Senate Bill No. 1165
Public Act No. 23-21
AN ACT CONCERNING FINANCIAL LITERACY INSTRUCTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 10-221a of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
(a) For classes graduating from 1988 to 2003, inclusive, no local or
regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from
high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily
completed a minimum of twenty credits, not fewer than four of which
shall be in English, not fewer than three in mathematics, not fewer than
three in social studies, not fewer than two in science, not fewer than one
in the arts or vocational education and not fewer than one in physical
education.
(b) For classes graduating from 2004 to 2022, inclusive, no local or
regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from
high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily
completed a minimum of twenty credits, not fewer than four of which
shall be in English, not fewer than three in mathematics, not fewer than
three in social studies, including at least a one-half credit course on
civics and American government, not fewer than two in science, not
fewer than one in the arts or vocational education and not fewer than Senate Bill No. 1165
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one in physical education.
(c) Commencing with classes graduating in 2023, and for each
graduating class thereafter, no local or regional board of education shall
permit any student to graduate from high school or grant a diploma to
any student who has not satisfactorily completed a minimum of twenty-
five credits, including not fewer than: (1) Nine credits in the humanities,
including civics and the arts; (2) nine credits in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics; (3) one credit in physical education and
wellness; (4) one credit in health and safety education, as described in
section 10-16b, as amended by this act; and (5) one credit in world
languages, subject to the provisions of subsection [(g)] (h) of this section.
[; and (6)] A local or regional board of education may require a student
to complete a one credit mastery-based diploma assessment in order to
graduate from high school or be granted a diploma.
(d) Commencing with classes graduating in 2027, and for each
graduating class thereafter, no local or regional board of education shall
permit any student to graduate from high school or grant a diploma to
any student who has not satisfactorily completed a minimum of twenty-
five credits, including not fewer than: (1) Nine credits in the humanities,
including civics and the arts; (2) nine credits in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics; (3) one credit in physical education and
wellness; (4) one credit in health and safety education, as described in
section 10-16b, as amended by this act; (5) one credit in world languages,
subject to the provisions of subsection (h) of this section; and (6) one-
half credit in personal financial management and financial literacy,
which may count towards the requirement described in subdivision (1)
of this subsection or as an elective credit. A local or regional board of
education may require a student to complete a one credit mastery-based
diploma assessment in order to graduate from high school or be granted
a diploma.
[(d)] (e) Commencing with classes graduating in 2023, and for each Senate Bill No. 1165
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graduating class thereafter, local and regional boards of education shall
provide adequate student support and remedial services for students
beginning in grade seven. Such student support and remedial services
shall provide alternate means for a student to complete any of the high
school graduation requirements described in subsection (c) or (d) of this
section, if such student is unable to satisfactorily complete any of the
required courses or exams. Such student support and remedial services
shall include, but not be limited to, (1) allowing students to retake
courses in summer school or through an on-line course; (2) allowing
students to enroll in a class offered at a constituent unit of the state
system of higher education, as defined in section 10a-1, pursuant to
subdivision (4) of subsection [(g)] (h) of this section; (3) allowing
students who received a failing score, as determined by the
Commissioner of Education, on an end of the school year exam to take
an alternate form of the exam; and (4) allowing those students whose
individualized education programs state that such students are eligible
for an alternate assessment to demonstrate competency on any of the
five core courses through success on such alternate assessment.
[(e)] (f) Any student who presents a certificate from a physician or
advanced practice registered nurse stating that, in the opinion of the
physician or advanced practice registered nurse, participation in
physical education is medically contraindicated because of the physical
condition of such student, shall be excused from the physical education
requirement, provided the credit for physical education may be fulfilled
by an elective.
[(f)] (g) Determination of eligible credits shall be at the discretion of
the local or regional board of education, provided the primary focus of
the curriculum of eligible credits corresponds directly to the subject
matter of the specified course requirements. The local or regional board
of education may permit a student to graduate during a period of
expulsion pursuant to section 10-233d, if the board determines the Senate Bill No. 1165
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student has satisfactorily completed the necessary credits pursuant to
this section. The requirements of this section shall apply to any student
requiring special education pursuant to section 10-76a, except when the
planning and placement team for such student determines the
requirement not to be appropriate. For purposes of this section, a credit
shall consist of not less than the equivalent of a forty-minute class period
for each school day of a school year except for a credit or part of a credit
toward high school graduation earned (1) at an institution accredited by
the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher
Education or regionally accredited, (2) through on-line coursework that
is in accordance with a policy adopted pursuant to subsection [(g)] (h)
of this section, or (3) through a demonstration of mastery based on
competency and performance standards, in accordance with guidelines
adopted by the State Board of Education.
[(g)] (h) Only courses taken in grades nine to twelve, inclusive, and
that are in accordance with the state-wide subject matter content
standards, adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to section
10-4, shall satisfy the graduation requirements set forth in this section,
except that a local or regional board of education may grant a student
credit (1) toward meeting the high school graduation requirements
upon the successful demonstration of mastery of the subject matter
content described in this section achieved through educational
experiences and opportunities that provide flexible and multiple
pathways to learning, including cross -curricular graduation
requirements, career and technical education, virtual learning, work-
based learning, service learning, dual enrollment and early college,
courses taken in middle school, internships and student-designed
independent studies, provided such demonstration of mastery is in
accordance with such state-wide subject matter content standards; (2)
toward meeting a specified course requirement upon the successful
completion in grade seven or eight of any course, the primary focus of
which corresponds directly to the subject matter of a specified course Senate Bill No. 1165
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requirement in grades nine to twelve, inclusive; (3) toward meeting the
high school graduation requirement upon the successful completion of
a world language course (A) in grade six, seven or eight, (B) through on-
line coursework, or (C) offered privately through a nonprofit provider,
provided such student achieves a passing grade on an examination
prescribed, within available appropriations, by the Commissioner of
Education and such credits do not exceed four; (4) toward meeting the
high school graduation requirement upon achievement of a passing
grade on a subject area proficiency examination identified and
approved, within available appropriations, by the Commissioner of
Education, regardless of the number of hours the student spent in a
public school classroom learning such subject matter; (5) toward
meeting the high school graduation requirement upon the successful
completion of coursework during the school year or summer months at
an institution accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education
or Office of Higher Education or regionally accredited. One three-credit
semester course, or its equivalent, at such an institution shall equal one-
half credit for purposes of this section; or (6) toward meeting the high
school graduation requirement upon the successful completion of on-
line coursework, provided the local or regional board of education has
adopted a policy in accordance with this subdivision for the granting of
credit for on-line coursework. Such a policy shall ensure, at a minimum,
that (A) the workload required by the on-line course is equivalent to that
of a similar course taught in a traditional classroom setting, (B) the
content is rigorous and aligned with curriculum guidelines approved
by the State Board of Education, where appropriate, (C) the course
engages students and has interactive components, which may include,
but are not limited to, required interactions between students and their
teachers, participation in on-line demonstrations, discussion boards or
virtual labs, (D) the program of instruction for such on-line coursework
is planned, ongoing and systematic, and (E) the courses are (i) taught by
teachers who are certified in the state or another state and have received
training on teaching in an on-line environment, or (ii) offered by Senate Bill No. 1165
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institutions of higher education that are accredited by the Board of
Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education or
regionally accredited.
[(h)] (i) A local or regional board of education may offer one-half
credit in community service which, if satisfactorily completed, shall
qualify for high school graduation credit pursuant to this section,
provided such community service is supervised by a certified school
administrator or teacher and consists of not less than fifty hours of actual
service that may be performed at times when school is not regularly in
session and not less than ten hours of related classroom instruction. For
purposes of this section, community service does not include partisan
political activities. The State Board of Education shall assist local and
regional boards of education in meeting the requirements of this section.
The State Board of Education shall award a community service
recognition award to any student who satisfactorily completes fifty
hours or more of community service in accordance with the provisions
of this subsection.
[(i)] (j) (1) A local or regional board of education may award a
diploma to a veteran, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103,
which veteran or person served during World War II or the Korean
hostilities, as described in section 51-49h, or during the Vietnam Era, as
defined in section 27-103, withdrew from high school prior to
graduation in order to serve in the armed forces of the United States and
did not receive a diploma as a consequence of such service.
(2) A local or regional board of education may award a diploma to
any person who (A) withdrew from high school prior to graduation to
work in a job that assisted the war effort during World War II, December
7, 1941, to December 31, 1946, inclusive, (B) did not receive a diploma as
a consequence of such work, and (C) has been a resident of the state for
at least fifty consecutive years. Senate Bill No. 1165
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(3) (A) A local or regional board of education under whose
jurisdiction a student would otherwise be attending school if such
student were not educated under the oversight of the education unit of
the Department of Children and Families established pursuant to
section 17a-3b, shall award a diploma to any such student seventeen
years of age or older who satisfactorily completes the minimum credits
required pursuant to this section for students graduating in the year in
which such diploma is awarded.
(B) If no such local or regional board of education can be identified,
the Department of Children and Families shall determine whether a
student educated under the oversight of the education unit of the
department who is seventeen years of age or older has satisfactorily
completed the minimum credits required pursuant to this section for
students graduating in the year in which a diploma is sought by such
student and the department shall award a diploma to any such student
who has met such requirement.
[(j)] (k) For the school year commencing July 1, 2012, and each school
year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall create a
student success plan for each student enrolled in a public school,
beginning in grade six. Such student success plan shall include a
student's career and academic choices in grades six to twelve, inclusive.
Beginning in grade six, such student success plan shall provide evidence
of career exploration in each grade including, but not limited to, careers
in manufacturing. The Department of Education shall revise and issue
to local and regional boards of education guidance regarding changes
to such student success plans. On and after July 1, 2020, in creating such
student success plans, consideration shall be given to career and
academic choices in computer science, science, technology, engineering
and mathematics. On and after July 1, 2021, such student success plans
shall be created, if possible, in collaboration with each student and the
parent or guardian of such student. On and after July 1, 2022, such Senate Bill No. 1165
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student success plans shall, to the extent it does not conflict with the
career choices of the student or such student's parent or guardian,
include an academic plan that is in compliance with the challenging
curriculum policy adopted by the local or regional board of education
pursuant to section 10-221x, as amended by this act.
[(k)] (l) Commencing with classes graduating in 2018, and for each
graduating class thereafter, a local or regional board of education may
affix the Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy, as described in subsection
(f) of section 10-5, to a diploma awarded to a student who has achieved
a high level of proficiency in English and one or more foreign languages,
as defined in said subsection (f). The local or regional board of education
shall include on such student's transcript a designation that the student
received the Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy.
Sec. 2. Section 10-16b of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):
(a) In the public schools the program of instruction offered shall
include at least the following subject matter, as taught by legally
qualified teachers, the arts; career education; consumer education;
personal financial management and financial literacy; health and safety,
including, but not limited to, human growth and development,
nutrition, first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in
accordance with the provisions of section 10-16qq, disease prevention
and cancer awareness, including, but not limited to, age and
developmentally appropriate instruction in performing self -
examinations for the purposes of screening for breast cancer and
testicular cancer, community and consumer health, physical, mental
and emotional health, including youth suicide prevention, substance
abuse prevention, including instruction relating to opioid use and
related disorders, safety, which shall include the safe use of social
media, as defined in section 9-601, and may include the dangers of gang
membership, and accident prevention; language arts, including reading, Senate Bill No. 1165
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writing, grammar, speaking and spelling; mathematics; physical
education; science, which shall include the climate change curriculum
described in subsection (d) of this section; social studies, including, but
not limited to, citizenship, economics, geography, government, history
and Holocaust and genocide education and awareness in accordance
with the provisions of section 10-18f; African-American and black
studies in accordance with the provisions of section 10-16ss; Puerto
Rican and Latino studies in accordance with the provisions of section
10-16ss; Native American studies, in accordance with the provisions of
section 10-16vv; computer programming instruction; and in addition,
on at least the secondary level, one or more world languages; vocational
education; and the black and Latino studies course in accordance with
the provisions of sections 10-16tt and 10-16uu. For purposes of this
subsection, world languages shall include American Sign Language,
provided such subject matter is taught by a qualified instructor under
the supervision of a teacher who holds a certificate issued by the State
Board of Education. For purposes of this subsection, the "arts" means
any form of visual or performing arts, which may include, but not be
limited to, dance, music, art and theatre.
(b) If a local or regional board of education requires its pupils to take
a course in a world language, the parent or guardian of a pupil
identified as deaf or hard of hearing may request in writing that such
pupil be exempted from such requirement and, if such a request is
made, such pupil shall be exempt from such requirement.
(c) Each local and regional board of education shall on September 1,
1982, and annually thereafter at such time and in such manner as the
Commissioner of Education shall request, attest to the State Board of
Education that such local or regional board of education offers at least
the program of instruction required pursuant to this section, and that
such program of instruction is planned, ongoing and systematic.
(d) The State Board of Education shall make available curriculum Senate Bill No. 1165
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materials and such other materials as may assist local and regional
boards of education in developing instructional programs pursuant to
this section. The State Board of Education, within available
appropriations and utilizing available resource materials, shall assist
and encourage local and regional boards of education to include: (1)
Holocaust and genocide education and awareness; (2) the historical
events surrounding the Great Famine in Ireland; (3) African-American
and black studies; (4) Puerto Rican and Latino studies; (5) Native
American studies; (6) personal financial management, including, but
not limited to, financial literacy as developed in the plan provided under
section 10-16pp; (7) training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the
use of automatic external defibrillators; (8) labor history and law,
including organized labor, the collective bargaining process, existing
legal protections in the workplace, the history and economics of free
market capitalism and entrepreneurialism, and the role of labor and
capitalism in the development of the American and world economies;
(9) climate change consistent with the Next Generation Science
Standards; (10) topics approved by the state board upon the request of
local or regional boards of education as part of the program of
instruction offered pursuant to subsection (a) of this section; and (11)
instruction relating to the Safe Haven Act, sections 17a-57 to 17a-61,
inclusive. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
shall be available to each local and regional board of education for the
development of curriculum on climate change as described in this
subsection.
Sec. 3. Section 10-16b of the general statutes, as amended by section
32 of public act 22-80, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):
(a) In the public schools the program of instruction offered shall
include at least the following subject matter, as taught by legally
qualified teachers, the arts; career education; consumer education; Senate Bill No. 1165
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personal financial management and financial literacy; health and safety,
including, but not limited to, human growth and development,
nutrition, first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in
accordance with the provisions of section 10-16qq, disease prevention
and cancer awareness, including, but not limited to, age and
developmentally appropriate instruction in performing self -
examinations for the purposes of screening for breast cancer and
testicular cancer, community and consumer health, physical, mental
and emotional health, including youth suicide prevention, substance
abuse prevention, including instruction relating to opioid use and
related disorders, safety, which shall include the safe use of social
media, as defined in section 9-601, and may include the dangers of gang
membership, and accident prevention; language arts, including reading,
writing, grammar, speaking and spelling; mathematics; physical
education; science, which may include the climate change curriculum
described in subsection (d) of this section; social studies, including, but
not limited to, citizenship, economics, geography, government, history
and Holocaust and genocide education and awareness in accordance
with the provisions of section 10-18f; African-American and black
studies in accordance with the provisions of section 10-16ss; Puerto
Rican and Latino studies in accordance with the provisions of section
10-16ss; Native American studies, in accordance with the provisions of
section 10-16vv; Asian American and Pacific Islander studies, in
accordance with the provisions of section 10-66ww; computer
programming instruction; and in addition, on at least the secondary
level, one or more world languages; vocational education; and the black
and Latino studies course in accordance with the provisions of sections
10-16tt and 10-16uu. For purposes of this subsection, world languages
shall include American Sign Language, provided such subject matter is
taught by a qualified instructor under the supervision of a teacher who
holds a certificate issued by the State Board of Education. For purposes
of this subsection, the "arts" means any form of visual or performing
arts, which may include, but not be limited to, dance, music, art and Senate Bill No. 1165
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theatre.
(b) If a local or regional board of education requires its pupils to take
a course in a world language, the parent or guardian of a pupil
identified as deaf or hard of hearing may request in writing that such
pupil be exempted from such requirement and, if such a request is
made, such pupil shall be exempt from such requirement.
(c) Each local and regional board of education shall on September 1,
1982, and annually thereafter at such time and in such manner as the
Commissioner of Education shall request, attest to the State Board of
Education that such local or regional board of education offers at least
the program of instruction required pursuant to this section, and that
such program of instruction is planned, ongoing and systematic.
(d) The State Board of Education shall make available curriculum
materials and such other materials as may assist local and regional
boards of education in developing instructional programs pursuant to
this section. The State Board of Education, within available
appropriations and utilizing available resource materials, shall assist
and encourage local and regional boards of education to include: (1)
Holocaust and genocide education and awareness; (2) the historical
events surrounding the Great Famine in Ireland; (3) African-American
and black studies; (4) Puerto Rican and Latino studies; (5) Native
American studies; (6) Asian American and Pacific Islander studies; (7)
personal financial management, including, but not limited to, financial
literacy as developed in the plan provided under section 10-16pp; (8)
training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automatic
external defibrillators; (9) labor history and law, including organized
labor, the collective bargaining process, existing legal protections in the
workplace, the history and economics of free market capitalism and
entrepreneurialism, and the role of labor and capitalism in the
development of the American and world economies; (10) climate change
consistent with the Next Generation Science Standards; (11) topics Senate Bill No. 1165
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approved by the state board upon the request of local or regional boards
of education as part of the program of instruction offered pursuant to
subsection (a) of this section; and (12) instruction relating to the Safe
Haven Act, sections 17a-57 to 17a-61, inclusive. The Department of
Energy and Environmental Protection shall be available to each local
and regional board of education for the development of curriculum on
climate change as described in this subsection.
Sec. 4. Subsection (b) of section 10-76ll of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
2023):
(b) On or before July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall draft
a written bill of rights for parents of children receiving special education
services to guarantee that the rights of such parents and children are
adequately safeguarded and protected during the provision of special
education and related services under this chapter. Such bill of rights
shall inform parents of: (1) The right to request consideration of the
provision of transition services for a child receiving special education
services who is eighteen to twenty-one, inclusive, years of age, (2) the
right to receive transition resources and materials from the department
and the local or regional board of education responsible for such child,
(3) the requirement that the local or regional board of education
responsible for such child shall create a student success plan for each
student enrolled in a public school, beginning in grade six, pursuant to
subsection [(j)] (k) of section 10-221a, as amended by this act, and (4) the
right of such child to receive realistic and specific postgraduation goals
as part of such child's individualized education program.
Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 10-221x of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
2023):
(b) Each local and regional board of education shall create an Senate Bill No. 1165
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academic plan for each student identified under the criteria described in
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section. In creating an academic
plan for a student, such plan shall be designed to enroll such student in
one or more advanced course or programs and allow such student to
earn college credit or result in career readiness. Each academic plan shall
be aligned with (1) the courses or programs offered by the local or
regional board of education, (2) such student's student success plan
created pursuant to subsection [(j)] (k) of section 10-221a, as amended
by this act, (3) the high school graduation requirements under section
10-221a, as amended by this act, and (4) any other policies or standards
adopted by the board relating to the eligibility for student enrollment in
advanced courses or programs. A student, or the parent or guardian of
a student, may decline to implement the provisions of an academic plan
created for such student.