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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1
January Session, 2025
AN ACT INCREASING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS, SCHOOLS AND
SPECIAL EDUCATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) As used in this section, 1
sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act and section 10-505b of the general 2
statutes, as amended by this act: 3
(1) "Designated beneficiary" means an early care and education 4
program offered by an eligible board of education or a licensed provider 5
of child care services; 6
(2) "Eligible board of education" means a local or regional board of 7
education that (A) is eligible to receive a grant under the Connecticut 8
Smart Start competitive grant program pursuant to section 10-506 of the 9
general statutes, (B) offers a full-day preschool program, and (C) does 10
not charge tuition to the parents or guardians of children enrolled in 11
such full-day preschool program, unless such tuition is required as part 12
of a state or federally funded subsidy or grant program; 13
(3) "Child care services" has the same meaning as provided in section 14
19a-77 of the general statutes; 15
(4) "Covered child" means any child who is enrolled in an early care 16
and education program offered by a designated beneficiary; 17 Substitute Bill No. 1
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(5) "Eligible expense" means expenses incurred by a designated 18
beneficiary and authorized under section 4 of this act for reimbursement 19
by the trust; 20
(6) "Unpaid portion" means the difference between (A) the total 21
amount of tuition charged for a covered child's enrollment in an early 22
care and education program offered by a designated beneficiary, and (B) 23
the sum of (i) any state or federal child care subsidies received for such 24
covered child, and (ii) an amount not to exceed seven per cent of the 25
annual household income of the family for such covered child that is 26
paid by such family to such designated beneficiary; and 27
(7) "Trust" means the Universal Preschool Trust. 28
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Commencing on July 1, 2025, 29
there is established the Universal Preschool Trust. The trust shall 30
constitute an instrumentality of the state and shall perform essential 31
governmental functions as provided in sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this 32
act. The trust shall receive and hold all payments and deposits or 33
contributions intended for the trust, as well as gifts, bequests, 34
endowments or federal, state or local grants and any other funds from 35
any public or private source and all earnings until disbursed in 36
accordance with section 5 of this act. 37
(b) The amounts on deposit in the trust shall not constitute property 38
of the state and the trust shall not be construed to be a department, 39
institution or agency of the state. Amounts on deposit in the trust shall 40
not be commingled with state funds and the state shall have no claim to 41
or against, or interest in, such funds. Any contract entered into by or any 42
obligation of the trust shall not constitute a debt or obligation of the state 43
and the state shall have no obligation to any designated beneficiary or 44
any other person on account of the trust and all amounts obligated to be 45
paid from the trust shall be limited to amounts available for such 46
obligation on deposit in the trust. The amounts on deposit in the trust 47
may only be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of section 5 of 48
this act. The trust shall continue in existence as long as it holds any 49 Substitute Bill No. 1
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deposits or has any obligations and until its existence is terminated by 50
law and upon termination any unclaimed assets shall return to the state. 51
Property of the trust shall not be governed by section 3-61a of the 52
general statutes. 53
(c) The Treasurer shall be responsible for the receipt, maintenance, 54
administration, investing and disbursements of amounts from the trust. 55
The trust shall not receive deposits in any form other than cash. 56
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 57
30, 2025, after the accounts for the General Fund have been closed and 58
the Comptroller has determined the amount of unappropriated surplus, 59
if any, in said fund, the amount of such surplus to a maximum of three 60
hundred million dollars shall be transferred by the Treasurer to the 61
Universal Preschool Trust established under section 2 of this act. 62
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year 63
thereafter, after the accounts for the General Fund have been closed and 64
the Comptroller has determined the amount of unappropriated surplus, 65
if any, in said fund, the entire amount of such surplus shall be 66
transferred by the Treasurer to the Universal Preschool Trust, except 67
that if the amount in the Budget Reserve Fund is less than eighteen per 68
cent of the net General Fund appropriations for the current fiscal year, 69
the amount of such transfer shall be reduced and an amount equal to 70
such reduction shall be transferred to the Budget Reserve Fund. 71
(c) Any amount transferred pursuant to this section shall be deducted 72
in determining the amount of unappropriated surplus to be transferred 73
to the Budget Reserve Fund pursuant to subsection (b) of section 4-30a 74
of the general statutes. 75
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 76
30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Treasurer shall authorize 77
phases for the administration and expenditure of funds from the trust 78
as follows: 79
(1) Phase I shall commence for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, 80 Substitute Bill No. 1
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and operate when the rate of return on the trust's amounts on deposit 81
meets or exceeds the amount needed to fund all covered children as of 82
July 1, 2025, according to the eligible expenses for such covered children. 83
(2) Phase II shall commence whenever the two-year annual rate of 84
return on the trust's amounts on deposit meets or exceeds the amount 85
needed to fund all covered children served by designated beneficiaries 86
in phase I plus the amount of eligible expenses described in subdivision 87
(2) of subsection (b) of this section. 88
(3) Phase III shall commence not earlier than one year following the 89
first year of implementation of phase II and whenever the two-year 90
annual rate of return on the trust's amounts on deposit meets or exceeds 91
the amount needed to fund the number of all covered children served 92
by designated beneficiaries in phase I and the first year of phase II. 93
(4) Phase IV shall commence not earlier than one year following the 94
first year of implementation of phase III and whenever the two-year 95
annual rate of return on the trust's amounts on deposit meets or exceeds 96
the amount needed to fund the number of all covered children served 97
by designated beneficiaries in phase I, phase II and phase III. 98
(b) The eligible expenses for each phase shall be as follows: 99
(1) Phase I eligible expenses shall include (A) the unpaid portion of a 100
covered child's tuition for enrollment in a preschool program as part of 101
an early care and education program offered by a designated beneficiary 102
pursuant to section 10-505b of the general statutes, as amended by this 103
act, and (B) the cost charged to a family associated with a covered child 104
in a preschool program offered by an eligible board of education. 105
(2) Phase II eligible expenses shall include (A) phase I eligible 106
expenses, and (B) costs associated with the expansion of slots offered by 107
existing designated beneficiaries, including, but not limited to, 108
transportation costs, capital expenses and costs associated with 109
obtaining accreditation for the early care and education program from 110
the National Association for the Education of Young Children, National 111 Substitute Bill No. 1
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Association for Family Child Care, a Head Start on-site program review 112
instrument or a successor instrument pursuant to federal regulations. 113
(3) Phase III eligible expenses shall include (A) phase I eligible 114
expenses, (B) phase II eligible expenses, and (C) the unpaid portion of a 115
covered child's tuition for enrollment in a preschool program as part of 116
an early care and education program offered by a designated beneficiary 117
who is a private provider of child care services. 118
(4) Phase IV eligible expenses shall include (A) phase I eligible 119
expenses, (B) phase II eligible expenses, (C) phase III eligible expenses, 120
and (D) the unpaid portion of a covered child's tuition for enrollment in 121
an infant and toddler program as part of an early care and education 122
program offered by a designated beneficiary. 123
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than the fifteenth of 124
each month, each designated beneficiary seeking a reimbursement 125
payment from the trust for eligible expenses incurred during the 126
previous month shall submit a claim to the child care resource and 127
referral agency designated by the Commissioner of Early Childhood. 128
The child care resource and referral agency shall provide the Treasurer 129
with such claims for eligible expenses. Upon review and approval of 130
such claims, the Treasurer shall disburse funds in an amount equal to 131
the total sum of such claims to the child care resource and referral 132
agency. The child care resource and referral agency shall distribute such 133
funds to each designated beneficiary in an amount equal to the amount 134
approved by the Treasurer for such designated beneficiary's claim. 135
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established the 136
Universal Preschool Trust Board. The board shall be responsible for the 137
administration of the Universal Preschool Trust. 138
(b) The board shall consist of the following members: 139
(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 140
who is currently employed in the early childhood workforce; 141 Substitute Bill No. 1
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(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who is 142
a representative from the Service Employees' International Union, Local 143
2001; 144
(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 145
Representatives, who is the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in a 146
preschool program provided by an eligible board of education; 147
(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who is a 148
member of the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance; 149
(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 150
Representatives, who is a member of an eligible board of education; 151
(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who is a 152
member of the parent cabinet established by the Office of Early 153
Childhood pursuant to section 10-500 of the general statutes; 154
(7) One appointed by the Governor, who is a representative of a 155
corporation with a significant physical presence in the state and that 156
employs individuals who may benefit from early childhood education 157
and state child care initiatives; 158
(8) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's 159
designee; 160
(9) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 161
secretary's designee; and 162
(10) The Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee. 163
(c) All initial appointments to the board shall be made not later than 164
September 1, 2025. Each appointed member shall serve in accordance 165
with the provisions of section 4-1a of the general statutes, and the 166
appointing authorities shall appoint members to ensure representation 167
on the board of all geographic areas in the state, to the extent practicable. 168
Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any vacancy 169
occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the balance 170 Substitute Bill No. 1
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of the unexpired term. 171
(d) The Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee, shall serve as the 172
chairperson of the board. The chairperson shall schedule the first 173
meeting of the board to be held not later than October 1, 2025. The board 174
shall meet at least quarterly, and upon request of the board or the 175
Treasurer. 176
(e) The Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee, shall, at the first 177
meeting of the board and semiannually thereafter, submit to the board 178
an actuarial chart that includes a review of the total amount of funds 179
within the trust, the health of the investments of the trust, the 180
anticipated growth of the trust and any recommended models for the 181
timing and rate of drawing down from the trust. 182
(f) Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the board 183
shall submit a report on the actuarial future of the trust, the current 184
phase of the trust, the anticipated date to advance phases of the trust, if 185
any, and an assessment of the success and efficacy of the Universal 186
Preschool Trust to the joint standing committees of the General 187
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, children 188
and appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 189
of the general statutes. 190
(g) The board shall be within the office of the Treasurer for 191
administrative purposes only. 192
Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Treasurer, on behalf of 193
the trust and for purposes of the trust, may: 194
(1) Receive and invest moneys in the trust in any instruments, 195
obligations, securities or property in accordance with section 8 of this 196
act; 197
(2) Enter into one or more contractual agreements, including 198
contracts for legal, actuarial, accounting, custodial, advisory, 199
management, administrative, advertising, marketing and consulting 200 Substitute Bill No. 1
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services for the trust, and pay for such services from the assets of the 201
trust; 202
(3) Procure insurance in connection with the trust's property, assets, 203
activities or deposits to the trust; 204
(4) Apply for, accept and expend gifts, grants or donations from 205
public or private sources to enable the trust to carry out its objectives; 206
(5) Adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 of the general 207
statutes for purposes of sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act; 208
(6) Sue and be sued; 209
(7) Establish one or more funds within the trust; and 210
(8) Take any other action necessary to carry out the purposes of 211
sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act and incidental to the duties imposed 212
on the Treasurer pursuant to said sections. 213
(b) The Treasurer, on behalf of the trust and for purposes of the trust, 214
shall: 215
(1) Enter into a memorandum of understanding with the 216
Commissioner of Early Childhood to establish information sharing 217
practices for purposes of sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act. Such 218
memorandum of understanding shall be in accordance with applicable 219
state and federal laws. 220
(2) Enter into a memorandum of understanding with the child care 221
resource and referral agency to establish information sharing practices 222
for purposes of sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act. Such memorandum 223
of understanding shall be in accordance with applicable state and 224
federal laws. 225
Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions 226
of sections 3-13 to 3-13h, inclusive, of the general statutes, the Treasurer 227
shall invest the amounts on deposit in the trust in a manner reasonable 228 Substitute Bill No. 1
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and appropriate to achieve the objectives of the trust, exercising the 229
discretion and care of a prudent person in similar circumstances with 230
similar objectives. The Treasurer shall give due consideration to rate of 231
return, risk, term or maturity, diversification of the total portfolio within 232
the trust, liquidity, the projected disbursements and expenditures and 233
the expected payments, deposits, contributions and gifts to be received. 234
The Treasurer shall not require the trust to invest directly in obligations 235
of the state or any political subdivision of the state or in any investment 236
or other fund administered by the Treasurer. The assets of the trust shall 237
be continuously invested and reinvested in a manner consistent with the 238
objectives of the trust until disbursed for eligible expenditures or 239
expended on expenses incurred by the operations of the trust. 240
Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Disbursements from the trust 241
shall be exempt from all taxation by the state and all political 242
subdivisions of the state. 243
Sec. 10. Section 3-13c of the general statutes is repealed and the 244
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 245
As used in sections 3-13 to 3-13e, inclusive, and 3-31b, "trust funds" 246
includes the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund A, the 247
Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B, the Soldiers, 248
Sailors and Marines Fund, the Family and Medical Leave Insurance 249
Trust Fund, the State's Attorneys' Retirement Fund, the Teachers' 250
Annuity Fund, the Teachers' Pension Fund, the Teachers' Survivorship 251
and Dependency Fund, the School Fund, the State Employees 252
Retirement Fund, the Hospital Insurance Fund, the Policemen and 253
Firemen Survivor's Benefit Fund, any trust fund described in 254
subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 7-450 that is administered, 255
held or invested by the State Treasurer, the Connecticut Baby Bond 256
Trust, any Climate Change and Coastal Resiliency Reserve Fund created 257
pursuant to section 7-159d, the Universal Preschool Trust and all other 258
trust funds administered, held or invested by the State Treasurer. 259
Sec. 11. Section 10-505b of the general statutes is repealed and the 260 Substitute Bill No. 1
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following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 261
(a) The Office of Early Childhood shall, within available 262
appropriations, establish a state-wide Tri-Share Child Care Matching 263
Program. [serving New London County.] Under such program, costs for 264
child care provided by duly licensed child care facilities in the state shall 265
be shared [equally] among participating employers, employees and the 266
[state] Universal Preschool Trust as follows: 267
(1) A participating employer shall be responsible for at least one-third 268
of an employee's full-day child care costs for a covered child enrolled in 269
an early care and education program offered by a designated 270
beneficiary; 271
(2) An employee shall be responsible for child care costs in an amount 272
not to exceed seven per cent of such employee's annual household 273
income; and 274
(3) The remaining balance of such employee's child care costs shall be 275
paid for with funds from the Universal Preschool Trust in accordance 276
with the provisions of section 5 of this act. 277
(b) (1) The [program shall be established for a minimum of two years 278
and the] office shall select a regional or state-wide organization as the 279
administrator of the program. Such administrator shall (A) determine 280
employers' and employees' eligibility for participation in the program, 281
(B) ensure that child care facilities to which payments will be made 282
under the program are licensed by the state, (C) collect and ensure 283
timely payment from participating employers, participating employees 284
and the state, (D) disburse funds to the appropriate child care provider, 285
(E) recruit employers to participate in the program, (F) coordinate 286
adequate communication between all parties, and (G) collect and submit 287
to the Office of Early Childhood data concerning participating 288
employees, including, but not limited to, the annual household income 289
of such employees, provided any such submitted data shall be 290
deidentified. 291 Substitute Bill No. 1
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(2) To be eligible to participate in the program: 292
(A) An employer shall have a physical facility located in [New 293
London County] the state that is the principal workplace of its 294
employees; and 295
(B) An employee shall (i) be employed by a participating employer, 296
(ii) reside in the state, and (iii) have as such employee's principal 297
workplace a location in [New London County, and (iv) not be receiving 298
other public assistance for child care costs] the state. 299
(c) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall enter into an 300
agreement with such administrator to perform the duties described 301
under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section. Such agreement 302
shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) a provision that the 303
administrator shall receive, for administrative costs of the program, up 304
to ten per cent of the funds allocated by the state for the program, (2) a 305
requirement that the administrator not commingle funds received for 306
purposes of the program, other than funds for administrative costs 307
allowed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, with other funds 308
held or controlled by the administrator, (3) any restrictions or 309
prohibitions on the disclosure of data received or collected by the 310
administrator in the performance of its duties under subdivision (1) of 311
subsection (b) of this section, and (4) penalties for violation of a 312
provision of the agreement or of this section. 313
(d) Commencing with the fiscal year immediately following the first 314
year of the program and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall 315
submit to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 316
cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state 317
agencies, finance, revenue and bonding, education and children, a 318
report on the program. Such report shall include, but need not be limited 319
to, (1) for the fiscal year immediately preceding, (A) the number of 320
participating employers and participating employees, (B) the 321
percentage of participating employees whose household incomes are 322
below the asset limited, income constrained, employed population 323 Substitute Bill No. 1
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threshold, as calculated in the most recent ALICE report by the United 324
Way of Connecticut, and (C) the amounts disbursed by the 325
administrator for child care costs and the amounts retained by the 326
administrator for administrative costs, and (2) any programmatic or 327
legislative changes the commissioner recommends to improve the 328
program or further its purposes. 329
Sec. 12. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) The Office of Early 330
Childhood shall develop a centralized online enrollment portal for (1) 331
designated beneficiaries to apply for payments from the Universal 332
Preschool Trust, established pursuant to section 2 of this act, and (2) 333
families to apply for a subsidy or other state or federal financial 334
assistance for child care under (A) a Head Start or Early Head Start 335
program, (B) the child care subsidy program, established pursuant to 336
section 17b-749 of the general statutes, (C) an early care and education 337
program receiving financial assistance under Early Start CT pursuant to 338
section 10-550b of the general statutes, (D) a preschool program under 339
the Connecticut Smart Start competitive grant program, pursuant to 340
section 10-506 of the general statutes, (E) the temporary family 341
assistance program pursuant to section 17b-112 of the general statutes, 342
(F) foster care placements or certified relative foster care placements 343
through the Department of Children and Families, or (G) any other state 344
or federal program for child care assistance. 345
(b) The enrollment portal shall (1) enable families to identify early 346
care and education programs in their area, (2) determine a family's 347
eligibility for a subsidy and allow such family to apply for a subsidy for 348
which they are eligible, and (3) provide an estimate of the amount of 349
tuition a family would pay after deducting any subsidies for which such 350
family is eligible and any amount covered by the Universal Preschool 351
Trust. 352
Sec. 13. Subsection (c) of section 10-4 of the general statutes is 353
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 354
2025): 355 Substitute Bill No. 1
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(c) Said board shall prepare every five years a five -year 356
comprehensive plan for elementary, secondary, vocational, career and 357
adult education. Such comprehensive plan shall include, but need not 358
be limited to, (1) a policy statement of the State Board of Education's 359
long-term goals and short-term objectives, including, for any 360
comprehensive plan prepared on or after July 1, 2018, a policy statement 361
that the demographics of educators in the public schools should reflect 362
the racial and ethnic diversity of the total population of the state, (2) an 363
analysis of cost implications and measurement criteria and how said 364
board's programs and operations relate to such goals and objectives, and 365
(3) specific action plans, target dates and strategies and methods of 366
implementation for achieving such goals and objectives. The State Board 367
of Education shall establish, every five years, an advisory committee to 368
assist the board in the preparation of the comprehensive plan. Members 369
of the advisory committee shall be appointed by the State Board of 370
Education with representation on the committee to include, but not be 371
limited to, representatives of the Connecticut Advisory Council on 372
Vocational and Career Education, education organizations, parent 373
organizations, student organizations, business and industry, organized 374
labor and appropriate state agencies. Notwithstanding any requirement 375
for submission of a plan for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, 376
pursuant to section 10-96a of the general statutes, revision of 1958, 377
revised to January 1, 1983, the State Board of Education shall not be 378
required to submit the master plan for vocational and career education 379
but shall submit, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the 380
comprehensive plan for elementary and secondary, vocational, career 381
and adult education to the Governor and the joint standing committee 382
of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 383
education on or before September 1, 1996, and every five years 384
thereafter provided, the master plan currently in effect shall remain in 385
effect until the comprehensive plan is submitted. The Commissioner of 386
Education shall make semiannual presentations to the State Board of 387
Education, at regularly scheduled meetings of said board, to provide 388
updates on the strategic priorities, actions and outcomes outlined in the 389
comprehensive plan. The State Board of Education shall be responsible 390 Substitute Bill No. 1
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for annually updating the progress in implementing the goals and 391
objectives of the comprehensive plan based on the presentations of the 392
commissioner and shall report on such progress to the Governor and to 393
said standing committee annually and make such information available 394
on the Internet web site of the Department of Education. The State Board 395
of Education shall provide opportunity for public comment prior to its 396
adoption of a plan. 397
Sec. 14. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) On or after June first, but prior 398
to September thirtieth annually, the superintendent of schools for each 399
school district shall provide, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the 400
local or regional board of education for the school district, the following: 401
(1) The number and names of all community-based organizations with 402
whom the board of education has executed a formal memorandum of 403
understanding, memorandum of agreement or contract to provide 404
support services to students in the school district, disaggregated by 405
school and type of support service provided, (2) the number of students 406
engaged in both credit-bearing and noncredit-bearing internships or 407
workforce training programs, disaggregated by type and duration of the 408
internship or workforce training program, (3) the actual classroom size 409
and student-teacher ratio during the previous school year, 410
disaggregated by school and subject area, (4) attrition data for certified 411
and noncertified staff, disaggregated by school and subject, not 412
including in-district transfers, and (5) any savings achieved through the 413
vacancies of positions approved as part of the school district's budget 414
for the academic year. 415
Sec. 15. (Effective from passage) Any state agency that contributes data 416
for the purposes of the development of the report of disconnected youth 417
pursuant to section 22 of public act 24-45 shall post such report on the 418
agency's Internet web site. 419
Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) There is established within 420
the Department of Education, for administrative purposes only, a 421
regional education accountability review board for each planning 422
region, as defined in section 4-124i of the general statutes. Each such 423 Substitute Bill No. 1
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board shall (1) provide intensive technical, financial and other assistance 424
and related accountability to the priority school districts, as described in 425
section 10-266p of the general statutes, located in the planning region 426
for such board, (2) develop guidelines and criteria for the budgeting and 427
expenditure of funds for each such priority school district, and (3) 428
review and analyze all educational spending of each such priority 429
school district. 430
(b) Each regional education accountability review board shall consist 431
of (1) the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; 432
(2) the State Treasurer, or the State Treasurer's designee; (3) three 433
appointed by the Governor, one of whom has significant professional 434
experience that focuses on the health and well-being of children and 435
youth, and one of whom shall be the chief elected official of a 436
community in the planning region for the board; (4) one appointed by 437
the president pro tempore of the Senate who has significant experience 438
as a member of an organization with a collective bargaining agreement 439
in at least one school district in the planning region for the board, if 440
applicable, and who shall be selected from a list of names recommended 441
by the Connecticut Education Association, the American Federation of 442
Teachers-Connecticut, the Service Employees International Union and 443
the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; (5) 444
one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives who shall 445
be actively serving as a superintendent of schools for a school district; 446
(6) one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate who has 447
significant professional experience that focuses on the health and well-448
being of children and youth; and (7) one appointed by the minority 449
leader of the House of Representatives who shall be a current or former 450
attorney who practices or practiced education law. The members 451
described in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection shall serve as the 452
chairpersons of each board. 453
(c) Each regional education accountability review board shall submit 454
an annual expenditure report for each priority school district located in 455
the planning region for such board to the State Board of Education. Each 456
such report shall be made available on the Internet web site of the 457 Substitute Bill No. 1
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Department of Education. 458
Sec. 17. Section 10-227 of the general statutes is repealed and the 459
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 460
(a) Each board of education shall cause the superintendent to make 461
returns not later than September first of each year to the Commissioner 462
of Education of the receipts, expenditures and statistics, as prescribed 463
by the commissioner, provided each such board may submit revisions 464
to the returns in such form and with such documentation as required by 465
the commissioner not later than January thirty-first of each year 466
following the September submission. Such reports or returns required 467
shall be filed in accordance with the instructions furnished by the 468
commissioner, shall be certified not later than January thirty-first of each 469
year by the independent public accountant selected pursuant to section 470
7-392 for the purpose of auditing municipal accounts, and shall be 471
subject to Department of Education verification. If the returns and 472
statistics and revisions called for by said commissioner are not filed on 473
or before the days specified in this section or if the returns are not 474
certified as required by the commissioner on or before January thirty-475
first, each local and regional board of education required by law to make 476
separate returns, whose returns and statistics or revisions are delayed 477
until after those days, shall forfeit of the total sum which is paid for such 478
board of education from the State Treasurer an amount to be determined 479
by the State Board of Education, which amount shall be not less than 480
one thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars. The amount 481
so forfeited shall be withheld from a subsequent grant payment as 482
determined by the commissioner. Notwithstanding the penalty 483
provision of this section, the Commissioner of Education may waive 484
said forfeiture for good cause. 485
(b) Not later than March 15, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 486
Department of Education shall publish on its Internet web site the data 487
contained in the reports and returns filed pursuant to subsection (a) of 488
this section by education program type, expense function, expense 489
object and funding source, including, but not limited to, federal, 490 Substitute Bill No. 1
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combined state and local and combined private and other sources for 491
the school and district level. The department shall develop and publish 492
a guide that contains definitions for each category of expenditure and 493
funding source and the corrective actions or penalties that the 494
department may order for or impose on a board of education if the data 495
contained in the reports and returns filed by such board does not align 496
with such definitions. 497
(c) Not later than March 15, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 498
Department of Education shall develop and publish the data contained 499
in the reports and returns filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section 500
in a format that allows financial comparisons between school districts 501
and schools, including student enrollment and demographic statistics 502
as of October first of the school year in which such reports and returns 503
were filed. The department shall provide to each board of education an 504
application program interface through the department's education data 505
portal, or through other means, to assist such board in posting the data 506
contained in the reports and returns filed by such board on its Internet 507
web site. 508
Sec. 18. Section 10-198d of the general statutes is repealed and the 509
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 510
(a) Not later than January 1, 2016, the Department of Education, in 511
consultation with the Interagency Council for Ending the Achievement 512
Gap established pursuant to section 10-16nn, shall develop a chronic 513
absenteeism prevention and intervention plan for use by local and 514
regional boards of education to reduce chronic absenteeism in the school 515
district. 516
(b) (1) The department shall semiannually review, and revise as 517
needed, the chronic absenteeism prevention and intervention plan. In 518
making such revisions, the department shall incorporate the findings of 519
the most recent report of disconnected youth, developed pursuant to 520
section 22 of public act 24-45. In addition to the policies and procedures 521
concerning truants described in section 10-198a, the plan shall include, 522 Substitute Bill No. 1
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but need not be limited to, the following: (A) Information that describes 523
(i) chronic absenteeism, including, but not limited to, the definition of a 524
chronically absent child under section 10-198c, and the causes of chronic 525
absenteeism, such as poverty, violence, poor health and lack of access to 526
transportation, (ii) the effect of chronic absenteeism on a student's 527
academic performance, and (iii) how family and school partnerships 528
with community resources, including, but not limited to, family 529
resource centers and youth service bureaus, can reduce chronic 530
absenteeism and improve student attendance, [and] (B) the use of an 531
early indication tool provided by the department or other third party, 532
provided such tool is designed to quickly identify students who are at 533
risk for becoming chronically absent or disconnected from school, such 534
as those students who (i) are at risk of not graduating or satisfying the 535
high school graduation requirements pursuant to section 10-221a, (ii) 536
have a history of behavioral concerns or disciplinary issues, including 537
suspensions or expulsions, and (iii) are homeless children or youth, as 538
defined in 42 USC 11343a, as amended from time to time, and (C) a 539
means of collecting and analyzing data relating to student attendance, 540
truancy and chronic absenteeism for the purpose of (i) disaggregating 541
such data by school district, school, grade and subgroups, such as race, 542
ethnicity, gender, eligibility for free or reduced priced lunches, housing 543
status, students whose primary language is not English and students 544
with disabilities, and (ii) assisting local and regional boards of education 545
in (I) tracking chronic absenteeism over multiple years and for the 546
current school year, (II) developing indicators to identify students who 547
are at risk of being chronically absent children, (III) monitoring students' 548
attendance over time, and (IV) making adjustments to interventions as 549
they are being implemented. 550
(2) The chronic absenteeism prevention and intervention plan may 551
include, but need not be limited to, the following: (A) A research-based 552
and data-driven home visiting or mentorship model that addresses and 553
attempts to prevent or reduce chronic absenteeism through the use of 554
mentors, such as students, teachers, administrators, intramural and 555
interscholastic athletic coaches, school resource officers, family 556 Substitute Bill No. 1
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navigators, student success coaches and community partners, and (B) 557
incentives and rewards that recognize schools and students that 558
improve attendance and reduce the school chronic absenteeism rate. 559
Sec. 19. Section 10-222 of the general statutes is repealed and the 560
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 561
Each local board of education shall prepare an itemized estimate of 562
the cost of maintenance of public schools for the ensuing year and shall 563
submit such estimate to the board of finance in each town or city having 564
a board of finance, to the board of selectmen in each town having no 565
board of finance or otherwise to the authority making appropriations 566
for the school district, not later than two months preceding the annual 567
meeting at which appropriations are to be made. The board or authority 568
that receives such estimate shall, not later than ten days after the date 569
the board of education submits such estimate, make spending 570
recommendations and suggestions to such board of education as to how 571
such board of education may consolidate noneducational services and 572
realize financial efficiencies. Such board of education may accept or 573
reject the suggestions of the board of finance, board of selectmen or 574
appropriating authority and shall provide the board of finance, board of 575
selectmen or appropriating authority with a written explanation of the 576
reason for any rejection. The money appropriated by any municipality 577
for the maintenance of public schools shall be expended by and in the 578
discretion of the board of education. Except as provided in this 579
subsection, any such board may transfer any unexpended or 580
uncontracted-for portion of any appropriation for school purposes to 581
any other item of such itemized estimate. Boards may, by adopting 582
policies and procedures, authorize designated personnel to make 583
limited transfers under emergency circumstances if the urgent need for 584
the transfer prevents the board from meeting in a timely fashion to 585
consider such transfer. All transfers made in such instances shall be 586
announced at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board and a 587
written explanation of such transfer shall be provided to the legislative 588
body of the municipality or, in a municipality where the legislative body 589
is a town meeting, to the board of selectmen. Expenditures by the board 590 Substitute Bill No. 1
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of education shall not exceed the appropriation made by the 591
municipality, with such money as may be received from other sources 592
for school purposes. If any occasion arises whereby additional funds are 593
needed by such board, the chairman of such board shall notify the board 594
of finance, board of selectmen or appropriating authority, as the case 595
may be, and shall submit a request for additional funds in the same 596
manner as is provided for departments, boards or agencies of the 597
municipality and no additional funds shall be expended unless such 598
supplemental appropriation shall be granted and no supplemental 599
expenditures shall be made in excess of those granted through the 600
appropriating authority. The annual report of the board of education 601
shall, in accordance with section 10-224, include a summary showing (1) 602
the total cost of the maintenance of schools, (2) the amount received 603
from the state and other sources for the maintenance of schools, [and] 604
(3) the net cost to the municipality of the maintenance of schools, and 605
(4) the balance of any nonlapsing, unexpended funds account described 606
in section 10-248a, as amended by this act. For purposes of this 607
subsection, "meeting" means a meeting, as defined in section 1-200, and 608
"itemized estimate" means an estimate in which broad budgetary 609
categories including, but not limited to, salaries, fringe benefits, utilities, 610
supplies and grounds maintenance are divided into one or more line 611
items. 612
Sec. 20. Section 10-248a of the general statutes is repealed and the 613
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 614
(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and each fiscal year 615
thereafter, notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any 616
special act, municipal charter, home rule ordinance or other ordinance, 617
a local board of education may deposit into a nonlapsing account any 618
unexpended funds from the prior fiscal year from the budgeted 619
appropriation for education, provided (1) such deposited amount does 620
not exceed two per cent of the total budgeted appropriation for 621
education for such prior fiscal year, (2) each expenditure from such 622
account shall be made only for educational purposes, and (3) each such 623
expenditure shall be authorized by the local board of education for such 624 Substitute Bill No. 1
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town. 625
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year 626
thereafter, each local board of education shall compile a report 627
regarding the nonlapsing, unexpended funds account described in this 628
section, including, but not limited to, the total balance of the account, 629
the amount deposited into such account in a fiscal year and an 630
accounting of the expenditures made from such account. Each such 631
board shall submit such report to the Department of Education and the 632
exclusive bargaining representative for certified employees chosen 633
pursuant to section 10-153b. 634
(c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year 635
thereafter, each local board of education shall, not later than thirty days 636
from the adoption of such board's budget, notify the exclusive 637
bargaining representative for certified employees, chosen pursuant to 638
section 10-153b, of (1) the establishment of a nonlapsing, unexpended 639
funds account described in this section, or (2) the board's intended uses 640
for any funds in such nonlapsing, unexpended funds account during the 641
next fiscal year. 642
Sec. 21. Subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of section 10-51 of the 643
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 644
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 645
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and each fiscal year 646
thereafter, a regional board of education, by a majority vote of its 647
members, may create a reserve fund for educational expenditures. Such 648
fund shall thereafter be termed "reserve fund for educational 649
expenditures". The aggregate amount of annual and supplemental 650
appropriations by a district to such fund shall not exceed two per cent 651
of the annual district budget for such fiscal year. Annual appropriations 652
to such fund shall be included in the share of net expenses to be paid by 653
each member town. Supplemental appropriations to such fund may be 654
made from estimated fiscal year end surplus in operating funds. Interest 655
and investment earnings received with respect to amounts held in the 656 Substitute Bill No. 1
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fund shall be credited to such fund. The board shall annually submit a 657
complete and detailed report of the condition of such fund to the 658
member towns. Upon the recommendation and approval by the 659
regional board of education, any part or the whole of such fund may be 660
used for educational expenditures. Upon the approval of any such 661
expenditure an appropriation shall be set up, plainly designated for the 662
educational expenditure for which it has been authorized. Any 663
unexpended portion of such appropriation remaining shall revert to 664
said fund. If any authorized appropriation is set up pursuant to the 665
provisions of this subsection and through unforeseen circumstances the 666
board is unable to expend the total amount of such appropriation, the 667
board, by a majority vote of its members, may terminate such 668
appropriation which then shall no longer be in effect. Such fund may be 669
discontinued, after the recommendation and approval by the regional 670
board of education, and any amounts held in the fund shall be 671
transferred to the general fund of the district. For the fiscal year ending 672
June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, each board shall (A) make 673
available and annually update information regarding such fund, 674
including, but not limited to, the total balance of the fund, the amount 675
deposited into such fund in a fiscal year and an accounting of the 676
expenditures made from such fund, and (B) not later than thirty days 677
from the adoption of such board's budget, notify the exclusive 678
bargaining representative for certified employees, chosen pursuant to 679
section 10-153b, of (i) the establishment of the reserve fund for 680
educational expenditures, or (ii) the board's intended uses for any funds 681
in such fund during the next fiscal year. 682
Sec. 22. Section 10-222o of the general statutes is repealed and the 683
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 684
(a) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year 685
thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall annually 686
make available on the Internet web site of such local or regional board 687
of education the aggregate spending on salaries, employee benefits, 688
instructional supplies, educational media supplies, instructional 689
equipment, regular education tuition, special education tuition, 690 Substitute Bill No. 1
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purchased services and all other expenditure items, excluding debt 691
service, for each school under the jurisdiction of such local or regional 692
board of education. 693
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year 694
thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall, on a 695
quarterly basis, post on the Internet web site of such local or regional 696
board of education (A) the actual classroom size and student-teacher 697
ratios during the current school year, disaggregated by school, (B) the 698
number of full-time equivalent staffing positions, disaggregated by 699
categories assigned by the Department of Education, (C) the number of 700
staffing vacancies in the school district and any accrued savings from 701
such vacancies during the current fiscal year, and (D) the names and 702
scope of services provided by all nonprofit organizations or the regional 703
educational service center with whom the board has executed a formal 704
memorandum of understanding, memorandum of agreement or 705
contract to provide any support services to students, including, but not 706
limited to, students who may be considered at risk of becoming 707
disconnected from school. Each board shall submit a copy of the 708
information described in this subsection to the legislative body of the 709
municipality or, in a municipality where the legislative body is a town 710
meeting, to the board of selectmen and the district's exclusive 711
bargaining representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to 712
section 10-153b. 713
(b) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year 714
thereafter, each regional educational service center shall annually make 715
available on the Internet web site of such regional educational service 716
center the aggregate spending on salaries, employee benefits, 717
instructional supplies, educational media supplies, instructional 718
equipment, regular education tuition, special education tuition, 719
purchased services and all other expenditure items, excluding debt 720
service, for each school under the jurisdiction of such regional 721
educational service center. 722
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year 723 Substitute Bill No. 1
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thereafter, each regional educational service center shall, on a quarterly 724
basis, post on the Internet web site of such regional educational service 725
center (A) the actual classroom size and student-teacher ratios during 726
the current school year, disaggregated by school, (B) the number of full-727
time equivalent staffing positions, disaggregated by categories assigned 728
by the Department of Education, (C) the number of staffing vacancies of 729
such regional educational service center and any accrued savings from 730
such vacancies during the current fiscal year, and (D) the names and 731
scope of services provided by all nonprofit organizations with whom 732
the regional educational service center has executed a formal 733
memorandum of understanding, memorandum of agreement or 734
contract to provide any support services to students, including, but not 735
limited to, students who may be considered at risk of becoming 736
disconnected from school. Each regional educational service center shall 737
submit a copy of the information described in this subsection to the 738
legislative body of the members of such regional educational service 739
center or, in those municipalities where the legislative body is a town 740
meeting, to the board of selectmen and the exclusive bargaining 741
representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to section 10-742
153b. 743
(c) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year 744
thereafter, the governing authority for each state charter school shall 745
annually make available on the Internet web site of such governing 746
authority the aggregate spending on salaries, employee benefits, 747
instructional supplies, educational media supplies, instructional 748
equipment, regular education tuition, special education tuition, 749
purchased services and all other expenditure items, excluding debt 750
service, for each state charter school under the jurisdiction of such 751
governing authority. 752
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year 753
thereafter, the governing authority for each state charter school shall, on 754
a quarterly basis, post on the Internet web site of such governing 755
authority (A) the actual classroom size and student-teacher ratios 756
during the current school year, disaggregated by school, (B) the number 757 Substitute Bill No. 1
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of full-time equivalent staffing positions, disaggregated by categories 758
assigned by the Department of Education, (C) the number of staffing 759
vacancies in the state charter school and any accrued savings from such 760
vacancies during the current fiscal year, and (D) the names and scope of 761
services provided by all nonprofit organizations or the regional 762
educational service center with whom the governing authority has 763
executed a formal memorandum of understanding, memorandum of 764
agreement or contract to provide any support services to students, 765
including, but not limited to, students who may be considered at risk of 766
becoming disconnected from school. Each governing authority shall 767
submit a copy of the information described in this subsection to the 768
exclusive bargaining representative for certified employees chosen 769
pursuant to section 10-153b. 770
(d) Not later than January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the 771
Department of Education shall make all information described in this 772
section available on the department's Internet web site. 773
Sec. 23. Subsection (a) of section 10-233d of the general statutes is 774
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 775
2025): 776
(a) (1) Any local or regional board of education, at a meeting at which 777
three or more members of such board are present, or the impartial 778
hearing board established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, may 779
expel, subject to the provisions of this subsection, any pupil in grades 780
three to twelve, inclusive, whose conduct on school grounds or at a 781
school-sponsored activity is violative of a publicized policy of such 782
board and is seriously disruptive of the educational process or 783
endangers persons or property or whose conduct off school grounds is 784
violative of such policy and is seriously disruptive of the educational 785
process, provided a majority of the board members sitting in the 786
expulsion hearing vote to expel and that at least three affirmative votes 787
for expulsion are cast. In making a determination as to whether conduct 788
is seriously disruptive of the educational process, the board of education 789
or impartial hearing board may consider, but such consideration shall 790 Substitute Bill No. 1
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not be limited to: (A) Whether the incident occurred within close 791
proximity of a school; (B) whether other students from the school were 792
involved or whether there was any gang involvement; (C) whether the 793
conduct involved violence, threats of violence or the unlawful use of a 794
weapon, as defined in section 29-38, and whether any injuries occurred; 795
and (D) whether the conduct involved the use of alcohol. 796
(2) Expulsion proceedings pursuant to this section, except as 797
provided in subsection (i) of this section, shall be required for any pupil 798
in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, whenever there is reason to 799
believe that any pupil (A) on school grounds or at a school-sponsored 800
activity, was in possession of a firearm, as defined in 18 USC 921, as 801
amended from time to time, or deadly weapon, dangerous instrument 802
or martial arts weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, (B) off school 803
grounds, did possess such a firearm in violation of section 29-35 or did 804
possess and use such a firearm, instrument or weapon in the 805
commission of a crime under chapter 952, or (C) on or off school 806
grounds, offered for sale or distribution a controlled substance, as 807
defined in section 21a-240, whose manufacture, distribution, sale, 808
prescription, dispensing, transporting or possessing with intent to sell 809
or dispense, offering, or administering is subject to criminal penalties 810
under sections 21a-277 and 21a-278. Such a pupil shall be expelled for 811
one calendar year if the local or regional board of education or impartial 812
hearing board finds that the pupil did so possess or so possess and use, 813
as appropriate, such a firearm, instrument or weapon or did so offer for 814
sale or distribution such a controlled substance, provided the board of 815
education or the hearing board may modify the period of expulsion for 816
a pupil on a case-by-case basis, and as provided for in subdivision (2) of 817
subsection (c) of this section. 818
(3) Unless an emergency exists, no pupil shall be expelled without a 819
formal hearing held pursuant to sections 4-176e to 4-180a, inclusive, and 820
section 4-181a, provided whenever such pupil is a minor, the notice 821
required by section 4-177 and section 4-180 shall also be given to the 822
parents or guardian of the pupil at least five business days before such 823
hearing, not including the day of such hearing. If an emergency exists, 824 Substitute Bill No. 1
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such hearing shall be held as soon after the expulsion as possible. The 825
notice shall include information concerning the parent's or guardian's 826
and the pupil's legal rights and concerning legal services provided free 827
of charge or at a reduced rate that are available locally and how to access 828
such services. An attorney or other advocate may represent any pupil 829
subject to expulsion proceedings. The parent or guardian of the pupil 830
shall have the right to have the expulsion hearing postponed for up to 831
one week to allow time to obtain representation, except that if an 832
emergency exists, such hearing shall be held as soon after the expulsion 833
as possible. 834
(4) (A) Prior to conducting an expulsion hearing as required by this 835
subsection, an administrator, school counselor or school social worker 836
at the school in which the pupil is enrolled shall contact the local 837
homeless education liaison designated by the local or regional board of 838
education for the school district, pursuant to Subtitle B of Title VII of the 839
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 USC 11431 et seq., as 840
amended from time to time, to make a determination whether such 841
pupil is a homeless child or youth, as defined in 42 USC 11343a, as 842
amended from time to time. If it is determined that such pupil is a 843
homeless child or youth, the local or regional board of education, or the 844
impartial hearing board established pursuant to subsection (b) of this 845
section, shall consider the impact of homelessness on the behavior of the 846
pupil during the hearing. No such pupil may be expelled without a plan 847
of interventions and supports to mitigate the impact of homelessness on 848
the behavior of the student. 849
(B) Any pupil who is determined to be a homeless child or youth and 850
has been expelled for a second time shall be provided a meeting with 851
the local homeless education liaison by the local or regional board of 852
education. 853
Sec. 24. (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 854
2026, to June 30, 2028, inclusive, the Department of Education shall 855
administer a student success coach pilot program to be implemented in 856
the school districts for the towns of Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury, 857 Substitute Bill No. 1
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New Britain, Hartford, Windham, New London and Norwich. The 858
student success coach pilot program shall utilize evidence-based 859
strategies that have demonstrated effectiveness in supporting students 860
identified as having attendance, behavioral or credit attainment 861
challenges and any other risk factors that contribute to students 862
becoming more likely to become disconnected from school and 863
increasing their risk of misusing drugs, including the use of opioids. 864
(b) The local board of education for a school district participating in 865
the student success coach pilot program may apply for a grant in an 866
amount not to exceed two million dollars. The department shall award 867
such grants to participating boards, in accordance with the provisions 868
of section 17a-674d of the general statutes, provided such participating 869
boards (1) utilize an early indicator tool prescribed by the department 870
to identify those students who have the greatest need for a student 871
success coach, and (2) are evaluated by the Center for Connecticut 872
Education Research Collaboration within the department, or another 873
third party selected by the department. 874
(c) Not later than February 15, 2029, the department shall evaluate the 875
implementation and effectiveness of the student success coach pilot 876
program and submit a report on its findings and recommendations to 877
the State Board of Education, the Opioid Settlement Advisory 878
Committee, established pursuant to section 17a-674c of the general 879
statutes, and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 880
having cognizance of matters relating to education and children, in 881
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 882
Sec. 25. Subsection (b) of section 10-283 of the general statutes is 883
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 884
2025): 885
(b) (1) Notwithstanding the application date requirements of this 886
section, at any time within the limit of available grant authorization and 887
within the limit of appropriated funds, the Commissioner of 888
Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of 889 Substitute Bill No. 1
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Education, may approve applications for grants and make payments for 890
such grants, for any of the following reasons: (A) To assist school 891
building projects to remedy damage from fire and catastrophe, (B) to 892
correct safety, health and other code violations, (C) to replace roofs, 893
including the replacement or installation of skylights as part of the roof 894
replacement project, (D) to remedy a certified school indoor air quality 895
emergency, (E) to install insulation for exterior walls and attics, [or] (F) 896
to purchase and install a limited use and limited access elevator, 897
windows, photovoltaic panels, wind generation systems, building 898
management systems or portable classroom buildings, provided 899
portable classroom building projects shall not create a new facility or 900
cause an existing facility to be modified so that the portable buildings 901
comprise a substantial percentage of the total facility area, as 902
determined by the commissioner, or (G) to upgrade heating, ventilation 903
and air conditioning systems or make other improvements to indoor air 904
quality in school buildings subject to subdivision (2) of this subsection. 905
(2) The commissioner shall not award a grant under subparagraph 906
(G) of subdivision (1) of this subsection to any applicant that, on or after 907
July 1, 2026, has not certified compliance with the uniform inspection 908
and evaluation of an existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning 909
system pursuant to subsection (d) of section 10-220. The following 910
expenses shall not be eligible for reimbursement under this subsection: 911
Routine maintenance and cleaning of the heating, ventilation and air 912
conditioning system, and work performed at or on a public school 913
administrative or service facility that is not located or housed within a 914
public school building. Recipients of a grant under subparagraph (G) of 915
subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be responsible for the routine 916
maintenance and cleaning of the heating, ventilation and air 917
conditioning system and provide training to school personnel and 918
building maintenance staff concerning the proper use and maintenance 919
of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. 920
Sec. 26. Subsection (c) of section 10-66bb of the general statutes is 921
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 922
2025): 923 Substitute Bill No. 1
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(c) On and after July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall 924
review, annually, all applications and grant initial certificates of 925
approval for charters, in accordance with subsections (e) and (f) of this 926
section, for a local or state charter school located in [a town that has one 927
or more schools that have been designated as a commissioner's network 928
school, pursuant to section 10-223h, at the time of such application, or] 929
a town that has been designated as a low achieving school district, 930
pursuant to section 10-223e, at the time of such application. (1) Except 931
as provided for in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no state charter 932
school shall enroll (A) (i) more than two hundred fifty students, or (ii) 933
in the case of a kindergarten to grade eight, inclusive, school, more than 934
three hundred students, or (B) twenty-five per cent of the enrollment of 935
the school district in which the state charter school is to be located, 936
whichever is less. (2) In the case of a state charter school found by the 937
State Board of Education to have a demonstrated record of achievement, 938
said board shall, upon application by such school to said board, waive 939
the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection for such school. (3) 940
The State Board of Education shall give preference to applicants for 941
charter schools (A) whose primary purpose is the establishment of 942
education programs designed to serve one or more of the following 943
student populations: (i) Students with a history of low academic 944
performance, (ii) students who receive free or reduced priced lunches 945
pursuant to federal law and regulations, (iii) students with a history of 946
behavioral and social difficulties, (iv) students identified as requiring 947
special education, (v) students who are multilingual learners, or (vi) 948
students of a single gender; (B) whose primary purpose is to improve 949
the academic performance of an existing school that has consistently 950
demonstrated substandard academic performance, as determined by 951
the Commissioner of Education; (C) that will serve students who reside 952
in a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p; (D) that will 953
serve students who reside in a district in which seventy-five per cent or 954
more of the enrolled students are members of racial or ethnic minorities; 955
(E) that demonstrate highly credible and specific strategies to attract, 956
enroll and retain students from among the populations described in 957
subparagraph (A)(i) to (A)(vi), inclusive, of this subdivision; or (F) that, 958 Substitute Bill No. 1
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in the case of an applicant for a state charter school, such state charter 959
school will be located at a work-site or such applicant is an institution 960
of higher education. In determining whether to grant an initial 961
certificate of approval for a charter, the State Board of Education shall 962
consider (i) the effect of the proposed charter school on (I) the reduction 963
of racial, ethnic and economic isolation in the region in which it is to be 964
located, (II) the regional distribution of charter schools in the state, (III) 965
the potential of over-concentration of charter schools within a school 966
district or in contiguous school districts, and (IV) the state's efforts to 967
close achievement gaps, as defined in section 10-16oo, and (ii) the 968
comments made at a public hearing conducted pursuant to subdivision 969
(2) of subsection (e) of this section or subparagraph (B)(ii) of subdivision 970
(1) of subsection (f) of this section. 971
Sec. 27. Subsection (c) of section 10-74i of the general statutes is 972
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 973
2025): 974
(c) Following the designation or establishment of a community 975
school, but prior to the opening of such community school, the board of 976
education shall conduct (1) an operations and instructional audit [, in 977
accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 10-223h,] for 978
an existing school that has been designated as a community school, (2) 979
a community needs audit to identify the academic, physical, social, 980
emotional, health, mental health and civic needs of students and their 981
families that may impact student learning and academic achievement, 982
and (3) a community resource assessment of potential resources, 983
services and opportunities available within or near the community that 984
students, families and community members may access and integrate 985
into the community school. 986
Sec. 28. Subdivision (14) of subsection (a) of section 4a-60g of the 987
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 988
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 989
(14) "Municipal public works contract" means that portion of an 990 Substitute Bill No. 1
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agreement entered into on or after October 1, 2015, between any 991
individual, firm or corporation and a municipality for the construction, 992
rehabilitation, conversion, extension, demolition or repair of a public 993
building, highway or other changes or improvements in real property, 994
which is financed in whole or in part by the state, including, but not 995
limited to, matching expenditures, grants, loans, insurance or 996
guarantees. [but excluding any project of an alliance district, as defined 997
in section 10-262u, financed by state funding in an amount equal to fifty 998
thousand dollars or less.] 999
Sec. 29. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 8-240a of the 1000
general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1001
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1002
(a) As used in this section: 1003
(1) ["Alliance district" has the same meaning as provided in section 1004
10-262u] "Eligible community" means the fifty towns with the lowest 1005
equalized net grand list; 1006
(2) "Environmental justice community" has the same meaning as 1007
provided in section 22a-20a; and 1008
(3) "Low-income resident" means, after adjustments for family size, 1009
individuals or families whose income is not greater than (A) sixty per 1010
cent of the state median income, (B) eighty per cent of the area median 1011
income for the area in which the resident resides, as determined by the 1012
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or (C) 1013
any other definition of "low-income resident" included in any program 1014
in the state that utilizes federal funding, as determined by the 1015
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. 1016
(b) There is established a revolving loan and grant fund to be known 1017
as the "Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and 1018
Grant Fund". The fund may be funded from the proceeds of bonds 1019
issued pursuant to section 8-240b or from any moneys available to the 1020
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or from other 1021 Substitute Bill No. 1
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sources. Investment earnings credited to the fund shall become part of 1022
the assets of the fund. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of 1023
any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the next fiscal 1024
year. Payments of principal or interest on a low interest loan made 1025
pursuant to this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit 1026
in the Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant 1027
Fund. The fund shall be used to make grants or low interest loans 1028
pursuant to this section to pay reasonable and necessary fees incurred 1029
in administering loans under this section. The Commissioner of Energy 1030
and Environmental Protection may enter into contracts with quasi-1031
public agencies or nonprofit corporations to provide for the 1032
administration of the Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving 1033
Loan and Grant Fund by such entity or entities, provided no grant or 1034
low interest loan shall be made from the fund without the authorization 1035
of the commissioner as provided in this section. 1036
(c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in 1037
collaboration with the Commissioner of Housing, shall establish a pilot 1038
program or programs to provide financing or grants from the fund 1039
established in subsection (b) of this section for retrofitting projects for 1040
multifamily residences located in environmental justice communities or 1041
[alliance districts] eligible communities that (1) improve the energy 1042
efficiency of such residences, which may include, but need not be 1043
limited to, the installation of heat pumps, solar power generating 1044
systems, improved roofing, exterior doors and windows, improved 1045
insulation, air sealing, improved ventilation, appliance upgrades and 1046
any electric system or wiring upgrades necessary for such retrofit, (2) 1047
remediate health and safety concerns that are barriers to any such 1048
retrofit, including, but not limited to, mold, vermiculite, asbestos, lead 1049
and radon, or (3) provide services to assist residents and building 1050
owners to access and implement the programs established pursuant to 1051
this section or other available state or federal programs that enable the 1052
implementation of energy efficiency retrofitting. 1053
Sec. 30. Section 8-265pp of the general statutes is repealed and the 1054
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1055 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 34 of 64
The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority shall develop and 1056
administer a program of mortgage assistance to certified teachers (1) 1057
employed by priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p, (2) 1058
employed by transitional school districts pursuant to section 10-263c, (3) 1059
employed by the Technical Education and Career System at a technical 1060
education and career school located in such priority or transitional 1061
school districts, (4) who teach in a subject matter shortage area pursuant 1062
to section 10-8b, (5) who graduated from a public high school in [an 1063
educational reform district, as defined in section 10-262u] a priority 1064
school district, or (6) who graduated from an historically black college 1065
or university or a Hispanic-serving institution, as those terms are 1066
defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965, P.L. 89-329, as amended 1067
from time to time, and reauthorized by the Higher Education 1068
Opportunity Act of 2008, P.L. 110-315, as amended from time to time. 1069
Such assistance shall be available to eligible teachers for the purchase of 1070
a house as their principal residence, provided, in the case of a teacher 1071
employed by a priority or a transitional school district, or by the 1072
Technical Education and Career System at a technical education and 1073
career school located in a priority or transitional school district, the 1074
house is located in such district. In making mortgage assistance 1075
available under the program, the authority shall utilize down payment 1076
assistance or any other appropriate housing subsidies. The terms of any 1077
mortgage assistance shall allow the mortgagee to realize a reasonable 1078
portion of the equity gain upon sale of the mortgaged property. 1079
Sec. 31. Section 10-4q of the general statutes is repealed and the 1080
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1081
The Commissioner of Education, with the assistance of the State 1082
Education Resource Center, established pursuant to section 10-357a, 1083
may provide grants to those local and regional boards of education [for 1084
school districts designated as alliance districts, pursuant to section 10-1085
262u] that have been identified by the commissioner as in need of 1086
literacy assistance based on student performance on the mastery 1087
examination in reading. Such grants shall be for the creation and 1088
acquisition of new curricula, training in the use of such curricula and 1089 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 35 of 64
related supporting textbooks and other materials. Such local and 1090
regional boards of education may use such grants only for curricula, 1091
training and related textbooks and materials that have been authorized 1092
by the commissioner. Such local and regional boards of education shall 1093
apply for grants pursuant to this section at such time and in such 1094
manner as the commissioner prescribes, and the commissioner shall 1095
determine the amount of the grant awards. 1096
Sec. 32. Section 10-14u of the general statutes is repealed and the 1097
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1098
(a) As used in this section: 1099
(1) "Achievement gaps" means the existence of a significant disparity 1100
in the academic performance of students among and between (A) racial 1101
groups, (B) ethnic groups, (C) socioeconomic groups, (D) genders, and 1102
(E) multilingual learners and students whose primary language is 1103
English. 1104
(2) "Opportunity gaps" means the ways in which race, ethnicity, 1105
socioeconomic status, English proficiency, community wealth, familial 1106
situations or other factors intersect with the unequal or inequitable 1107
distribution of resources and opportunities to contribute to or 1108
perpetuate lower educational expectations, achievement or attainment. 1109
(3) "Scientifically-based reading research and instruction" means (A) 1110
a comprehensive program or a collection of instructional practices that 1111
is based on reliable, valid evidence showing that when such programs 1112
or practices are used, students can be expected to achieve satisfactory 1113
reading progress, and (B) the integration of instructional strategies for 1114
continuously assessing, evaluating and communicating the student's 1115
reading progress and needs in order to design and implement ongoing 1116
interventions so that students of all ages and proficiency levels can read 1117
and comprehend text and apply higher level thinking skills. Such 1118
comprehensive program or collection of practices includes, but is not 1119
limited to, instruction in the following areas of reading: Oral language, 1120
phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, rapid automatic 1121 Substitute Bill No. 1
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name or letter name fluency and reading comprehension. 1122
(4) "Literacy district" means a school district for a local or regional 1123
board of education that has been identified by the Commissioner of 1124
Education as in need of literacy assistance based on student 1125
performance on the mastery examination in reading for such district. 1126
(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2022, and each school year 1127
thereafter, the Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success, 1128
established pursuant to section 10-14gg, shall oversee an intensive 1129
reading instruction program to improve student literacy in grades 1130
kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, and close the achievement gaps 1131
that result from opportunity gaps. Such intensive reading instruction 1132
program shall include routine reading assessments for students in 1133
kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, scientifically-based reading 1134
research and instruction, an intensive reading intervention strategy, as 1135
described in subsection (c) of this section, supplemental reading 1136
instruction and reading remediation plans, as described in subsection 1137
(d) of this section, and an intensive summer school reading program, as 1138
described in subsection (e) of this section. For the school year 1139
commencing July 1, 2022, and each school year thereafter, the Center for 1140
Literacy Research and Reading Success shall provide, upon request of a 1141
local or regional board of education for a [town designated as an alliance 1142
district, as defined in section 10-262u,] literacy district the intensive 1143
reading instruction program to such board, or may include the intensive 1144
reading instruction program in the tiered supports in early literacy 1145
provided under the reading readiness program pursuant to section 10-1146
14y, as amended by this act. 1147
(c) For the school year commencing July 1, 2022, and each school year 1148
thereafter, the Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success, shall 1149
develop an intensive reading intervention strategy which shall be 1150
available to local and regional boards of education for a town 1151
designated as [an alliance district] a literacy district that have any 1152
elementary schools that enroll students who are not reading at or above 1153
grade level to ensure that such students are reading proficiently by 1154 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 37 of 64
grade three in such schools. Such intensive reading intervention 1155
strategy shall (1) include, but not be limited to, (A) rigorous assessments 1156
in reading skills, (B) scientifically-based reading research and 1157
instruction, (C) external literacy coaches who have experience and 1158
expertise in the science of teaching reading, who will work with the 1159
reading data collected, support the principal of the school as needed, 1160
observe, and coach classes and supervise the reading interventions, (D) 1161
reading interventionists who will develop a reading remediation plan 1162
for any student who is reading below proficiency, be responsible for all 1163
supplemental reading instruction, and conduct reading assessments as 1164
needed, and (E) training for teachers and administrators in 1165
scientifically-based reading research and instruction, including, training 1166
for school administrators on how to assess a classroom to ensure that all 1167
children are proficient in reading by grade three, and (2) outline, at a 1168
minimum, how (A) reading data will be collected, analyzed and used 1169
for purposes of instructional development, (B) professional and 1170
leadership development will be related to reading data analysis and 1171
used to support individual teacher and classroom needs, (C) schools 1172
will communicate with parents and guardians of students on reading 1173
instruction strategies and student reading performance goals, and on 1174
opportunities for parents and guardians to partner with teachers and 1175
school administrators to improve reading at home and at school, (D) 1176
teachers and school leaders will be trained in the science of teaching 1177
reading, (E) periodic student progress reports will be issued, and (F) 1178
such intensive reading intervention strategy will be monitored at the 1179
classroom level. The commissioner shall review and evaluate the 1180
intensive reading intervention strategy for model components that may 1181
be used and replicated in other [alliance districts] literacy districts to 1182
ensure that all children are proficient in reading by grade three. 1183
(d) (1) For the school year commencing July 1, 2022, and each school 1184
year thereafter, each local and regional board of education for a [town 1185
designated as an alliance district] literacy district shall, in consultation 1186
with the Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success, provide 1187
supplemental reading instruction to students in kindergarten to grade 1188 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 38 of 64
three, inclusive, who are reading below proficiency, as identified by the 1189
reading assessment described in section 10-14t. Such supplemental 1190
reading instruction shall be provided by a reading interventionist 1191
during regular school hours. 1192
(2) A reading remediation plan shall be developed by a reading 1193
interventionist for each student enrolled in an elementary school in [an 1194
alliance district] a literacy district in kindergarten to grade three, 1195
inclusive, who has been identified as reading below proficiency to 1196
address and correct the reading deficiency of such student. Such 1197
remediation plan shall include instructional strategies that utilize 1198
research-based reading instruction materials and teachers trained in 1199
reading instruction, parental involvement in the implementation of the 1200
remediation plan and regular progress reports on such student. 1201
(3) The principal of each elementary school in [an alliance district] a 1202
literacy district shall notify the parent or guardian of any student in 1203
kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, who has been identified as being 1204
below proficiency in reading. Such notice shall be in writing and (A) 1205
include an explanation of why such student is below proficiency in 1206
reading, and (B) inform such parent or guardian that a remediation plan, 1207
as described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, will be developed for 1208
such student to provide supplemental reading instruction, including 1209
strategies for the parent or guardian to use at home with such student. 1210
(e) (1) Each local and regional board of education for a [town 1211
designated as an alliance district] literacy district shall, in consultation 1212
with the Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success, provide any 1213
student in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, who is reading below 1214
proficiency at the end of the school year with an intensive summer 1215
school reading instruction program. Such intensive summer school 1216
reading instruction program shall include, (A) a comprehensive reading 1217
intervention program, (B) scientifically-based reading research and 1218
instruction strategies and interventions, (C) diagnostic assessments 1219
administered to a student prior to or during an intensive summer school 1220
reading instruction program to determine such student's particularized 1221 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 39 of 64
need for instruction, (D) teachers who are trained in the teaching of 1222
reading and reading assessment and intervention, and (E) weekly 1223
progress monitoring to assess the reading progress of such student and 1224
tailor instruction for such student. 1225
(2) Each local and regional board of education for a [town designated 1226
as an alliance district] literacy district providing supplemental reading 1227
instruction as part of the intensive reading instruction program under 1228
this section shall submit reports to the Center for Literacy Research and 1229
Reading Success, at such time and in such manner as prescribed by the 1230
Department of Education, on (A) student reading progress for each 1231
student reading below proficiency based on the data collected from the 1232
screening and progress monitoring of such student using the reading 1233
assessments described in section 10-14t, and (B) the specific reading 1234
interventions and supports implemented. 1235
(f) Not later than October 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the 1236
Commissioner of Education shall report to the joint standing committee 1237
of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 1238
education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on student 1239
reading levels in the intensive reading instruction program. Such report 1240
shall include recommendations on model components of the school 1241
intensive reading intervention strategy that may be used and replicated 1242
in other [alliance districts] literacy districts. 1243
Sec. 33. Section 10-14y of the general statutes is repealed and the 1244
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1245
(a) The Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success, established 1246
pursuant to section 10-14gg, shall, within available appropriations, 1247
establish a reading readiness program that provides tiered supports in 1248
early literacy to each [school district designated as an alliance district, 1249
pursuant to section 10-262u] literacy district, as defined in section 10-1250
14u, as amended by this act. The center shall conduct an assessment of 1251
the reading readiness of students enrolled in kindergarten to grade 1252
three, inclusive, for each [alliance district] literacy district. Such reading 1253 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 40 of 64
readiness assessment shall consider any combination of the following: 1254
(1) Whether such [alliance district] literacy district has developed and is 1255
implementing a multiyear plan and allocated resources specifically for 1256
early literacy in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, (2) whether 1257
teachers and administrators have received training regarding the 1258
science of teaching reading, and the extent to which teachers and 1259
administrators have completed the program of professional 1260
development in scientifically based reading research and instruction, 1261
pursuant to section 10-148b, (3) the level of access to external literacy 1262
coaches who have experience and expertise in the science of teaching 1263
reading, and (4) whether there is reading intervention staff embedded 1264
in the [alliance district] literacy district. 1265
(b) The center shall identify the early literacy needs of each [alliance 1266
district] literacy district based on the results of the reading readiness 1267
assessment conducted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and 1268
provide tiered supports in early literacy as follows: 1269
(1) Tier one universal supports shall be provided to each [alliance 1270
district, as defined in section 10-262u,] literacy district and include 1271
online professional development modules aligned with the reading 1272
instruction survey, as described in section 10-145r, and other literacy 1273
modules and programs available in the state; 1274
(2) Tier two targeted supports shall include (A) a two-year program 1275
of literacy leadership training for certain teachers and administrators, 1276
(B) targeted professional development, in accordance with the 1277
provisions of section 10-148b, using the results of the reading instruction 1278
survey, as described in section 10-145r, and (C) external coaching 1279
support; [, which may utilize funding received pursuant to section 10-1280
223h or 10-262u;] and 1281
(3) Tier three intensive supports shall include multiyear support from 1282
the center and a commitment from the [alliance district] literacy district, 1283
that includes, but need not be limited to, [(A) the use of funding received 1284
pursuant to section 10-262u to support an early literacy program for 1285 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 41 of 64
students enrolled in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, (B) technical 1286
support in the drafting and submission of alliance district reading plans, 1287
as described in section 10-262u, (C)] (A) identifying and engaging 1288
dedicated literacy coaches and reading interventionists, [(D)] (B) 1289
targeted and intensive professional development, and [(E)] (C) funds for 1290
assessment and instructional materials. 1291
[(c) Any tiered supports in early literacy provided under this section 1292
shall be aligned with any turnaround plan, developed pursuant to 1293
section 10-223h, or alliance district plan, developed pursuant to section 1294
10-262u, as applicable.] 1295
Sec. 34. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 10-16z of the general statutes 1296
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1297
1, 2025): 1298
(a) There is established the Early Childhood Cabinet. The cabinet 1299
shall consist of: (1) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the 1300
commissioner's designee, (2) the Commissioner of Education, or the 1301
commissioner's designee, (3) the Commissioner of Social Services, or the 1302
commissioner's designee, (4) the chancellor of the Connecticut State 1303
Colleges and Universities, or the chancellor's designee, (5) the 1304
Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee, (6) the 1305
Commissioner of Developmental Services, or the commissioner's 1306
designee, (7) the Commissioner of Children and Families, or the 1307
commissioner's designee, (8) the executive director of the Commission 1308
on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity or the executive 1309
director's designee, (9) the project director of the Connecticut Head Start 1310
State Collaboration Office, (10) a parent or guardian of a child who 1311
attends or attended a school readiness program appointed by the 1312
minority leader of the House of Representatives, (11) a representative of 1313
a local provider of early childhood education appointed by the minority 1314
leader of the Senate, (12) a representative of the Connecticut Family 1315
Resource Center Alliance appointed by the majority leader of the House 1316
of Representatives, (13) a representative of a state-funded child care 1317
center appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, (14) two 1318 Substitute Bill No. 1
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appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom 1319
is a member of a board of education for a [town designated as an alliance 1320
district, as defined in section 10-262u] priority school district pursuant 1321
to section 10-266p, and one of whom is a parent who has a child 1322
attending a school in [an educational reform district, as defined in 1323
section 10-262u] a priority school district, (15) two appointed by the 1324
president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom is a representative of 1325
an association of early education and child care providers and one of 1326
whom is a representative of a public elementary school with a 1327
prekindergarten program, (16) ten appointed by the Governor, one of 1328
whom is a representative of the Connecticut Head Start Association, one 1329
of whom is a representative of the business community in this state, one 1330
of whom is a representative of the philanthropic community in this 1331
state, one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut State 1332
Employees Association, one of whom is an administrator of the child 1333
care development block grant pursuant to the Child Care and 1334
Development Block Grant Act of 1990, one of whom is responsible for 1335
administering grants received under section 1419 of Part B of the 1336
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1419, as amended 1337
from time to time, one of whom is responsible for administering the 1338
provisions of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 1339
USC 6301 et seq., one of whom is responsible for coordinating education 1340
services to children and youth who are homeless, one of whom is a 1341
licensed family child care home provider and a member of a staffed 1342
family child care network identified by the Commissioner of Early 1343
Childhood, and one of whom is a parent recommended by a parent 1344
advisory group that has been appointed by the Commissioner of Early 1345
Childhood, (17) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, 1346
or the secretary's designee, (18) the Lieutenant Governor, or the 1347
Lieutenant Governor's designee, (19) the Commissioner of Housing, or 1348
the commissioner's designee, [and] (20) the Commissioner of Mental 1349
Health and Addiction Services, or the commissioner's designee, and (21) 1350
the executive director of the Connecticut Library Consortium, or a 1351
cooperating library service unit as defined in section 11-9e, or the 1352
executive director's designee. 1353 Substitute Bill No. 1
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(b) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall serve as a 1354
cochairperson of the cabinet. The other cochairperson of the cabinet 1355
shall be appointed from among its members by the Governor. The 1356
cabinet shall meet at least quarterly. Members shall not be compensated 1357
for their services, except the following members, who are parents or 1358
guardians, may, within available appropriations, be compensated for 1359
any time and travel related to meetings of the cabinet: (1) The parent or 1360
guardian of a child who attends or attended a school readiness program 1361
and was appointed by the minority leader of the House of 1362
Representatives under subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of this section, 1363
(2) the parent who has a child attending a school in [an educational 1364
reform district, as defined in section 10-262u] a priority school district, 1365
and was appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives 1366
under subdivision (14) of subsection (a) of this section, and (3) the parent 1367
who was recommended by a parent advisory group and appointed by 1368
the Governor under subdivision (16) of subsection (a) of this section. 1369
Sec. 35. Subsection (c) of section 10-95i of the general statutes is 1370
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1371
2025): 1372
(c) The board shall consider the addition of new trade programs. 1373
Decisions by the board to add such programs shall at a minimum be 1374
based on the (1) projected employment demand for graduates of the 1375
program, (2) cost of establishing the program, (3) availability of 1376
qualified instructors, (4) existence of similar programs at other 1377
educational institutions, (5) interest of students in the trade, (6) need to 1378
diversify the trade with workers from underrepresented populations, 1379
and (7) workforce training needs of (A) students, graduates and 1380
residents of [alliance districts, as defined in section 10-262u, and] 1381
priority school districts, as described in section 10-266p, and (B) students 1382
and graduates of priority schools, as defined in section 10-265e. The 1383
board shall authorize new trade programs for a maximum of five years. 1384
The board shall provide a process for the public, including, but not 1385
limited to, employers, parents, students or teachers, to request 1386
consideration of the establishment of a new trade program. 1387 Substitute Bill No. 1
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Sec. 36. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 10-156ii of the general 1388
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1389
(Effective July 1, 2025): 1390
(a) There is established an aspiring educators diversity scholarship 1391
program administered by the Department of Education. The program 1392
shall provide an annual scholarship to diverse students who (1) 1393
graduated from a public high school in [an alliance district, as defined 1394
in section 10-262u] the state, and (2) are enrolled in a teacher preparation 1395
program at any four-year institution of higher education. A diverse 1396
student may receive an annual scholarship in an amount up to ten 1397
thousand dollars for each year such diverse student is enrolled and in 1398
good standing in a teacher preparation program. As used in this section, 1399
"diverse" has the same meaning as provided in section 10-156bb. 1400
(b) Not later than January 1, 2023, the department shall, in 1401
consultation with the chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the 1402
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, 1403
develop a policy concerning the administration of the scholarship. Such 1404
policy shall include, but need not be limited to, provisions regarding (1) 1405
any additional eligibility criteria, (2) payment and distribution of the 1406
scholarships to diverse students through the teacher preparation 1407
programs in which they are enrolled, and (3) the notification of students 1408
in high school [in alliance districts] of the scholarship program, 1409
including the opportunity to apply for a scholarship under the program 1410
while enrolled in high school and prior to graduation if such student 1411
will be enrolled in a teacher preparation program during the following 1412
fall semester at a four-year institution of higher education. 1413
Sec. 37. Subsection (d) of section 10-215l of the general statutes is 1414
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1415
2025): 1416
(d) In awarding grants under this section, the department shall (1) 1417
give priority to applicants (A) located in [alliance districts, as defined in 1418
section 10-262u, or who are providers of school readiness programs, as 1419 Substitute Bill No. 1
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defined in section 10-16p] priority school districts pursuant to section 1420
10-266p, or who received a grant under this section prior to July 1, 2025, 1421
and (B) who demonstrate broad commitment from school 1422
administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators and 1423
community stakeholders, and (2) not award a grant that is in an amount 1424
greater than ten per cent of the total amount available for the fiscal year. 1425
Sec. 38. Subsection (g) of section 10-215m of the general statutes is 1426
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1427
2025): 1428
(g) In addition to the reimbursement payments otherwise provided 1429
pursuant to this section, the department may, within available 1430
appropriations, provide supplemental grants to eligible boards of 1431
education. Such supplemental grant funds may be expended for the 1432
purpose of purchasing kitchen equipment, engaging with school 1433
nutrition or farm-to-school consultants or training relating to the 1434
processing, preparation and serving of locally sourced food and 1435
regionally sourced food. In awarding supplemental grants under this 1436
subsection, the department shall give priority to an eligible board of 1437
education for a [town designated as an alliance district pursuant to 1438
section 10-262u] priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p, or 1439
that received a grant under this section prior to July 1, 2025. 1440
Sec. 39. Subsection (j) of section 10-236b of the general statutes is 1441
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1442
2025): 1443
(j) [(1)] On and after July 1, 2016, each local or regional board of 1444
education, and each institution or facility operating under contract with 1445
a local or regional board of education pursuant to subsection (d) of 1446
section 10-76d that provides special education for children, including 1447
any approved private special education program, shall [(A)] (1) record 1448
each instance of the use of physical restraint or seclusion on a student, 1449
[(B)] (2) specify whether the use of seclusion was in accordance with an 1450
individualized education program, [(C)] (3) specify the nature of the 1451 Substitute Bill No. 1
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emergency that necessitated the use of such physical restraint or 1452
seclusion, and [(D)] (4) include such information in an annual 1453
compilation on its use of such restraint and seclusion on students. Each 1454
local or regional board of education and such institutions or facilities 1455
operating under contract with a local or regional board of education 1456
pursuant to subsection (d) of section 10-76d that provides special 1457
education for children, including any approved private special 1458
education program shall provide such annual compilation to the 1459
Department of Education [for the purposes of the pilot program 1460
established pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection] to examine 1461
incidents of physical restraint and seclusion in schools and to the State 1462
Board of Education for the purposes of subsection (k) of this section. 1463
Local or regional boards of education and such institutions and facilities 1464
that provide special education for children shall not be required to 1465
report instances of in-school suspensions, as defined in subsection (c) of 1466
section 10-233a. 1467
[(2) The Department of Education shall establish a pilot program for 1468
the school year commencing July 1, 2015. Such pilot program shall be 1469
implemented in various districts, including, but not limited to, an 1470
alliance district, a regional school district and a regional education 1471
service center. Under the pilot program, the Department of Education 1472
shall examine incidents of physical restraint and seclusion in schools 1473
and shall compile and analyze data regarding such incidents to enable 1474
the department to better understand and respond to incidents of 1475
physical restraint and seclusion on students in the state.] 1476
Sec. 40. Subdivision (2) of section 10-262f of the general statutes is 1477
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1478
2025): 1479
(2) "Base aid ratio" means for the fiscal year ending June 30, [2018] 1480
2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, the sum of (A) one minus the town's 1481
wealth adjustment factor, and (B) the town's base aid ratio adjustment 1482
factor, if any, except that a town's base aid ratio shall not be less than (i) 1483
ten per cent for [a town designated as an alliance district, as defined in 1484 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 47 of 64
section 10-262u, or] a priority school district, as described in section 10-1485
266p, and (ii) one per cent for a town that is not [designated as an 1486
alliance district or] a priority school district. 1487
Sec. 41. Section 10-262h of the general statutes is repealed and the 1488
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1489
(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, each town maintaining 1490
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1491
grant as follows: (1) Any town [designated as an alliance district, as 1492
defined in section 10-262u,] that is a priority school district pursuant to 1493
section 10-266p shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 1494
amount equal to its base grant amount; and (2) any town that is not 1495
[designated as an alliance district] a priority school district shall be 1496
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to ninety-five 1497
per cent of its base grant amount. 1498
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, each town maintaining 1499
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1500
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 1501
its base grant amount shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 1502
amount equal to its base grant amount plus four and one-tenth per cent 1503
of its grant adjustment; and (2) any town whose fully funded grant is 1504
less than its base grant amount shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1505
grant in an amount equal to its base grant amount minus twenty-five 1506
per cent of its grant adjustment, except any such town designated as an 1507
alliance district shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 1508
amount equal to its base grant amount. 1509
(c) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2020, and June 30, 2021, each 1510
town maintaining public schools according to law shall be entitled to an 1511
equalization aid grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded 1512
grant is greater than its base grant amount shall be entitled to an 1513
equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its equalization aid grant 1514
amount for the previous fiscal year plus ten and sixty-six-one-1515
hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment; and (2) any town whose 1516 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 48 of 64
fully funded grant is less than its base grant amount shall be entitled to 1517
an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its equalization aid 1518
grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus eight and thirty-three-1519
one-hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment, except any such town 1520
designated as an alliance district shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1521
grant in an amount equal to its base grant amount. 1522
(d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, each town maintaining 1523
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1524
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 1525
its base grant amount shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 1526
amount equal to its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal 1527
year plus ten and sixty-six-one-hundredths per cent of its grant 1528
adjustment; and (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 1529
base grant amount shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 1530
amount equal to the amount the town was entitled to for the fiscal year 1531
ending June 30, 2021. 1532
(e) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, each town maintaining 1533
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1534
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 1535
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1536
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 1537
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year plus sixteen 1538
and sixty-seven-one-hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment; and 1539
(2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its equalization aid 1540
grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be entitled to an 1541
equalization aid grant in an amount equal to the amount the town was 1542
entitled to for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. 1543
(f) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, each town maintaining 1544
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1545
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 1546
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1547
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 1548
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year plus twenty 1549 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 49 of 64
per cent of its grant adjustment; (2) any town whose fully funded grant 1550
is less than its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year 1551
shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to the 1552
amount the town was entitled to for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023; 1553
and (3) any town designated as an alliance district shall be entitled to an 1554
equalization aid grant in an amount that is the greater of (A) the amount 1555
described in either subdivision (1) of this subsection or subdivision (2) 1556
of this subsection, as applicable, (B) its base grant amount, or (C) its 1557
equalization aid grant entitlement for the previous fiscal year. 1558
(g) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, each town maintaining 1559
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1560
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 1561
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1562
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 1563
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year plus fifty-six 1564
and five tenths per cent of its grant adjustment; (2) any town whose fully 1565
funded grant is less than its equalization aid grant amount for the 1566
previous fiscal year shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an 1567
amount equal to the amount the town was entitled to for the fiscal year 1568
ending June 30, 2024; and (3) any town designated as an alliance district, 1569
shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount that is the 1570
greater of (A) the amount described in either subdivision (1) of this 1571
subsection or subdivision (2) of this subsection, as applicable, (B) its base 1572
grant amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant entitlement for the 1573
previous fiscal year. 1574
(h) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, each town maintaining 1575
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1576
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 1577
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1578
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 1579
funded grant; (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 1580
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1581
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 1582
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus 1583 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 50 of 64
fourteen and twenty-nine-one-hundredths per cent of its grant 1584
adjustment; and (3) any town [designated as an alliance district] that is 1585
a priority school district shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in 1586
an amount that is the greater of (A) the amount described in either 1587
subdivision (1) of this subsection or subdivision (2) of this subsection, as 1588
applicable, (B) its base grant amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant 1589
entitlement for the previous fiscal year. 1590
(i) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, each town maintaining 1591
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1592
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 1593
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1594
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 1595
funded grant; (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 1596
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1597
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 1598
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus sixteen 1599
and sixty-seven-one-hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment; and 1600
(3) any town [designated as an alliance district] that is a priority school 1601
district shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount that 1602
is the greater of (A) the amount described in either subdivision (1) of 1603
this subsection or subdivision (2) of this subsection, as applicable, (B) its 1604
base grant amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant entitlement for the 1605
previous fiscal year. 1606
(j) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, each town maintaining 1607
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1608
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 1609
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1610
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 1611
funded grant; (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 1612
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1613
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 1614
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus twenty 1615
per cent of its grant adjustment; and (3) any town [designated as an 1616
alliance district] that is a priority school district shall be entitled to an 1617 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 51 of 64
equalization aid grant in an amount that is the greater of (A) the amount 1618
described in either subdivision (1) of this subsection or subdivision (2) 1619
of this subsection, as applicable, (B) its base grant amount, or (C) its 1620
equalization aid grant entitlement for the previous fiscal year. 1621
(k) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, each town maintaining 1622
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1623
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 1624
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1625
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 1626
funded grant; (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 1627
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1628
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 1629
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus 1630
twenty-five per cent of its grant adjustment; and (3) any town 1631
[designated as an alliance district] that is a priority school district shall 1632
be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount that is the greater 1633
of (A) the amount described in either subdivision (1) of this subsection 1634
or subdivision (2) of this subsection, as applicable, (B) its base grant 1635
amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant entitlement for the previous 1636
fiscal year. 1637
(l) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, each town maintaining 1638
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1639
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 1640
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1641
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 1642
funded grant; (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 1643
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1644
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 1645
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus thirty-1646
three and thirty-three-one-hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment; 1647
and (3) any town [designated as an alliance district] that is a priority 1648
school district shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount 1649
that is the greater of (A) the amount described in either subdivision (1) 1650
of this subsection or subdivision (2) of this subsection, as applicable, (B) 1651 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 52 of 64
its base grant amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant entitlement for 1652
the previous fiscal year. 1653
(m) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2031, each town maintaining 1654
public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 1655
grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 1656
its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1657
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 1658
funded grant; (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 1659
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 1660
entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 1661
equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus fifty 1662
per cent of its grant adjustment; and (3) any town [designated as an 1663
alliance district] that is a priority school district shall be entitled to an 1664
equalization aid grant in an amount that is the greater of (A) the amount 1665
described in either subdivision (1) of this subsection or subdivision (2) 1666
of this subsection, as applicable, (B) its base grant amount, or (C) its 1667
equalization aid grant entitlement for the previous fiscal year. 1668
(n) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2032, and each fiscal year 1669
thereafter, each town maintaining public schools according to law shall 1670
be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 1671
funded grant, except any town [designated as an alliance district] that is 1672
a priority school district shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in 1673
an amount that is the greater of (1) its fully funded grant, (2) its base 1674
grant amount, or (3) its equalization aid grant entitlement for the 1675
previous fiscal year. 1676
Sec. 42. Subsection (c) of section 10-262i of the general statutes is 1677
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1678
2025): 1679
(c) All aid distributed to a town pursuant to the provisions of this 1680
section [and section 10-262u] shall be expended for educational 1681
purposes only and shall be expended upon the authorization of the local 1682
or regional board of education. [and in accordance with the provisions 1683 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 53 of 64
of section 10-262u.] For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, and each 1684
fiscal year thereafter, if a town receives an increase in funds pursuant to 1685
this section over the amount it received for the prior fiscal year, such 1686
increase shall not be used to supplant local funding for educational 1687
purposes. The budgeted appropriation for education in any town 1688
receiving an increase in funds pursuant to this section shall be not less 1689
than the amount appropriated for education for the prior year plus such 1690
increase in funds. 1691
Sec. 43. Subsection (c) of section 10-262j of the general statutes is 1692
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1693
2025): 1694
(c) Except as otherwise provided under the provisions of subsections 1695
(g) and (h) of this section, a town designated as [an alliance district, as 1696
defined in section 10-262u,] a priority school district pursuant to section 1697
10-266p shall not reduce its budgeted appropriation for education 1698
pursuant to this section. 1699
Sec. 44. Section 10-265h of the general statutes is repealed and the 1700
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1701
(a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services, in consultation 1702
with the Commissioner of Education, shall establish, within available 1703
bond authorizations, a grant program to assist [alliance districts, as 1704
defined in section 10-262u,] priority school districts pursuant to section 1705
10-266p in paying for general improvements to school buildings. For 1706
purposes of this section "general improvements to school buildings" 1707
means work that (1) is generally not eligible for reimbursement 1708
pursuant to chapter 173, and (2) is to (A) replace windows, doors, boilers 1709
and other heating and ventilation system components, internal 1710
communications and technology systems, lockers, floors, cafeteria 1711
equipment and ceilings, including the installation of new drop ceilings, 1712
(B) upgrade restrooms including the replacement of fixtures and related 1713
water supplies and drainage, (C) upgrade and replace lighting, 1714
including energy efficient upgrades to lighting systems and controls to 1715 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 54 of 64
increase efficiency, and reduce consumption levels and cost, (D) 1716
upgrade entryways, driveways, parking areas, play areas and athletic 1717
fields, (E) upgrade equipment, including, but not limited to, the 1718
following equipment purchased on or after November 1, 2017: Cabinets, 1719
computers, laptops and related equipment and accessories, (F) repair 1720
roofs, including the installation of energy efficient fixtures and systems 1721
and environmental enhancements, or (G) install or upgrade security 1722
equipment that is consistent with the school safety infrastructure criteria 1723
described in section 10-292r, including, but not limited to, video 1724
surveillance devices and fencing, provided "general improvements to 1725
school buildings" may include work not specified in this subdivision if 1726
the [alliance district] priority school district provides justification for 1727
such work acceptable to the Commissioner of Administrative Services, 1728
but shall not include routine maintenance such as painting, cleaning, 1729
equipment repair or other minor repairs or work done at the 1730
administrative facilities of a board of education. 1731
(b) Eligibility for grants pursuant to this section shall be determined 1732
for a five-year period. [based on a school district's designation as an 1733
alliance district in the initial year of designation as an alliance district.] 1734
Grant awards shall be made annually contingent upon the filing of an 1735
application and a satisfactory annual evaluation. Priority shall be given 1736
to [an alliance district] a priority school district that includes a life-cycle 1737
stewardship plan with such [alliance district's] priority school district's 1738
application. The life-cycle stewardship plan shall describe the 1739
investments and other efforts that have been and will be made by the 1740
[alliance district] priority school district to extend the life cycle of its 1741
facilities and equipment. [Alliance districts] Priority school districts 1742
shall apply for grants pursuant to this section at such time and in such 1743
manner as the commissioner prescribes. Grant awards made to [an 1744
alliance district] a priority school district that is one of the [alliance 1745
districts] priority school districts with the five largest populations, 1746
based on the 2010 federal census, shall be in an amount equal to or 1747
greater than two million dollars. 1748
(c) No funds received by [an alliance district] a priority school district 1749 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 55 of 64
pursuant to this section shall be used to supplant local matching 1750
requirements for federal or state funding otherwise received by such 1751
[alliance district] priority school district for improvements to school 1752
buildings. 1753
(d) Each [alliance district] priority school district that receives funds 1754
pursuant to this section shall file expenditure reports with the 1755
Department of Administrative Services as requested by the 1756
Commissioner of Administrative Services. Each [alliance district] 1757
priority school district shall refund (1) any unexpended amounts at the 1758
close of the project for which the grants are awarded, and (2) any 1759
amounts not expended in accordance with the approved grant 1760
application. 1761
(e) General improvements for which grants are awarded in any year 1762
shall be completed by the end of the succeeding fiscal year. 1763
Sec. 45. Section 10-265o of the general statutes is repealed and the 1764
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1765
For the fiscal year ending June 30, [2014] 2026, and each fiscal year 1766
thereafter, the Department of Education shall establish the municipal 1767
aid for new educators grant program. On or before March first of each 1768
year, the program shall, within available appropriations, provide grants 1769
of up to two hundred thousand dollars to the local or regional board of 1770
education for [an alliance district, as defined in section 10-262u,] a 1771
priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p for the purpose of 1772
extending offers of employment to students who are enrolled in a 1773
teacher preparation program offered by a public or private institution 1774
of higher education, are graduating seniors and are academically in the 1775
top ten per cent of their graduating class. 1776
Sec. 46. Section 10-265p of the general statutes is repealed and the 1777
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1778
The Commissioner of Education shall, within available 1779
appropriations, establish a wraparound services grant program that 1780 Substitute Bill No. 1
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awards grants to [educational reform districts, as defined in section 10-1781
262u,] priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p for social-1782
emotional behavioral supports, family involvement and support, 1783
student engagement, physical health and wellness, and social work and 1784
case management. The local or regional board of education for an 1785
educational reform district may apply to the commissioner for a grant 1786
under this section at such time and in such manner as the commissioner 1787
prescribes. 1788
Sec. 47. Section 10-265q of the general statutes is repealed and the 1789
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1790
The Commissioner of Education shall, within available 1791
appropriations, establish [an educational reform district] a priority 1792
school district science grant program that awards grants to [educational 1793
reform districts, as defined in section 10-262u,] priority school districts 1794
pursuant to section 10-266p for the purpose of improving student 1795
academic performance in science, reading and numeracy in 1796
kindergarten to grade eight, inclusive. The local or regional board of 1797
education for [an educational reform district] a priority school district 1798
may apply to the commissioner for a grant under this section at such 1799
time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes. In awarding 1800
such grants, the commissioner shall give priority to (1) applicant 1801
programs that partner with schools that have a record of low academic 1802
performance in science, and (2) applicant after-school elementary 1803
science programs that have a record of improving student academic 1804
performance in science. 1805
Sec. 48. Subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 10-505 of the 1806
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1807
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1808
(3) "Eligible children" means children (A) from birth to four years of 1809
age, inclusive, and children five years of age who are not eligible to 1810
enroll in school pursuant to section 10-15c, or who are eligible to enroll 1811
in school and will attend a school readiness program pursuant to section 1812 Substitute Bill No. 1
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10-16t, and (B) who reside (i) in an area served by a priority school or a 1813
former priority school, as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) 1814
of section 10-16p, (ii) in a town ranked one to fifty when all towns are 1815
ranked in ascending order according to town wealth, as defined in 1816
subdivision (26) of section 10-262f, whose school district is not a priority 1817
school district pursuant to section 10-266p, (iii) in a town formerly a 1818
town described in clause (ii) of this subparagraph, as provided for in 1819
subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of section 10-16p, or (iv) in a town 1820
[designated as an alliance district, as defined in section 10-262u,] whose 1821
school district is [not] a priority school district pursuant to section 10-1822
266p; 1823
Sec. 49. Subsection (b) of section 10a-11k of the general statutes is 1824
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1825
2025): 1826
(b) The Office of Higher Education shall award grants under the 1827
PATH program on a competitive basis to any nonprofit community-1828
based organization that (1) provided the types of assistance specified in 1829
subsection (a) of this section during the academic year prior to the year 1830
in which the grant will be awarded, and (2) will provide, cooperatively 1831
with the school administrators of a public high school in the state, such 1832
assistance during the academic year for which the grant will be 1833
awarded. The office shall establish procedures for the submission of 1834
grant applications for said program and shall review such grant 1835
applications on the basis of an evaluation format developed by the 1836
office, that shall include, but need not be limited to, preference for such 1837
nonprofit community-based organizations that provide such assistance 1838
in a [school district designated as an alliance school district, pursuant to 1839
section 10-262u,] priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p for 1840
the academic year in which the grant will be awarded. Grants shall be 1841
awarded in amounts not exceeding twenty thousand dollars and not 1842
less than fifteen thousand dollars and shall be available for the duration 1843
of the academic year for which such grant is awarded. If the office finds 1844
that any such grant is being used for any purpose that is not in 1845
conformity with the purposes of the PATH program, the office may 1846 Substitute Bill No. 1
LCO 58 of 64
require repayment of the grant to the state. 1847
Sec. 50. Section 10a-247 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1848
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1849
(a) The Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority 1850
shall establish, subject to available funding pursuant to section 10a-247a, 1851
an [Alliance District] Educator and Counselor Loan Subsidy Program 1852
for the purpose of subsidizing interest rates on authority loans, as 1853
defined in section 10a-223, to teachers, paraeducators and school 1854
counselors who are employed [in a district designated as an alliance 1855
district pursuant to section 10-262u] by a local or regional board of 1856
education and who meet the eligibility criteria as established by the 1857
authority and the Commissioner of Education. 1858
(b) The authority shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with 1859
the Commissioner of Education to establish the eligibility criteria and 1860
administrative guidelines for the [Alliance District] Educator and 1861
Counselor Loan Subsidy Program. Such eligibility criteria and 1862
guidelines shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) applicant 1863
eligibility, (2) interest rate subsidies and principal limits on authority 1864
loans subject to the [Alliance District] Educator and Counselor Loan 1865
Subsidy Program, (3) the process for verifying the employment of 1866
applicants, and (4) the requirement that an interest rate subsidy through 1867
the [Alliance District] Educator and Counselor Loan Subsidy Program 1868
shall terminate for any subsidy recipient who ceases to meet the 1869
employment requirements of such program during the term of such 1870
recipient's loan from the authority. 1871
Sec. 51.Section 10a-247a of the general statutes is repealed and the 1872
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1873
The Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority 1874
shall maintain a separate, nonlapsing account to hold funds for the 1875
[Alliance District] Educator and Counselor Loan Subsidy Program 1876
established pursuant to section 10a-247, as amended by this act. The 1877
account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the 1878 Substitute Bill No. 1
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account, including, but not limited to, any state appropriation or the 1879
proceeds from the sale of bonds issued for the purpose of section 10a-1880
247, as amended by this act. Moneys in the account shall be used (1) for 1881
the purposes of the [Alliance District] Educator and Counselor Loan 1882
Subsidy Program and for reasonable and necessary expenses for the 1883
administration of such program, (2) for the issuance of authority loans 1884
to refinance one or more eligible loans, and (3) to maintain a reserve held 1885
by the authority to cover any losses incurred by the authority from the 1886
issuance of such authority loans. For the purposes of this section, 1887
"authority loans" and "eligible loans" have the same [meaning] 1888
meanings as provided in section 10a-223. 1889
Sec. 52. Subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of section 12-18b of the 1890
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1891
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1892
(3) Each municipality [designated as an alliance district pursuant to 1893
section 10-262u] whose school district is a priority school district 1894
pursuant to section 10-266p or in which more than fifty per cent of the 1895
property is state-owned real property shall be classified as a tier one 1896
municipality. 1897
Sec. 53. Section 12-635 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1898
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1899
The Commissioner of Revenue Services shall grant a credit against 1900
any tax due under the provisions of chapter 207, 208, 209, 210, 211 or 1901
212: (1) In an amount not to exceed one hundred per cent of the total 1902
cash amount invested during the taxable year by the business firm in 1903
programs operated or created pursuant to proposals approved pursuant 1904
to section 12-632 for energy conservation projects directed toward 1905
properties occupied by persons, at least seventy-five per cent of whom 1906
are at an income level not exceeding one hundred fifty per cent of the 1907
poverty level for the year next preceding the year during which such tax 1908
credit is to be granted; (2) in an amount equal to one hundred per cent 1909
of the total cash amount invested during the taxable year by the business 1910 Substitute Bill No. 1
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firm in programs operated or created pursuant to proposals approved 1911
pursuant to section 12-632 for energy conservation projects at properties 1912
owned or occupied by charitable corporations, foundations, trusts or 1913
other entities as determined under regulations adopted pursuant to this 1914
chapter; (3) in an amount equal to one hundred per cent of the total cash 1915
amount invested during the taxable year by the business firm in a 1916
comprehensive college access loan forgiveness program located in [an 1917
"educational reform district" as defined in section 10-262u] a priority 1918
school district pursuant to section 10-266p, that has established 1919
minimum eligibility criteria including, but not limited to, years of 1920
enrollment in the educational reform district, grade point average, 1921
attendance record and loan forgiveness prerequisite; or (4) in an amount 1922
not to exceed sixty per cent of the total cash amount invested during the 1923
taxable year by the business firm (A) in employment and training 1924
programs directed at youths, at least seventy-five per cent of whom are 1925
at an income level not exceeding one hundred fifty per cent of the 1926
poverty level for the year next preceding the year during which such tax 1927
credit is to be granted; (B) in employment and training programs 1928
directed at persons with physical disabilities; (C) in employment and 1929
training programs for unemployed workers who are fifty years of age 1930
or older; (D) in education and employment training programs for 1931
recipients in the temporary family assistance program; or (E) in child 1932
care services. Any other program which serves persons at least seventy-1933
five per cent of whom are at an income level not exceeding one hundred 1934
fifty per cent of the poverty level for the year next preceding the year 1935
during which such tax credit is to be granted and which meets the 1936
standards for eligibility under this chapter shall be eligible for a tax 1937
credit under this section in an amount equal to sixty per cent of the total 1938
cash invested by the business firm in such program. 1939
Sec. 54. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 32-285a of the 1940
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1941
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1942
(4) "Municipality" means a municipality designated as a public 1943
investment community pursuant to section 7-545 or [as an alliance 1944 Substitute Bill No. 1
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district pursuant to section 10-262u] whose school district is a priority 1945
school district pursuant to section 10-266p. 1946
Sec. 55. Section 45a-8c of the general statutes is repealed and the 1947
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1948
(a) The Probate Court Administrator may, within available 1949
appropriations, establish a truancy clinic within (1) any Regional 1950
Children's Probate Court, [that serves a town designated as an alliance 1951
district pursuant to section 10-262u,] or (2) any Probate Court that serves 1952
a town [designated as an alliance district] that is not served by a 1953
Regional Children's Probate Court. The administrative judge of the 1954
Regional Children's Probate Court or the probate judge, as the case may 1955
be, or the designee of such administrative judge or such probate judge, 1956
shall administer the truancy clinic for such administrative judge's or 1957
such probate judge's respective court. 1958
(b) If the Probate Court Administrator establishes truancy clinics 1959
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the principal of any 1960
elementary or middle school, [located in a town designated as an 1961
alliance district,] or the principal's designee, may refer to a truancy clinic 1962
a parent or guardian with a child enrolled in such school who is a truant, 1963
as defined in section 10-198a, or at risk of becoming a truant. Upon 1964
receiving such referral, the truancy clinic shall prepare a citation and 1965
summons for the parent or guardian of the child to appear at the clinic. 1966
An attendance officer authorized pursuant to section 10-199, or a police 1967
officer authorized pursuant to section 10-200, shall deliver the citation 1968
and summons and a copy of the referral to the parent or guardian. 1969
(c) The administrative judge of the Regional Children's Probate Court 1970
[that serves a town designated as an alliance district] or the probate 1971
judge [that serves a town designated as an alliance district, as the case 1972
may be,] may refer any matter referred to a truancy clinic to a probate 1973
magistrate or attorney probate referee assigned by the Probate Court 1974
Administrator pursuant to section 45a-123a to hear the matter. 1975
(d) The truancy clinics shall operate for the purpose of identifying 1976 Substitute Bill No. 1
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and resolving the cause of a child's truancy using nonpunitive 1977
procedures. After the initial appearance made pursuant to the summons 1978
described in subsection (b) of this section, the participation of a parent 1979
or guardian in the truancy clinic shall be voluntary. The truancy clinics 1980
shall establish protocols for clinic participation and shall establish 1981
programs and relationships with schools, individuals, public and 1982
private agencies, and other organizations to provide services and 1983
support for parents, guardians and children participating in the clinics. 1984
(e) The Probate Court Administrator shall establish policies and 1985
procedures to implement the truancy clinics and measure the 1986
effectiveness of the truancy clinics. 1987
(f) Not later than September 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, each 1988
administrative judge of a Regional Children's Probate Court [that serves 1989
a town designated as an alliance district in which a truancy clinic has 1990
been established] and each probate judge [that serves a town designated 1991
as an alliance district in which a truancy clinic has been established] 1992
shall file a report with the Probate Court Administrator assessing the 1993
effectiveness of each truancy clinic in such administrative judge's or 1994
such probate judge's respective court. 1995
(g) Not later than January 1, 2016, the Probate Court Administrator 1996
shall submit, in accordance with section 11-4a, a report assessing the 1997
effectiveness of the truancy clinics to the joint standing committees of 1998
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the 1999
judiciary and education. 2000
Sec. 56. Sections 10-21r, 10-153s, 10-153t, 10-156gg, 10-183v, 10-223f, 2001
10-223h, 10-223i, 10-262u, 10-262v, 10-262w and 10-265r of the general 2002
statutes are repealed. (Effective July 1, 2025) 2003
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage New section
Sec. 2 from passage New section Substitute Bill No. 1
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Sec. 3 from passage New section
Sec. 4 from passage New section
Sec. 5 from passage New section
Sec. 6 from passage New section
Sec. 7 from passage New section
Sec. 8 from passage New section
Sec. 9 from passage New section
Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 3-13c
Sec. 11 July 1, 2025 10-505b
Sec. 12 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 13 July 1, 2025 10-4(c)
Sec. 14 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 15 from passage New section
Sec. 16 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 17 July 1, 2025 10-227
Sec. 18 July 1, 2025 10-198d
Sec. 19 July 1, 2025 10-222
Sec. 20 July 1, 2025 10-248a
Sec. 21 July 1, 2025 10-51(d)(2)
Sec. 22 July 1, 2025 10-222o
Sec. 23 July 1, 2025 10-233d(a)
Sec. 24 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 25 July 1, 2025 10-283(b)
Sec. 26 July 1, 2025 10-66bb(c)
Sec. 27 July 1, 2025 10-74i(c)
Sec. 28 July 1, 2025 4a-60g(a)(14)
Sec. 29 July 1, 2025 8-240a(a) to (c)
Sec. 30 July 1, 2025 8-265pp
Sec. 31 July 1, 2025 10-4q
Sec. 32 July 1, 2025 10-14u
Sec. 33 July 1, 2025 10-14y
Sec. 34 July 1, 2025 10-16z(a) and (b)
Sec. 35 July 1, 2025 10-95i(c)
Sec. 36 July 1, 2025 10-156ii(a) and (b)
Sec. 37 July 1, 2025 10-215l(d)
Sec. 38 July 1, 2025 10-215m(g)
Sec. 39 July 1, 2025 10-236b(j)
Sec. 40 July 1, 2025 10-262f(2)
Sec. 41 July 1, 2025 10-262h
Sec. 42 July 1, 2025 10-262i(c) Substitute Bill No. 1
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Sec. 43 July 1, 2025 10-262j(c)
Sec. 44 July 1, 2025 10-265h
Sec. 45 July 1, 2025 10-265o
Sec. 46 July 1, 2025 10-265p
Sec. 47 July 1, 2025 10-265q
Sec. 48 July 1, 2025 10-505(a)(3)
Sec. 49 July 1, 2025 10a-11k(b)
Sec. 50 July 1, 2025 10a-247
Sec. 51 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 52 July 1, 2025 12-18b(d)(3)
Sec. 53 July 1, 2025 12-635
Sec. 54 July 1, 2025 32-285a(a)(4)
Sec. 55 July 1, 2025 45a-8c
Sec. 56 July 1, 2025 Repealer section
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Sections 1, 2 and 4 to 9, inclusive, the effective date was changed from
"July 1, 2025" to "from passage" for accuracy; in Section 6(e), ", or the
Treasurer's designee," was added and "biannually" was changed to
"semiannually" for consistency and proper form; in Section 7(b)(2),
"described in section 5 of this act" was deleted for proper form; in
Section 14, "September thirtieth" was changed to "September thirtieth
annually" and "shall annually provide" was changed to "shall provide"
for clarity; in Section 17(b), "may take" was changed to "may order for"
for clarity; in Section 17(c), "its" was changed to "the department's" for
clarity; in Section 18(b), "biannually" was changed to "semiannually" for
consistency and proper form; in Section 24, "student success pilot
program" was changed to "student success coach pilot program" for
consistency; and in Section 39, subparagraph designators were changed
to subdivision designators for proper form and "for the purposes of the
pilot program established pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection"
was bracketed for obsolescence.
ED Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO