and each fiscal year thereafter] to June 30, 2024, inclusive, the per child
26		-	cost of the Office of Early Childhood school readiness program offered
27		-	by a school readiness provider shall not exceed nine thousand twenty-
28		-	seven dollars. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the per child cost
29		-	of the Office of Early Childhood full-time school readiness program
30		-	offered by a school readiness provider shall not exceed ten thousand
31		-	five hundred dollars. House Bill No. 6762
	24	+	Section 1. (Effective from passage) The Department of Education shall 1
	25	+	conduct a study about schools in the state. Not later than May 20, 2023, 2
	26	+	the department shall submit a report of the results of such study to the 3
	27	+	joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance 4
	28	+	of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of 5
	29	+	section 11-4a of the general statutes. 6
	30	+	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
	31	+	sections:
32	32
33		-	~~Public Act No.~~ ~~23-150~~ ~~2 of 41~~
	33	+	Section 1 from passage New section
34	34
35		-	Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 17b-749 of the general statutes is
36		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
37		-	2023):
38		-	(a) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall establish and operate
39		-	a child care subsidy program to increase the availability, affordability
40		-	and quality of child care services for families with a parent or caretaker
41		-	who (1) is (A) working or attending high school, or (B) subject to the
42		-	provisions of subsection (d) of this section, is enrolled or participating
43		-	in (i) a public or independent institution of higher education, (ii) a
44		-	private career school authorized pursuant to sections 10a-22a to 10a-22o,
45		-	inclusive, (iii) a job training or employment program administered by a
46		-	regional workforce development board, (iv) an apprenticeship program
47		-	administered by the Labor Department's office of apprenticeship
48		-	training, (v) an alternate route to certification program approved by the
49		-	State Board of Education, (vi) an adult education program pursuant to
50		-	section 10-69 or other high school equivalency program, or (vii) a local
51		-	Even Start program or other adult education program approved by the
52		-	Commissioner of Early Childhood; or (2) receives cash assistance under
53		-	the temporary family assistance program from the Department of Social
54		-	Services and is participating in an education, training or other job
55		-	preparation activity approved pursuant to subsection (b) of section 17b-
56		-	688i or subsection (b) of section 17b-689d. Services available under the
57		-	child care subsidy program shall include the provision of child care
58		-	subsidies for children under the age of thirteen or children under the
59		-	age of nineteen with special needs. The Commissioner of Early
60		-	Childhood may institute a protective service class in which the
61		-	commissioner may waive eligibility requirements for at -risk
62		-	populations that meet the guidelines prescribed by the commissioner,
63		-	and subject to review by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and
64		-	Management. Such at-risk populations are children placed in a foster
65		-	home by the Department of Children and Families and for whom the
66		-	parent or legal guardian receives foster care payments, adopted children House Bill No. 6762
67		-
68		-	Public Act No. 23-150 3 of 41
69		-
70		-	for one year from the date of adoption and homeless children and
71		-	youths, as defined in 42 USC 11434a, as amended from time to time. The
72		-	Office of Early Childhood shall open and maintain enrollment for the
73		-	child care subsidy program and shall administer such program within
74		-	the existing budgetary resources available. The office shall issue a notice
75		-	on the office's Internet web site any time the office closes the program to
76		-	new applications, changes eligibility requirements, changes program
77		-	benefits or makes any other change to the program's status or terms,
78		-	except the office shall not be required to issue such notice when the
79		-	office expands program eligibility. Any change in the office's acceptance
80		-	of new applications, eligibility requirements, program benefits or any
81		-	other change to the program's status or terms for which the office is
82		-	required to give notice pursuant to this subsection, shall not be effective
83		-	until thirty days after the office issues such notice.
84		-	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) Any provider of child care
85		-	services, as described in section 19a-77 of the general statutes, licensed
86		-	by the Office of Early Childhood, that maintains a supply of epinephrine
87		-	cartridge injectors pursuant to section 19a-909 of the general statutes,
88		-	may administer such epinephrine for the purpose of emergency first aid
89		-	to a child in the care of such provider who experiences an allergic
90		-	reaction and does not have a prior written authorization of a parent or
91		-	guardian or a prior written order of a qualified medical professional for
92		-	the administration of epinephrine, provided the person administering
93		-	such epinephrine is a person with training, as defined in section 19a-909
94		-	of the general statutes. The parent or guardian of a child may submit, in
95		-	writing, to such child's provider of child care services, that epinephrine
96		-	shall not be administered to such child pursuant to this section.
97		-	Sec. 4. Section 10-502 of the general statutes is repealed and the
98		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
99		-	The Office of Early Childhood shall collaborate with and may, within
100		-	available appropriations, provide funding to local [and regional] early House Bill No. 6762
101		-
102		-	Public Act No. 23-150 4 of 41
103		-
104		-	childhood [councils] collaboratives for the implementation of early care
105		-	and education and child development programs at the local level. Such
106		-	local early childhood [councils] collaboratives shall: (1) Develop and
107		-	implement a comprehensive plan for an early childhood system for the
108		-	community served by such local early childhood [council] collaborative,
109		-	(2) develop policy and program planning, (3) encourage community
110		-	participation by emphasizing substantial parental involvement, (4)
111		-	collect, analyze and evaluate data with a focus on program and service
112		-	outcomes, (5) allocate resources, and (6) perform any other functions
113		-	that will assist in the provision of early childhood programs and
114		-	services. Such local early childhood [councils] collaboratives may enter
115		-	into memoranda of agreement with the local or regional school
116		-	readiness council, described in section 10-16r, of the town or region
117		-	served by such local early childhood [council] collaborative to perform
118		-	the duties and functions of a school readiness council, in accordance
119		-	with the provisions of section 10-16r, or if no such local or regional
120		-	school readiness council exists for the town or region of such local early
121		-	childhood [council] collaborative, perform the duties and functions of a
122		-	school readiness council, in accordance with the provisions of section
123		-	10-16r.
124		-	Sec. 5. (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Not later than January 1, 2025, the
125		-	Commissioner of Education shall, within available appropriations,
126		-	conduct an audit of state and local testing requirements and
127		-	administration. Such audit shall focus on (1) the state-wide mastery
128		-	examination, as described in section 10-14n of the general statutes, as
129		-	amended by this act, and local standardized assessments used to
130		-	monitor student and district academic progress and achievement, (2) the
131		-	amount of time devoted to student preparation or educator instruction
132		-	for the state-wide mastery examination and such local standardized
133		-	assessments, including the amount of time that such preparation and
134		-	instruction takes away from regular instruction. Such audit shall also
135		-	include recommendations relating to any limitations on the amount of House Bill No. 6762
136		-
137		-	Public Act No. 23-150 5 of 41
138		-
139		-	time that may be devoted to administering the state-wide mastery
140		-	examination and such local standardized assessments. If a grant to
141		-	conduct such audit is available under 20 USC 6361 to 20 USC 6363,
142		-	inclusive, as amended from time to time, the commissioner shall submit
143		-	an application for such grant and conduct such audit in a manner that
144		-	complies with the requirements set forth in said 20 USC 6361 to 20 USC
145		-	6363, inclusive, as amended from time to time.
146		-	(b) Not later than January 1, 2025, the commissioner shall submit a
147		-	report of the audit described in subsection (a) of this section to the joint
148		-	standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of
149		-	matters relating to education and appropriations and the budgets of
150		-	state agencies, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the
151		-	general statutes.
152		-	Sec. 6. (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section:
153		-	(1) "Civic engagement" means participation in improving the quality
154		-	of life in a community and developing the combination of knowledge
155		-	and skills to enable such participation;
156		-	(2) "Civics" means the study of the rights and obligations of citizens;
157		-	and
158		-	(3) "Media literacy" means the ability to access, analyze, evaluate,
159		-	create and participate with media in all forms by understanding the role
160		-	of media in society, and building skills of inquiry and self-expression
161		-	essential to participation and collaboration in a democratic society.
162		-	(b) There is established the Connecticut Civics Education, Civics
163		-	Engagement and Media Literacy Task Force to study and develop
164		-	strategies to improve and promote civic engagement and instruction on
165		-	civics, citizenship, media literacy and American government. Such
166		-	study shall include, but need not be limited to (1) reviewing existing
167		-	state and national curricula and standards, classroom practices and high House Bill No. 6762
168		-
169		-	Public Act No. 23-150 6 of 41
170		-
171		-	school and college graduation requirements to identify and publicize
172		-	best practices in instruction on civics, citizenship, media literacy and
173		-	American government, (2) receiving recommendations from educators,
174		-	administrators, governmental entities, nongovernmental organizations
175		-	and the public, (3) a review of existing civics, citizenship, media literacy
176		-	and American government educational opportunities provided by
177		-	governmental entities and nongovernmental organizations throughout
178		-	the state, and (4) exploring the feasibility of establishing public and
179		-	private partnerships to fund, coordinate, promote and support
180		-	enhancements to such engagement and instruction.
181		-	(c) The task force shall consist of the following members:
182		-	(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives,
183		-	who shall be a certified social studies teacher and a member of the
184		-	American Federation of Teachers-Connecticut;
185		-	(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who
186		-	shall be a representative of the Connecticut Education Association;
187		-	(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of
188		-	Representatives, who shall be an officer or member of a
189		-	nongovernmental organization that promotes civic education, civic
190		-	engagement or media literacy;
191		-	(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be
192		-	an officer or member of a nongovernmental organization that promotes
193		-	civic education, civic engagement or media literacy;
194		-	(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of
195		-	Representatives, who shall be a representative of the Connecticut
196		-	Association of Public School Superintendents;
197		-	(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be
198		-	a representative of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education; House Bill No. 6762
199		-
200		-	Public Act No. 23-150 7 of 41
201		-
202		-	(7) One appointed by the chairperson of the Black and Puerto Rican
203		-	Caucus of the General Assembly;
204		-	(8) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee;
205		-	(9) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee;
206		-	(10) The president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities,
207		-	or the president's designee;
208		-	(11) The president of The University of Connecticut, or the president's
209		-	designee;
210		-	(12) The president of the Connecticut Bar Association, or the
211		-	president's designee;
212		-	(13) The Chief Court Administrator, or the Chief Court
213		-	Administrator's designee;
214		-	(14) The chairpersons of the Connecticut Hate Crimes Advisory
215		-	Council, or the chairpersons' designees;
216		-	(15) The executive director of the Connecticut Humanities Council, or
217		-	the executive director's designee;
218		-	(16) The president of the Connecticut Democracy Center, or the
219		-	president's designee; and
220		-	(17) The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children,
221		-	Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or the executive director's designee.
222		-	(d) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1),
223		-	(2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (7) of subsection (c) of this section may be a member
224		-	of the General Assembly.
225		-	(e) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later
226		-	than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall House Bill No. 6762
227		-
228		-	Public Act No. 23-150 8 of 41
229		-
230		-	be filled by the appointing authority.
231		-	(f) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro
232		-	tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from
233		-	among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule
234		-	the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty
235		-	days after the effective date of this section.
236		-	(g) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
237		-	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education
238		-	shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.
239		-	(h) Not later than January 1, 2025, the task force shall submit a report
240		-	on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of
241		-	the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to
242		-	education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the
243		-	general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it
244		-	submits such report or July 1, 2025, whichever is later.
245		-	Sec. 7. Section 10-16b of the general statutes, as amended by section
246		-	32 of public act 22-80, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
247		-	thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):
248		-	(a) In the public schools the program of instruction offered shall
249		-	include at least the following subject matter, as taught by legally
250		-	qualified teachers, the arts; career education; consumer education;
251		-	health and safety, including, but not limited to, human growth and
252		-	development, nutrition, first aid, including cardiopulmonary
253		-	resuscitation training in accordance with the provisions of section 10-
254		-	16qq, disease prevention and cancer awareness, including, but not
255		-	limited to, age and developmentally appropriate instruction in
256		-	performing self-examinations for the purposes of screening for breast
257		-	cancer and testicular cancer, community and consumer health, physical,
258		-	mental and emotional health, including youth suicide prevention, House Bill No. 6762
259		-
260		-	Public Act No. 23-150 9 of 41
261		-
262		-	substance abuse prevention, including instruction relating to opioid use
263		-	and related disorders, safety, which shall include the safe use of social
264		-	media, as defined in section 9-601, and may include the dangers of gang
265		-	membership, and accident prevention; language arts, including reading,
266		-	writing, grammar, speaking and spelling; mathematics; physical
267		-	education; science, which may include the climate change curriculum
268		-	described in subsection (d) of this section; social studies, including, but
269		-	not limited to, civics and media literacy, citizenship, economics,
270		-	geography, government, history and Holocaust and genocide education
271		-	and awareness in accordance with the provisions of section 10-18f;
272		-	African-American and black studies in accordance with the provisions
273		-	of section 10-16ss; Puerto Rican and Latino studies in accordance with
274		-	the provisions of section 10-16ss; Native American studies, in
275		-	accordance with the provisions of section 10-16vv; Asian American and
276		-	Pacific Islander studies, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-
277		-	66ww; computer programming instruction; and in addition, on at least
278		-	the secondary level, one or more world languages; vocational education;
279		-	and the black and Latino studies course in accordance with the
280		-	provisions of sections 10-16tt and 10-16uu. For purposes of this
281		-	subsection, world languages shall include American Sign Language,
282		-	provided such subject matter is taught by a qualified instructor under
283		-	the supervision of a teacher who holds a certificate issued by the State
284		-	Board of Education. For purposes of this subsection, the "arts" means
285		-	any form of visual or performing arts, which may include, but not be
286		-	limited to, dance, music, art and theatre.
287		-	(b) If a local or regional board of education requires its pupils to take
288		-	a course in a world language, the parent or guardian of a pupil
289		-	identified as deaf or hard of hearing may request in writing that such
290		-	pupil be exempted from such requirement and, if such a request is
291		-	made, such pupil shall be exempt from such requirement.
292		-	(c) Each local and regional board of education shall on September 1, House Bill No. 6762
293		-
294		-	Public Act No. 23-150 10 of 41
295		-
296		-	1982, and annually thereafter at such time and in such manner as the
297		-	Commissioner of Education shall request, attest to the State Board of
298		-	Education that such local or regional board of education offers at least
299		-	the program of instruction required pursuant to this section, and that
300		-	such program of instruction is planned, ongoing and systematic.
301		-	(d) The State Board of Education shall make available curriculum
302		-	materials and such other materials as may assist local and regional
303		-	boards of education in developing instructional programs pursuant to
304		-	this section. The State Board of Education, within available
305		-	appropriations and utilizing available resource materials, shall assist
306		-	and encourage local and regional boards of education to include: (1)
307		-	Holocaust and genocide education and awareness; (2) the historical
308		-	events surrounding the Great Famine in Ireland; (3) African-American
309		-	and black studies; (4) Puerto Rican and Latino studies; (5) Native
310		-	American studies; (6) Asian American and Pacific Islander studies; (7)
311		-	personal financial management, including, but not limited to, financial
312		-	literacy as developed in the plan provided under section 10-16pp; (8)
313		-	training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automatic
314		-	external defibrillators; (9) labor history and law, including organized
315		-	labor, the collective bargaining process, existing legal protections in the
316		-	workplace, the history and economics of free market capitalism and
317		-	entrepreneurialism, and the role of labor and capitalism in the
318		-	development of the American and world economies; (10) climate change
319		-	consistent with the Next Generation Science Standards; (11) topics
320		-	approved by the state board upon the request of local or regional boards
321		-	of education as part of the program of instruction offered pursuant to
322		-	subsection (a) of this section; and (12) instruction relating to the Safe
323		-	Haven Act, sections 17a-57 to 17a-61, inclusive. The Department of
324		-	Energy and Environmental Protection shall be available to each local
325		-	and regional board of education for the development of curriculum on
326		-	climate change as described in this subsection. House Bill No. 6762
327		-
328		-	Public Act No. 23-150 11 of 41
329		-
330		-	Sec. 8. (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) The board of the Technical Education
331		-	and Career System shall study the programs offered at technical
332		-	education and career schools to determine whether such programs align
333		-	with the technical careers available in the state. Such study shall include,
334		-	but need not be limited to, an evaluation of (1) the skills or certifications
335		-	required to fill the available jobs in the state, (2) any deficiencies in the
336		-	training or the availability of equipment at the technical education and
337		-	career schools to teach the skills required for such available jobs, and (3)
338		-	opportunities to partner with employers or labor organizations in the
339		-	state to provide relevant apprenticeships or internships to students.
340		-	(b) Not later than January 1, 2025, the board of the Technical
341		-	Education and Career System shall submit a report, in accordance with
342		-	the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint
343		-	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
344		-	matters relating to education concerning the study conducted pursuant
345		-	to subsection (a) of this section. Such report shall include, but need not
346		-	be limited to, any legislative or policy recommendations for improving
347		-	the programs offered at technical education and career schools to align
348		-	with the skills required for available jobs.
349		-	Sec. 9. (Effective July 1, 2023) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024,
350		-	and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Education shall not
351		-	include any federal funds received by a local or regional board of
352		-	education pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
353		-	Security Act, P.L. 116-136, as amended from time to time, the
354		-	Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act,
355		-	P.L. 116-260, as amended from time to time, and the American Rescue
356		-	Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, as amended from time to time, in the
357		-	calculation of such board's net current expenditures per pupil for
358		-	purposes of determining the amount of the grant paid by the State Board
359		-	of Education to such board under section 10-76g of the general statutes.
360		-	Sec. 10. Subsection (b) of section 10-76g of the general statutes, as House Bill No. 6762
361		-
362		-	Public Act No. 23-150 12 of 41
363		-
364		-	amended by section 8 of public act 23-1, is repealed and the following is
365		-	substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
366		-	(b) Any local or regional board of education which provides special
367		-	education pursuant to the provisions of sections 10-76a to 10-76g,
368		-	inclusive, as amended by public act 23-1 and this act, for any exceptional
369		-	child described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (5) of section 10-76a,
370		-	under its jurisdiction, excluding (1) children placed by a state agency for
371		-	whom a board of education receives payment pursuant to the
372		-	provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 10-76d, as
373		-	amended by [this act] public act 23-1, and (2) children who require
374		-	special education, who reside on state-owned or leased property, and
375		-	who are not the educational responsibility of the unified school districts
376		-	established pursuant to sections 17a-37 and 18-99a, shall be financially
377		-	responsible for the reasonable costs of special education instruction, as
378		-	defined in the regulations of the State Board of Education, in an amount
379		-	equal to [(A) for any fiscal year commencing prior to July 1, 2005, five
380		-	times the average per pupil educational costs of such board of education
381		-	for the prior fiscal year, determined in accordance with the provisions
382		-	of subsection (a) of section 10-76f, and (B)] for the fiscal year
383		-	commencing July 1, [2005] 2023, and each fiscal year thereafter, four and
384		-	one-half times [such average per pupil educational costs] the net current
385		-	expenditures per pupil of such board of education. Except as otherwise
386		-	provided in subsection (d) of this section, the State Board of Education
387		-	shall, within available appropriations, pay on a current basis any costs
388		-	in excess of the local or regional board's basic contribution paid by such
389		-	board in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. Any
390		-	amounts paid by the State Board of Education on a current basis
391		-	pursuant to this subsection shall not be reimbursable in the subsequent
392		-	year. Application for such grant shall be made by filing with the
393		-	Department of Education, in such manner as prescribed by the
394		-	commissioner, annually on or before December first a statement of the
395		-	cost of providing special education pursuant to this subsection, House Bill No. 6762
396		-
397		-	Public Act No. 23-150 13 of 41
398		-
399		-	provided a board of education may submit, not later than March first,
400		-	claims for additional children or costs not included in the December
401		-	filing. Payment by the state for such excess costs shall be made to the
402		-	local or regional board of education as follows: Seventy-five per cent of
403		-	the cost in February and the balance in May. The amount due each town
404		-	pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be paid to the
405		-	treasurer of each town entitled to such aid, provided the treasurer shall
406		-	treat such grant, or a portion of the grant, which relates to special
407		-	education expenditures incurred in excess of such town's board of
408		-	education budgeted estimate of such expenditures, as a reduction in
409		-	expenditures by crediting such expenditure account, rather than town
410		-	revenue. Such expenditure account shall be so credited no later than
411		-	thirty days after receipt by the treasurer of necessary documentation
412		-	from the board of education indicating the amount of such special
413		-	education expenditures incurred in excess of such town's board of
414		-	education budgeted estimate of such expenditures.
415		-	Sec. 11. Section 10-76f of the general statutes is repealed and the
416		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
417		-	For the purposes of sections 10-76a to 10-76g, inclusive, as amended
418		-	by this act:
419		-	[(a)] (1) "Per pupil cost" in a school district is the quotient of net
420		-	current [expenses, as defined in section 10-261, divided by]
421		-	expenditures and such school district's average daily membership. [, as
422		-	defined in section 10-261.]
423		-	[(b)] (2) "Special education instructional personnel" includes those
424		-	employees of a board of education who, for at least one-half of their
425		-	employment time, are assigned exclusively to the task of implementing
426		-	or supervising special education programs. "Pupil personnel staff"
427		-	includes those employees of a board of education who, for at least one-
428		-	third of their employment time, are assigned exclusively to the task of House Bill No. 6762
429		-
430		-	Public Act No. 23-150 14 of 41
431		-
432		-	identifying and implementing special education programs and services.
433		-	[(c)] (3) "Special education equipment and materials" means such
434		-	equipment and materials as are used primarily to implement special
435		-	education in accordance with regulations made pursuant to said
436		-	sections.
437		-	[(d)] (4) "Special education tuition" means the tuition, board, room
438		-	and other fees paid to another public or private school, agency or
439		-	institution by a board of education to meet the educational needs of
440		-	children requiring special education, provided such payments have
441		-	been pursuant to an agreement approved by the commissioner.
442		-	[(e)] (5) "Special education transportation costs" are the amounts paid
443		-	by a claimant town or regional board of education for transporting any
444		-	child to and from any clinic, physician's office, agency or institution to
445		-	which the board requests the child go for the purposes of determining
446		-	the need for special education and amounts paid for transporting such
447		-	child to and from any school, agency or institution for the purposes of
448		-	special education unless such transportation is on a bus which is
449		-	transporting, at the same time, children in the standard educational
450		-	program provided by the claimant board.
451		-	[(f)] (6) "Special education rent" means any expenditure for rental of
452		-	space or equipment to implement special education in accordance with
453		-	regulations made pursuant to said sections.
454		-	[(g)] (7) "Special education consultant services" means
455		-	noninstructional services rendered concerning children requiring
456		-	special education by professional persons other than employees of a
457		-	board of education for programs approved pursuant to said sections.
458		-	[(h)] (8) "Net cost of special education" means the result obtained by
459		-	subtracting from the expenditures made by a claimant board for special
460		-	education personnel, equipment, materials, tuition, transportation, rent House Bill No. 6762
461		-
462		-	Public Act No. 23-150 15 of 41
463		-
464		-	and consultant services, [(1)] (A) the total amount of any funds from
465		-	other state or federal grants, private grants or special education tuition
466		-	received by the board or town in such year and used to implement
467		-	special education programs approved pursuant to said sections, [(2)] (B)
468		-	the total amount of any funds from Medicaid payments expended by
469		-	the board in such year and used to implement special education
470		-	programs, and [(3)] (C) expenditures for special education provided to
471		-	children requiring special education who are described in subparagraph
472		-	(B) of subdivision (5) of section 10-76a.
473		-	(9) "Net current expenditures" has the same meaning as provided in
474		-	section 10-261.
475		-	(10) "Average daily membership" has the same meaning as provided
476		-	in section 10-261.
477		-	(11) "Net current expenditures per pupil" means the quotient of net
478		-	current expenditures of a school district and such school district's
479		-	average daily membership.
480		-	Sec. 12. Section 10-4w of the general statutes is repealed and the
481		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
482		-	(a) As used in this section:
483		-	(1) "Remote learning" means instruction by means of one or more
484		-	Internet-based software platforms as part of a remote learning model;
485		-	and
486		-	(2) "Dual instruction" means the simultaneous instruction by a
487		-	teacher to students in-person in the classroom and students engaged in
488		-	remote learning.
489		-	(b) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Education
490		-	shall develop, and update as necessary, standards for remote learning. House Bill No. 6762
491		-
492		-	Public Act No. 23-150 16 of 41
493		-
494		-	(c) For the school years commencing July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, a
495		-	local or regional board of education may authorize remote learning to
496		-	students in grades nine to twelve, inclusive, provided such board (1)
497		-	provides such instruction in compliance with the standards developed
498		-	pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, (2) adopts a policy regarding
499		-	the requirements for student attendance during remote learning, which
500		-	shall (A) be in compliance with the Department of Education's guidance
501		-	on student attendance during remote learning, and (B) count the
502		-	attendance of any student who spends not less than one-half of the
503		-	school day during such instruction engaged in (i) virtual classes, (ii)
504		-	virtual meetings, (iii) activities on time-logged electronic systems, and
505		-	(iv) the completion and submission of assignments, and (3) prohibits the
506		-	provision of dual instruction as part of remote learning, except such
507		-	dual instruction may be provided in cases when such dual instruction is
508		-	(A) required in, or necessary to implement, the individualized
509		-	education program of a student who requires special education and
510		-	related services or a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
511		-	Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, or (B) provided as part of an
512		-	intradistrict or interdistrict cooperative learning program that provides
513		-	remote learning opportunities to students who are present in a
514		-	classroom on school grounds during the regular school day and in
515		-	which a certified educator is present in each such classroom providing
516		-	such dual instruction or supervising the students receiving such dual
517		-	instruction, provided such program is implemented in accordance with
518		-	an agreement between each local or regional board of education and the
519		-	representatives of each exclusive bargaining unit for certified employees
520		-	chosen pursuant to section 10-153b participating in such intradistrict or
521		-	interdistrict cooperative learning program.
522		-	(d) For the school year commencing July 1, 2024, and each school year
523		-	thereafter, a local or regional board of education may authorize remote
524		-	learning to students in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive,
525		-	provided such board (1) provides such instruction in compliance with House Bill No. 6762
526		-
527		-	Public Act No. 23-150 17 of 41
528		-
529		-	the standards developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, (2)
530		-	adopts a policy regarding the requirements for student attendance
531		-	during remote learning, which shall (A) be in compliance with the
532		-	Department of Education's guidance on student attendance during
533		-	remote learning, and (B) count the attendance of any student who
534		-	spends not less than one-half of the school day during such instruction
535		-	engaged in (i) virtual classes, (ii) virtual meetings, (iii) activities on time-
536		-	logged electronic systems, and (iv) the completion and submission of
537		-	assignments, and (3) prohibits the provision of dual instruction as part
538		-	of remote learning, except such dual instruction may be provided in
539		-	cases when such dual instruction is (A) required in, or necessary to
540		-	implement, the individualized education program of a student who
541		-	requires special education and related services or a plan pursuant to
542		-	Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to
543		-	time, or (B) provided as part of an intradistrict or interdistrict
544		-	cooperative learning program that provides remote learning
545		-	opportunities to students who are present in a classroom on school
546		-	grounds during the regular school day and in which a certified educator
547		-	is present in each such classroom providing such dual instruction or
548		-	supervising the students receiving such dual instruction, provided such
549		-	program is implemented in accordance with an agreement between
550		-	each local or regional board of education and the representatives of each
551		-	exclusive bargaining unit for certified employees chosen pursuant to
552		-	section 10-153b participating in such intradistrict or interdistrict
553		-	cooperative learning program.
554		-	Sec. 13. Section 3 of public act 21-95, as amended by section 3 of public
555		-	act 22-116, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof
556		-	(Effective from passage):
557		-	(a) There is established a task force to study issues relating to the
558		-	provision and funding of special education in the state during the school
559		-	years commencing July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2020, inclusive. Such study House Bill No. 6762
560		-
561		-	Public Act No. 23-150 18 of 41
562		-
563		-	shall focus on funding, eligibility and delivery of special education
564		-	services and include, but need not be limited to, an examination of (1)
565		-	the provision of special education and related services, including the
566		-	provision of services to students identified as gifted and talented, and
567		-	services or accommodations for a student as part of a plan pursuant to
568		-	Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to
569		-	time, and whether local and regional boards of education are providing
570		-	such services directly or partnering with regional educational service
571		-	centers, contracting with a private provider of special education
572		-	services, as defined in section 10-91g of the general statutes, or as part
573		-	of a cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a of the general
574		-	statutes, (2) the cost of providing special education and related services,
575		-	including gifted and talented services, the total aggregate amount per
576		-	school district per year and the annual percentage increase or decrease
577		-	per school district of such cost, (3) the effect that the cost of special
578		-	education and gifted and talented services has on a board of education's
579		-	minimum budget requirement, (4) the level of state reimbursement to
580		-	boards of education for special education and gifted and talented
581		-	services, including the total amount for reimbursement submitted by
582		-	each school district per year and the total amount received by such
583		-	school district per year, and the percentage increase or decrease per year
584		-	of the difference of the total amount submitted and the total amount
585		-	received for each school district, [and] (5) the criteria and manner by
586		-	which school districts are identifying students who require special
587		-	education and related services or as gifted and talented, including
588		-	whether school districts are overidentifying or underidentifying such
589		-	students and the causes and reasons for such overidentification and
590		-	underidentification, (6) the feasibility of authorizing independent
591		-	evaluators from the Department of Education or hired by the parents
592		-	and guardians of students receiving special education and related
593		-	services to observe the provision of such services in the classroom, (7)
594		-	delaying the age in which a classification category of special education
595		-	services shall be made for a child requiring special education and related House Bill No. 6762
596		-
597		-	Public Act No. 23-150 19 of 41
598		-
599		-	services, (8) special education student-to-teacher ratios prescribed by
600		-	case load policies, regulations and formulas in effect in other states, with
601		-	a focus on provisions regarding the numbers of special education
602		-	students and intensity of services required for such students, (9) the
603		-	prohibition of the use of seclusion under section 10-236b of the general
604		-	statutes and the implementation of alternative methods in lieu of
605		-	seclusion for certain student behavior, and (10) any other issues or topics
606		-	relating to special education that the task force deems necessary.
607		-	(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
608		-	(1) Three appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives,
609		-	one of whom is a representative of the Special Education Equity for Kids
610		-	of Connecticut, one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut
611		-	Association of Boards of Education and one of whom is the parent or
612		-	guardian of a student who is enrolled in a public school and receiving
613		-	special education services;
614		-	(2) Three appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one
615		-	of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Association of Public
616		-	School Superintendents, one of whom is a representative of the
617		-	Connecticut Education Association and one of whom is the parent or
618		-	guardian of a student who is enrolled in a public school and receiving
619		-	special education services;
620		-	(3) Two appointed by the majority leader of the House of
621		-	Representatives, one of whom is a representative of the American
622		-	Federation of Teachers-Connecticut and one of whom is a representative
623		-	of the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center;
624		-	(4) Two appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom
625		-	is a representative of the Connecticut Council of Administrators of
626		-	Special Education and one of whom is a representative of the RESC
627		-	Alliance; House Bill No. 6762
628		-
629		-	Public Act No. 23-150 20 of 41
630		-
631		-	(5) [Two] Three appointed by the minority leader of the House of
632		-	Representatives, one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut
633		-	Association of School Administrators, [and] one of whom is a
634		-	representative of the School and State Finance Project and one of whom
635		-	is a representative from an educator preparation program offered at a
636		-	public institution of higher education in the state;
637		-	(6) [Two] Three appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one
638		-	of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Association of Schools,
639		-	[and] one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Association of
640		-	School Business Officials and one of whom is a representative from an
641		-	educator preparation program offered at an independent institution of
642		-	higher education in the state; [and]
643		-	(7) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee;
644		-	(8) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing
645		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
646		-	relating to education, or their designees;
647		-	(9) The chairperson of the Advisory Council for Special Education,
648		-	established pursuant to section 10-76i of the general statutes; and
649		-	(10) A representative of the Connecticut Association of Private
650		-	Special Education Facilities, designated by the association.
651		-	(c) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than
652		-	thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be
653		-	filled by the appointing authority.
654		-	(d) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president
655		-	pro tempore of the Senate shall select the cochairpersons of the task force
656		-	from among the members of the task force. Such cochairpersons shall
657		-	schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later
658		-	than sixty days after the effective date of this section. House Bill No. 6762
659		-
660		-	Public Act No. 23-150 21 of 41
661		-
662		-	(e) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
663		-	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education
664		-	shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.
665		-	(f) (1) Not later than January 1, 2024, the task force shall submit [a] an
666		-	interim report on its findings [and recommendations] to the joint
667		-	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
668		-	matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of
669		-	section 11-4a of the general statutes.
670		-	(2) Not later than January 1, 2025, the task force shall submit a final
671		-	report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing
672		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
673		-	relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a
674		-	of the general statutes.
675		-	(3) The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such
676		-	report or [January 1, 2024] July 1, 2025, whichever is later.
677		-	Sec. 14. Subsection (j) of section 10-66bb of the general statutes is
678		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
679		-	2023):
680		-	(j) (1) The governing council of a state or local charter school may
681		-	apply to the State Board of Education for a waiver of the requirements
682		-	of the enrollment lottery described in subdivision (8) of subsection (d)
683		-	of this section, provided such state or local charter school has as its
684		-	primary purpose the establishment of education programs designed to
685		-	serve one or more of the following populations: (A) Students with a
686		-	history of behavioral and social difficulties, (B) students identified as
687		-	requiring special education, (C) students who are [English language]
688		-	multilingual learners, or (D) students of a single gender.
689		-	(2) An enrollment lottery described in subdivision (8) of subsection
690		-	(d) of this section shall not be held for a local charter school that is House Bill No. 6762
691		-
692		-	Public Act No. 23-150 22 of 41
693		-
694		-	established at a school that is among the schools with a percentage equal
695		-	to or less than five per cent when all schools are ranked highest to lowest
696		-	in accountability index scores, as defined in section 10-223e.
697		-	(3) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection,
698		-	on and after July 1, 2023, no application for enrollment in a state or local
699		-	charter school shall inquire or request information about an applicant
700		-	student's need for or receipt of special education and related services,
701		-	and the criteria for administering an enrollment lottery for a state or
702		-	local charter school shall not include consideration of a student's need
703		-	for or status as requiring special education and related services.
704		-	Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) On and after July 1, 2023, the
705		-	Department of Education shall make available on the department's
706		-	Internet web site summaries of the complaints filed with and corrective
707		-	actions required by the department regarding the provision of special
708		-	education and related services by a local or regional board of education
709		-	or other entity responsible for the provision of special education and
710		-	related services to a student. The department shall redact any personally
711		-	identifiable information of a student prior to making such decisions and
712		-	documents available.
713		-	Sec. 16. Subsection (i) of section 10-76d of the general statutes is
714		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
715		-	2023):
716		-	(i) (1) No local or regional board of education shall discipline,
717		-	suspend, terminate or otherwise punish any member of a planning and
718		-	placement team employed by such board who discusses or makes
719		-	recommendations concerning the provision of special education and
720		-	related services for a child during a planning and placement team
721		-	meeting for such child.
722		-	(2) No birth-to-three service coordinator or qualified personnel, as House Bill No. 6762
723		-
724		-	Public Act No. 23-150 23 of 41
725		-
726		-	those terms are defined in section 17a-248, who discusses or makes
727		-	recommendations concerning the provision of special education and
728		-	related services for a child during a planning and placement team
729		-	meeting for such child or in a transition plan, as required by section 17a-
730		-	248e, shall be subject to discipline, suspension, termination or other
731		-	punishment on the basis of such recommendations.
732		-	(3) No local or regional board of education shall discipline, suspend,
733		-	terminate or otherwise punish any school employee, as defined in
734		-	section 10-222d, who discusses or makes recommendations concerning
735		-	the provision of services or accommodations for a student as part of a
736		-	plan pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
737		-	amended from time to time, during any meeting held to discuss such
738		-	plan for such student.
739		-	Sec. 17. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) The State Board of Education
740		-	shall draft a written bill of rights for parents or guardians of students
741		-	who are multilingual learners to guarantee that the rights of such
742		-	parents and students are adequately safeguarded and protected in the
743		-	provision of bilingual education under chapter 164 of the general
744		-	statutes. Such bill of rights shall include, but need not be limited to, the
745		-	following declarations:
746		-	(1) The right of a multilingual learner student to attend a public
747		-	school in the state regardless of such student's immigration status or the
748		-	immigration status of such student's parent or guardian;
749		-	(2) The right of a parent or guardian of a multilingual learner student
750		-	to enroll such student in a public school without being required to
751		-	submit immigration documentation, including, but not limited to, a
752		-	Social Security number, visa documentation or proof of citizenship;
753		-	(3) The right of a multilingual learner student to have translation
754		-	services provided (A) by an interpreter who is present in person or House Bill No. 6762
755		-
756		-	Public Act No. 23-150 24 of 41
757		-
758		-	available by telephone or through an online technology platform, or (B)
759		-	through an Internet web site or other electronic application approved
760		-	by the State Board of Education, during critical interactions with
761		-	teachers and administrators, including, but not limited to, parent-
762		-	teacher conferences, meetings with administrators of the school in
763		-	which such student is attending, and at properly noticed regular or
764		-	special meetings of the board of education or scheduled meetings with
765		-	a member or members of the board of education responsible for
766		-	educating such student, in accordance with section 18 of this act;
767		-	(4) The right of a multilingual learner student to participate in a
768		-	program of bilingual education offered by the local or regional board of
769		-	education when there are twenty or more eligible students classified as
770		-	dominant in a language, other than English, as such student, in
771		-	accordance with the provisions of section 10-17f of the general statutes;
772		-	(5) The right of a parent or guardian of a multilingual learner student
773		-	to receive written notice, in both English and the dominant language of
774		-	such parent or guardian, that such student is eligible to participate in a
775		-	program of bilingual education or English as a new language program
776		-	offered by the local or regional board of education;
777		-	(6) The right of a multilingual learner student and the parent or
778		-	guardian of such student to receive a high-quality orientation session,
779		-	in the dominant language of such student and parent or guardian, from
780		-	the local or regional board of education that provides information
781		-	relating to state standards, tests and expectations at the school for
782		-	multilingual learner students, as well as the goals and requirements for
783		-	programs of bilingual education and English as a new language, prior
784		-	to participation in such program of bilingual education or English as a
785		-	new language;
786		-	(7) The right of the parent or guardian of a multilingual learner
787		-	student to receive information about the progress of such student's House Bill No. 6762
788		-
789		-	Public Act No. 23-150 25 of 41
790		-
791		-	English language development and acquisition;
792		-	(8) The right of a multilingual learner student and the parent or
793		-	guardian of such student to meet with school personnel to discuss such
794		-	student's English language development and acquisition;
795		-	(9) The right of a multilingual learner student to be placed in a
796		-	program of bilingual education or English as a new language, if offered
797		-	by the local or regional board of education;
798		-	(10) The right of a multilingual learner student to have equal access
799		-	to all grade-level school programming;
800		-	(11) The right of a multilingual learner student to have equal access
801		-	to all core grade-level subject matter;
802		-	(12) The right of a multilingual learner student to receive annual
803		-	language proficiency testing;
804		-	(13) The right of a multilingual learner student to receive support
805		-	services aligned with any intervention plan that the school or school
806		-	district provides to all students;
807		-	(14) The right of a multilingual learner student to be continuously
808		-	and annually enrolled in a program of bilingual education or English as
809		-	a new language while such student remains an eligible student, as
810		-	defined in section 10-17e of the general statutes; and
811		-	(15) The right of a parent or guardian of a multilingual learner
812		-	student to contact the Department of Education with any questions or
813		-	concerns regarding such student's right to receive multilingual learner
814		-	services or accommodations available to such student or parent or
815		-	guardian, including information regarding any recourse for failure of
816		-	the board of education to provide or ensure such services or
817		-	accommodations. House Bill No. 6762
818		-
819		-	Public Act No. 23-150 26 of 41
820		-
821		-	(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2024, and each school year
822		-	thereafter, each local and regional board of education providing a
823		-	program of bilingual education or English as a new language shall (1)
824		-	provide the parents and guardians of eligible students with a copy of
825		-	the multilingual learner bill of rights in the dominant language of such
826		-	parents and guardians, and (2) make such copies of the multilingual
827		-	learner bill of rights available on the Internet web site of such board.
828		-	(c) For purposes of this section, "multilingual learner" means "English
829		-	learner", as defined in 20 USC 7801, as amended from time to time.
830		-	Sec. 18. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) Each local and regional board of
831		-	education shall, upon request of the parent or guardian of a multilingual
832		-	learner student or of the multilingual learner student, provide
833		-	translation services to such parent or guardian and student at a properly
834		-	noticed regular or special meeting of such board or a scheduled meeting
835		-	with a member or members of such board. Such request for translation
836		-	services shall be made at least one day in advance of such meeting of the
837		-	board or with a member or members of such board. As used in this
838		-	section, "multilingual learner" has the same meaning as provided in
839		-	section 17 of this act.
840		-	Sec. 19. Section 10-3c of the general statutes is repealed and the
841		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
842		-	There shall be a director of reading initiatives within the Department
843		-	of Education. The director shall be responsible for (1) administering the
844		-	intensive reading instruction program to improve student literacy in
845		-	kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, and close the achievement gaps
846		-	that result from opportunity gaps, pursuant to section 10-14u, as
847		-	amended by this act, (2) assisting in the development and
848		-	administration of the program of professional development for teachers
849		-	and principals in scientifically based reading research and instruction,
850		-	pursuant to section 10-148b, (3) administering the coordinated state- House Bill No. 6762
851		-
852		-	Public Act No. 23-150 27 of 41
853		-
854		-	wide reading plan for students in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive,
855		-	pursuant to section 10-14v, (4) administering, within available
856		-	appropriations, the incentive program described in section 10-14w, (5)
857		-	providing assistance to local and regional boards of education in the
858		-	administration of the reading assessments described in section 10-14t,
859		-	and the implementation of school district reading plans, (6) providing
860		-	information and assistance to parents and guardians of students relating
861		-	to reading and literacy instruction, (7) addressing reading and literacy
862		-	issues related to students who are [English language] multilingual
863		-	learners, and (8) developing and administering any other state-wide
864		-	reading and literacy initiatives for students in kindergarten to grade
865		-	twelve, inclusive.
866		-	Sec. 20. Subsection (f) of section 10-14n of the general statutes is
867		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
868		-	2023):
869		-	(f) (1) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school
870		-	year thereafter, the scores on each component of the mastery
871		-	examination for students who are [English language] multilingual
872		-	learners, as defined in section 10-76kk, as amended by this act, and who
873		-	have been enrolled in a school in this state or another state for fewer
874		-	than twenty school months, shall not be used for purposes of calculating
875		-	the accountability index, as defined in section 10-223e, for a school or
876		-	school district.
877		-	(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year
878		-	thereafter, mastery examinations pursuant to subsection (b) of this
879		-	section shall be offered in the most common native language of students
880		-	who are [English language] multilingual learners taking such mastery
881		-	examinations and any additional native languages of such students
882		-	when mastery examinations in such native languages are developed
883		-	and have been approved by the United States Department of Education. House Bill No. 6762
884		-
885		-	Public Act No. 23-150 28 of 41
886		-
887		-	Sec. 21. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10-14u of the
888		-	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
889		-	thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
890		-	(1) "Achievement gaps" means the existence of a significant disparity
891		-	in the academic performance of students among and between (A) racial
892		-	groups, (B) ethnic groups, (C) socioeconomic groups, (D) genders, and
893		-	(E) [English language] multilingual learners and students whose
894		-	primary language is English.
895		-	Sec. 22. Section 10-14x of the general statutes is repealed and the
896		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
897		-	To the extent permitted by federal law or the terms of a federal waiver
898		-	of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 USC 6301,
899		-	et seq., as amended from time to time, as it relates to the grade eleven
900		-	mastery examination requirement pursuant to section 10-14n, as
901		-	amended by this act, not later than January 1, 2016, the State Board of
902		-	Education, in consultation with the Mastery Examination Committee,
903		-	established pursuant to section 1 of public act 15-238, shall enter into an
904		-	agreement with a provider of a nationally recognized college readiness
905		-	assessment for the provision and administration of such college
906		-	readiness assessment as part of such grade eleven mastery examination
907		-	requirement, provided such college readiness assessment offers
908		-	accommodations for students with disabilities and students who are
909		-	[English language] multilingual learners.
910		-	Sec. 23. Subsection (a) of section 10-16mm of the general statutes is
911		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
912		-	2023):
913		-	(a) There is established a task force to address the academic
914		-	achievement gaps in Connecticut by considering effective approaches to
915		-	closing the achievement gaps in elementary, middle and high schools. House Bill No. 6762
916		-
917		-	Public Act No. 23-150 29 of 41
918		-
919		-	The task force shall develop, in consultation with the Department of
920		-	Education, the Connecticut State University System, the Interagency
921		-	Council for Ending the Achievement Gap established pursuant to
922		-	section 10-16nn, and the joint standing committee of the General
923		-	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, a master
924		-	plan to eliminate the academic achievement gaps by January 1, 2020.
925		-	Such master plan shall: (1) Identify the achievement gaps that exist
926		-	among and between (A) racial groups, (B) ethnic groups, (C)
927		-	socioeconomic groups, (D) genders, and (E) [English language]
928		-	multilingual learners and students whose primary language is English;
929		-	(2) focus efforts on closing the achievement gaps identified in
930		-	subdivision (1) of this subsection; (3) establish annual benchmarks for
931		-	implementation of the master plan and closing the achievement gaps;
932		-	and (4) make recommendations regarding the creation of a Secretary of
933		-	Education. The task force may amend such master plan at any time. For
934		-	purposes of this section, "achievement gaps" means the existence of a
935		-	significant disparity in the academic performance of students among
936		-	and between (A) racial groups, (B) ethnic groups, (C) socioeconomic
937		-	groups, (D) genders, and (E) [English language] multilingual learners
938		-	and students whose primary language is English.
939		-	Sec. 24. Section 10-17g of the general statutes is repealed and the
940		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
941		-	For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year
942		-	thereafter, the board of education for each local and regional school
943		-	district that is required to provide a program of bilingual education,
944		-	pursuant to section 10-17f, may make application to the State Board of
945		-	Education and shall annually receive, within available appropriations,
946		-	a grant in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying three
947		-	million eight hundred thirty-two thousand two hundred sixty by the
948		-	ratio which the number of eligible children in the school district bears to
949		-	the total number of such eligible children state-wide. The board of House Bill No. 6762
950		-
951		-	Public Act No. 23-150 30 of 41
952		-
953		-	education for each local and regional school district receiving funds
954		-	pursuant to this section shall annually, on or before September first,
955		-	submit to the State Board of Education a progress report which shall
956		-	include (1) measures of increased educational opportunities for eligible
957		-	students, including language support services and language transition
958		-	support services provided to such students, (2) program evaluation and
959		-	measures of the effectiveness of its bilingual education and English as a
960		-	second language programs, including data on students in bilingual
961		-	education programs and students educated exclusively in English as a
962		-	second language programs, and (3) certification by the board of
963		-	education submitting the report that any funds received pursuant to this
964		-	section have been used for the purposes specified. The State Board of
965		-	Education shall annually evaluate programs conducted pursuant to
966		-	section 10-17f. For purposes of this section, measures of the effectiveness
967		-	of bilingual education and English as a second language programs
968		-	include, but need not be limited to, mastery examination results, under
969		-	section 10-14n, as amended by this act, and graduation and school
970		-	dropout rates. Any amount appropriated under this section in excess of
971		-	three million eight hundred thirty-two thousand two hundred sixty
972		-	dollars shall be spent in accordance with the provisions of [sections]
973		-	section 10-17k. [, 10-17n and 10-66t.] Any unexpended funds, as of
974		-	November first, appropriated to the Department of Education for
975		-	purposes of providing a grant to a local or regional board of education
976		-	for the provision of a program of bilingual education, pursuant to
977		-	section 10-17f, shall be distributed on a pro rata basis to each local and
978		-	regional board of education receiving a grant under this section.
979		-	Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years
980		-	ending June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2023, inclusive, the amount of grants
981		-	payable to local or regional boards of education for the provision of a
982		-	program of bilingual education under this section shall be reduced
983		-	proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the
984		-	amount appropriated for such grants for such year. House Bill No. 6762
985		-
986		-	Public Act No. 23-150 31 of 41
987		-
988		-	Sec. 25. Subsection (c) of section 10-66bb of the general statutes is
989		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
990		-	2023):
991		-	(c) On and after July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall
992		-	review, annually, all applications and grant initial certificates of
993		-	approval for charters, in accordance with subsections (e) and (f) of this
994		-	section, for a local or state charter school located in a town that has one
995		-	or more schools that have been designated as a commissioner's network
996		-	school, pursuant to section 10-223h, at the time of such application, or a
997		-	town that has been designated as a low achieving school district,
998		-	pursuant to section 10-223e, at the time of such application. (1) Except
999		-	as provided for in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no state charter
1000		-	school shall enroll (A) (i) more than two hundred fifty students, or (ii)
1001		-	in the case of a kindergarten to grade eight, inclusive, school, more than
1002		-	three hundred students, or (B) twenty-five per cent of the enrollment of
1003		-	the school district in which the state charter school is to be located,
1004		-	whichever is less. (2) In the case of a state charter school found by the
1005		-	State Board of Education to have a demonstrated record of achievement,
1006		-	said board shall, upon application by such school to said board, waive
1007		-	the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection for such school. (3)
1008		-	The State Board of Education shall give preference to applicants for
1009		-	charter schools (A) whose primary purpose is the establishment of
1010		-	education programs designed to serve one or more of the following
1011		-	student populations: (i) Students with a history of low academic
1012		-	performance, (ii) students who receive free or reduced priced lunches
1013		-	pursuant to federal law and regulations, (iii) students with a history of
1014		-	behavioral and social difficulties, (iv) students identified as requiring
1015		-	special education, (v) students who are [English language] multilingual
1016		-	learners, or (vi) students of a single gender; (B) whose primary purpose
1017		-	is to improve the academic performance of an existing school that has
1018		-	consistently demonstrated substandard academic performance, as
1019		-	determined by the Commissioner of Education; (C) that will serve House Bill No. 6762
1020		-
1021		-	Public Act No. 23-150 32 of 41
1022		-
1023		-	students who reside in a priority school district pursuant to section 10-
1024		-	266p; (D) that will serve students who reside in a district in which
1025		-	seventy-five per cent or more of the enrolled students are members of
1026		-	racial or ethnic minorities; (E) that demonstrate highly credible and
1027		-	specific strategies to attract, enroll and retain students from among the
1028		-	populations described in subparagraph (A)(i) to (A)(vi), inclusive, of
1029		-	this subdivision; or (F) that, in the case of an applicant for a state charter
1030		-	school, such state charter school will be located at a work-site or such
1031		-	applicant is an institution of higher education. In determining whether
1032		-	to grant an initial certificate of approval for a charter, the State Board of
1033		-	Education shall consider (i) the effect of the proposed charter school on
1034		-	(I) the reduction of racial, ethnic and economic isolation in the region in
1035		-	which it is to be located, (II) the regional distribution of charter schools
1036		-	in the state, (III) the potential of over-concentration of charter schools
1037		-	within a school district or in contiguous school districts, and (IV) the
1038		-	state's efforts to close achievement gaps, as defined in section 10-16oo,
1039		-	and (ii) the comments made at a public hearing conducted pursuant to
1040		-	subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section or subparagraph (B)(ii)
1041		-	of subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of this section.
1042		-	Sec. 26. Subdivision (2) of subsection (f) of section 10-66bb of the
1043		-	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
1044		-	thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
1045		-	(2) On and after July 1, 2012, and before July 1, 2015, the State Board
1046		-	of Education shall not approve more than four applications for the
1047		-	establishment of new state charter schools unless two of the four such
1048		-	applications are for the establishment of two new state charter schools
1049		-	whose mission, purpose and specialized focus is to provide dual
1050		-	language programs or other models focusing on language acquisition
1051		-	for [English language] multilanguage learners. Approval of applications
1052		-	under this subdivision shall be in accordance with the provisions of this
1053		-	section. House Bill No. 6762
1054		-
1055		-	Public Act No. 23-150 33 of 41
1056		-
1057		-	Sec. 27. Subsection (g) of section 10-66bb of the general statutes is
1058		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
1059		-	2023):
1060		-	(g) Charters may be renewed, upon application, in accordance with
1061		-	the provisions of this section for the granting of such charters. Upon
1062		-	application for such renewal, the State Board of Education may
1063		-	commission an independent appraisal of the performance of the charter
1064		-	school that includes, but is not limited to, an evaluation of the school's
1065		-	compliance with the provisions of this section and, on and after July 1,
1066		-	2015, progress in meeting the academic and organizational performance
1067		-	goals set forth in the charter granted to the charter school. The State
1068		-	Board of Education shall consider the results of any such appraisal in
1069		-	determining whether to renew such charter. The State Board of
1070		-	Education may deny an application for the renewal of a charter if (1)
1071		-	student progress has not been sufficiently demonstrated, as determined
1072		-	by the commissioner, (2) the governing council has not been sufficiently
1073		-	responsible for the operation of the school or has misused or spent
1074		-	public funds in a manner that is detrimental to the educational interests
1075		-	of the students attending the charter school, (3) the school has not been
1076		-	in compliance with the terms of the charter, applicable laws and
1077		-	regulations, (4) the efforts of the school have been insufficient to
1078		-	effectively attract, enroll and retain students from among the following
1079		-	populations: (A) Students with a history of low academic performance,
1080		-	(B) students who receive free or reduced priced lunches pursuant to
1081		-	federal law and regulations, (C) students with a history of behavioral
1082		-	and social difficulties, (D) students identified as requiring special
1083		-	education, or (E) students who are [English language] multilingual
1084		-	learners, or (5) the governing council of the state or local charter school
1085		-	has not provided evidence that such council has initiated substantive
1086		-	communication with the local or regional board of education of the town
1087		-	in which the state or local charter school is located to share student
1088		-	learning practices and experiences. If the State Board of Education does House Bill No. 6762
1089		-
1090		-	Public Act No. 23-150 34 of 41
1091		-
1092		-	not renew a charter, it shall notify the governing council of the charter
1093		-	school of the reasons for such nonrenewal. On and after July 1, 2015, any
1094		-	charter renewed by the State Board of Education shall include academic
1095		-	and organizational performance goals, developed by the state board,
1096		-	that set forth the performance indicators, measures and metrics that will
1097		-	be used by the state board to evaluate the charter school.
1098		-	Sec. 28. Subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of
1099		-	section 10-66ee of the general statutes is repealed and the following is
1100		-	substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
1101		-	(A) "Total charter need students" means the sum of (i) the number of
1102		-	students enrolled in state charter schools under the control of the
1103		-	governing authority for such state charter schools for the school year,
1104		-	and (ii) for the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school
1105		-	year thereafter, (I) thirty per cent of the number of children enrolled in
1106		-	such state charter schools eligible for free or reduced price meals or free
1107		-	milk, (II) fifteen per cent of the number of such children eligible for free
1108		-	or reduced price meals or free milk in excess of the number of such
1109		-	children eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk that is equal
1110		-	to sixty per cent of the total number of children enrolled in such state
1111		-	charter schools, and (III) twenty-five per cent of the number of students
1112		-	enrolled in such state charter schools who are [English language]
1113		-	multilingual learners, as defined in section 10-76kk, as amended by this
1114		-	act.
1115		-	Sec. 29. Subsection (b) of section 10-66nn of the general statutes is
1116		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
1117		-	2023):
1118		-	(b) In order to be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant
1119		-	for a grant shall submit an application to the Commissioner of
1120		-	Education, pursuant to section 10-66bb, as amended by this act, for the
1121		-	establishment of a local charter school to be established on or after July House Bill No. 6762
1122		-
1123		-	Public Act No. 23-150 35 of 41
1124		-
1125		-	1, 2012, and such application shall satisfy one of the following
1126		-	conditions: (1) Such applicant has high quality, feasible strategies or a
1127		-	record of success in serving students from among the following
1128		-	populations: (A) Students with histories of low academic performance,
1129		-	(B) students who receive free or reduced price school lunches, (C)
1130		-	students with histories of behavioral and social difficulties, (D) students
1131		-	eligible for special education services, (E) students who are [English
1132		-	language] multilingual learners, or (F) students of a single gender; or (2)
1133		-	such applicant has a high quality, feasible plan for turning around
1134		-	existing schools that have demonstrated consistently substandard
1135		-	student performance, or a record of success in turning around such
1136		-	schools. The department shall determine whether such applicant
1137		-	satisfies the provisions of subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection.
1138		-	Sec. 30. Section 10-76kk of the general statutes is repealed and the
1139		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
1140		-	(a) Any local or regional board of education identified by the
1141		-	Department of Education that disproportionately and inappropriately
1142		-	identifies (1) minority students, or (2) [English language] multilingual
1143		-	learners as requiring special education services because such students
1144		-	have a reading deficiency in contravention of the provisions of
1145		-	subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 10-76ff
1146		-	shall annually submit a report to the department on the plan adopted
1147		-	by such board that reduces the misidentification of such minority
1148		-	students or [English language] multilingual learners by improving
1149		-	reading assessments and interventions for students in kindergarten to
1150		-	grade three, inclusive.
1151		-	(b) The Department of Education shall study the plans and strategies
1152		-	used by a local or regional board of education that demonstrate
1153		-	improvement in the reduction of the misidentification of minority
1154		-	students or [English language] multilingual learners requiring special
1155		-	education under this section. Such study shall examine the association House Bill No. 6762
1156		-
1157		-	Public Act No. 23-150 36 of 41
1158		-
1159		-	between improvements in teacher training in the science of reading and
1160		-	the reduction in misidentification of students requiring special
1161		-	education services.
1162		-	(c) For purposes of this section, "minority students" means those
1163		-	whose race is defined as other than white, or whose ethnicity is defined
1164		-	as Hispanic or Latino by the federal Office of Management and Budget
1165		-	for use by the Bureau of Census of the United States Department of
1166		-	Commerce; and ["English language learners" means those students
1167		-	reported as English language learners by the local or regional board of
1168		-	education for such students to the Department of Education ]
1169		-	"multilingual learners" has the same meaning as provided in section 17
1170		-	of this act.
1171		-	Sec. 31. Subsection (b) of section 10-233n of the general statutes is
1172		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
1173		-	2023):
1174		-	(b) The Department of Education shall annually examine data
1175		-	relating to in-school suspensions, out-of-school suspensions, expulsions
1176		-	and school-based arrests that has been submitted as part of the strategic
1177		-	school profile report pursuant to section 10-220, and shall disaggregate
1178		-	such data by school, race, ethnicity, gender, age, students with
1179		-	disabilities, [English language] multilingual learners, as defined in
1180		-	section 10-76kk, as amended by this act, students who are eligible for
1181		-	free or reduced priced lunch pursuant to federal law and regulations,
1182		-	and type of offense for which the school-based arrests were made and
1183		-	the number of arrests made annually at each school within the school
1184		-	district. The department shall annually submit a report to the State
1185		-	Board of Education regarding the examination and disaggregation of
1186		-	such data and make the report available on the department's Internet
1187		-	web site.
1188		-	Sec. 32. Subdivision (25) of section 10-262f of the general statutes is House Bill No. 6762
1189		-
1190		-	Public Act No. 23-150 37 of 41
1191		-
1192		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
1193		-	2023):
1194		-	(25) "Total need students" means the sum of (A) the number of
1195		-	resident students of the town for the school year, (B) for the school year
1196		-	commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year thereafter, (i) thirty per
1197		-	cent of the number of children eligible for free or reduced price meals or
1198		-	free milk, (ii) fifteen per cent of the number of children eligible for free
1199		-	or reduced price meals or free milk in excess of the number of children
1200		-	eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk that is equal to sixty
1201		-	per cent of the total number of resident students of the town for the
1202		-	school year, and (iii) twenty-five per cent of the number of resident
1203		-	students who are [English language] multilingual learners, as defined
1204		-	in section 10-76kk, as amended by this act.
1205		-	Sec. 33. Subsection (d) of section 10-262u of the general statutes is
1206		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
1207		-	2023):
1208		-	(d) The local or regional board of education for a town designated as
1209		-	an alliance district may apply to the Commissioner of Education, at such
1210		-	time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, to receive any
1211		-	increase in funds received over the amount the town received for the
1212		-	prior fiscal year pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-262i.
1213		-	Applications pursuant to this subsection shall include objectives and
1214		-	performance targets and a plan that are developed, in part, on the
1215		-	strategic use of student academic performance data. Such plan may
1216		-	include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) A tiered system of
1217		-	interventions for the schools under the jurisdiction of such board based
1218		-	on the needs of such schools, (2) ways to strengthen the foundational
1219		-	programs in reading, through the intensive reading instruction program
1220		-	pursuant to section 10-14u, as amended by this act, to ensure reading
1221		-	mastery in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, with a focus on
1222		-	standards and instruction, proper use of data, intervention strategies, House Bill No. 6762
1223		-
1224		-	Public Act No. 23-150 38 of 41
1225		-
1226		-	current information for teachers, parental engagement, and teacher
1227		-	professional development, (3) additional learning time, including
1228		-	extended school day or school year programming administered by
1229		-	school personnel or external partners, (4) a talent strategy that includes,
1230		-	but is not limited to, teacher and school leader recruitment and
1231		-	assignment, career ladder policies that draw upon guidelines for a
1232		-	model teacher evaluation program adopted by the State Board of
1233		-	Education, pursuant to section 10-151b, and adopted by each local or
1234		-	regional board of education. Such talent strategy may include
1235		-	provisions that demonstrate increased ability to attract, retain, promote
1236		-	and bolster the performance of staff in accordance with performance
1237		-	evaluation findings and, in the case of new personnel, other indicators
1238		-	of effectiveness, (5) training for school leaders and other staff on new
1239		-	teacher evaluation models, (6) provisions for the cooperation and
1240		-	coordination with early childhood education providers to ensure
1241		-	alignment with district expectations for student entry into kindergarten,
1242		-	including funding for an existing local Head Start program, (7)
1243		-	provisions for the cooperation and coordination with other
1244		-	governmental and community programs to ensure that students receive
1245		-	adequate support and wraparound services, including community
1246		-	school models, (8) provisions for implementing and furthering state-
1247		-	wide education standards adopted by the State Board of Education and
1248		-	all activities and initiatives associated with such standards, (9) strategies
1249		-	for attracting and recruiting minority teachers and administrators, (10)
1250		-	provisions for the enhancement of bilingual education programs,
1251		-	pursuant to section 10-17f, or other language acquisition services to
1252		-	[English language] multilingual learners, [including, but not limited to,
1253		-	participation in the English language learner pilot program, established
1254		-	pursuant to section 10-17n,] (11) entering into the model school district
1255		-	responsibilities agreement, described in section 10-223l, (12) leadership
1256		-	succession plans that provide training and learning opportunities for
1257		-	administrators and are designed to assist in the seamless transition of
1258		-	school and district personnel in and out of leadership positions in the House Bill No. 6762
1259		-
1260		-	Public Act No. 23-150 39 of 41
1261		-
1262		-	school district and the continuous implementation of plans developed
1263		-	under this subsection, (13) implementing the policy adopted pursuant
1264		-	to section 10-223m to improve completion rates of the Free Application
1265		-	for Federal Student Aid by students enrolled in grade twelve in a high
1266		-	school under the jurisdiction of such board or students enrolled in an
1267		-	adult education program maintained by such board pursuant to section
1268		-	10-69, and, as applicable, the parent and guardians of such students, and
1269		-	(14) any additional categories or goals as determined by the
1270		-	commissioner. Such plan shall demonstrate collaboration with key
1271		-	stakeholders, as identified by the commissioner, with the goal of
1272		-	achieving efficiencies and the alignment of intent and practice of current
1273		-	programs with conditional programs identified in this subsection. The
1274		-	commissioner may (A) require changes in any plan submitted by a local
1275		-	or regional board of education before the commissioner approves an
1276		-	application under this subsection, and (B) permit a local or regional
1277		-	board of education, as part of such plan, to use a portion of any funds
1278		-	received under this section for the purposes of paying tuition charged
1279		-	to such board pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (k) of section 10-
1280		-	264l or subsection (b) of section 10-264o.
1281		-	Sec. 34. Section 10-264r of the general statutes is repealed and the
1282		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
1283		-	Not later than July 1, 2017, the Commissioner of Education shall
1284		-	develop reduced-isolation setting standards for interdistrict magnet
1285		-	school programs that shall serve as the enrollment requirements for
1286		-	purposes of section 10-264l. Such standards shall (1) define the term
1287		-	"reduced-isolation student" for purposes of the standards, (2) establish
1288		-	a requirement for the minimum percentage of reduced-isolation
1289		-	students that can be enrolled in an interdistrict magnet school program,
1290		-	provided such minimum percentage is not less than twenty per cent of
1291		-	the total school enrollment, (3) allow an interdistrict magnet school
1292		-	program to have a total school enrollment of reduced-isolation students House Bill No. 6762
1293		-
1294		-	Public Act No. 23-150 40 of 41
1295		-
1296		-	that is not more than one per cent below the minimum percentage
1297		-	established by the commissioner, provided the commissioner approves
1298		-	a plan that is designed to bring the number of reduced-isolation
1299		-	students of such interdistrict magnet school program into compliance
1300		-	with the minimum percentage, and (4) for the school year commencing
1301		-	July 1, 2018, authorize the commissioner to establish on or before May
1302		-	1, 2018, an alternative reduced-isolation student enrollment percentage
1303		-	for an interdistrict magnet school program located in the Sheff region,
1304		-	as defined in subsection (k) of section 10-264l, provided the
1305		-	commissioner (A) determines that such alternative (i) increases
1306		-	opportunities for students who are residents of Hartford to access an
1307		-	educational setting with reduced racial isolation or other categories of
1308		-	diversity, including, but not limited to, geography, socioeconomic
1309		-	status, special education, [English language] multilingual learners and
1310		-	academic achievement, (ii) complies with the decision of Sheff v.
1311		-	O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect,
1312		-	and (B) approves a plan for such interdistrict magnet school program
1313		-	that is designed to bring the number of reduced-isolation students of
1314		-	such interdistrict magnet school program into compliance with such
1315		-	alternative or the minimum percentage described in subdivision (2) of
1316		-	this section. Not later than May 1, 2018, the commissioner shall submit
1317		-	a report on each alternative reduced-isolation student enrollment
1318		-	percentage established, pursuant to subdivision (4) of this section, for
1319		-	an interdistrict magnet school program located in the Sheff region to the
1320		-	joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
1321		-	matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of
1322		-	section 11-4a. The reduced-isolation setting standards for interdistrict
1323		-	magnet school programs shall not be deemed to be regulations, as
1324		-	defined in section 4-166.
1325		-	Sec. 35. Subsection (a) of section 10a-19j of the general statutes is
1326		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
1327		-	2023): House Bill No. 6762
1328		-
1329		-	Public Act No. 23-150 41 of 41
1330		-
1331		-	(a) There is established [an English language] a multilingual learner
1332		-	educator incentive program to be administered by the Office of Higher
1333		-	Education.
1334		-	Sec. 36. Sections 10-17n and 10-66t of the general statutes are
1335		-	repealed. (Effective from passage)
	35	+	ED Joint Favorable
1336	36