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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1288
January Session, 2025
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 10-264l of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2
2025): 3
(b) (1) Applications for interdistrict magnet school program 4
operating grants awarded pursuant to this section shall be submitted 5
annually to the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such 6
manner as the commissioner prescribes, except that on and after July 1, 7
2009, applications for such operating grants for new interdistrict magnet 8
schools, other than those that the commissioner determines will assist 9
the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. 10
O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, 11
as determined by the commissioner, shall not be accepted until the 12
commissioner develops a comprehensive state-wide interdistrict 13
magnet school plan. The commissioner shall submit such 14
comprehensive state-wide interdistrict magnet school plan on or before 15
October 1, 2016, to the joint standing committees of the General 16
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and 17
appropriations. 18 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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(2) In determining whether an application shall be approved and 19
funds awarded pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall 20
consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to: (A) Whether the 21
program offered by the school is likely to increase student achievement; 22
(B) whether the program is likely to reduce racial, ethnic and economic 23
isolation; (C) the percentage of the student enrollment in the program 24
from each participating district; and (D) the proposed operating budget 25
and the sources of funding for the interdistrict magnet school. For a 26
magnet school not operated by a local or regional board of education, 27
the commissioner shall only approve a proposed operating budget that, 28
on a per pupil basis, does not exceed the maximum allowable threshold 29
established in accordance with this subdivision. The maximum 30
allowable threshold shall be an amount equal to one hundred twenty 31
per cent of the state average of the quotient obtained by dividing net 32
current expenditures, as defined in section 10-261, by average daily 33
membership, as defined in said section, for the fiscal year two years 34
prior to the fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. The 35
Department of Education shall establish the maximum allowable 36
threshold no later than December fifteenth of the fiscal year prior to the 37
fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. If requested by an 38
applicant that is not a local or regional board of education, the 39
commissioner may approve a proposed operating budget that exceeds 40
the maximum allowable threshold if the commissioner determines that 41
there are extraordinary programmatic needs. For the fiscal years ending 42
June 30, 2017, [to June 30, 2025, inclusive] and each fiscal year thereafter, 43
in the case of an interdistrict magnet school that will assist the state in 44
meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 45
Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as 46
determined by the commissioner, the commissioner shall also consider 47
whether the school is meeting the enrollment standards for interdistrict 48
magnet school programs, developed by the commissioner pursuant to 49
section 10-264r. If such school has not met such enrollment standards, it 50
shall not be entitled to receive a grant pursuant to this section unless the 51
commissioner finds that it is appropriate to award a grant for an 52
additional year or years and approves a plan to bring such school into 53 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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compliance with such enrollment standards. If requested by the 54
commissioner, the applicant shall meet with the commissioner or the 55
commissioner's designee to discuss the budget and sources of funding. 56
(3) For the fiscal [years] year ending June 30, 2018, [to June 30, 2025, 57
inclusive] and each fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner shall not 58
award a grant to an interdistrict magnet school program that (A) has 59
more than seventy-five per cent of the total school enrollment from one 60
school district, or (B) does not maintain a total school enrollment that is 61
in accordance with the enrollment standards for interdistrict magnet 62
school programs, developed by the Commissioner of Education 63
pursuant to section 10-264r, except the commissioner may award a grant 64
to such school for an additional year or years if the commissioner finds 65
it is appropriate to do so and approves a plan to bring such school into 66
compliance with such residency or enrollment standards. 67
(4) For the fiscal [years] year ending June 30, 2018, [to June 30, 2025, 68
inclusive] and each fiscal year thereafter, if an interdistrict magnet 69
school program does not maintain a total school enrollment that is in 70
accordance with the enrollment standards for interdistrict magnet 71
school programs, developed by the commissioner pursuant to section 72
10-264r, for two or more consecutive years, the commissioner may 73
impose a financial penalty on the operator of such interdistrict magnet 74
school program, or take any other measure, in consultation with such 75
operator, as may be appropriate to assist such operator in complying 76
with such enrollment standards. 77
(5) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 78
thereafter, for the purposes of equalization aid under section 10-262h, a 79
student enrolled in an interdistrict magnet school program shall be 80
counted as a resident student, as defined in section 10-262f, of the town 81
in which such student resides. 82
Sec. 2. Subsection (i) of section 10-266aa of the general statutes is 83
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 84
2025): 85 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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(i) (1) In the case of an out-of-district student who requires special 86
education and related services, the sending district shall: (A) Hold the 87
planning and placement team meeting for such student and shall invite 88
representatives from the receiving district to participate in such 89
meeting, and (B) pay the receiving district an amount equal to the 90
difference between the reasonable cost of providing such special 91
education and related services to such student and the amount received 92
by the receiving district pursuant to subsection (g) of this section and in 93
the case of students participating pursuant to subsection (d) of this 94
section, the per pupil amount received pursuant to section 10-74d. The 95
sending district shall be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 96
10-76g. The receiving district shall ensure that out-of-district students 97
who require special education services receive the services mandated by 98
the student's individualized education program whether such services 99
are provided by the sending district or the receiving district. 100
(2) In the case of a student with a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the 101
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, the receiving 102
district shall ensure that such student receives the services mandated by 103
the student's plan and for the costs of providing such services to such 104
student. 105
Sec. 3. Subsection (f) of section 13 of public act 23-205 is repealed and 106
the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 107
(f) For the Department of Education: 108
(1) Grants-in-aid to local and regional boards of education to assist 109
targeted local and regional school districts for alterations, repairs, 110
improvements, technology and equipment in low-performing schools, 111
not exceeding $5,000,000; 112
(2) Grants-in-aid to regional educational service centers and 113
Goodwin University Education Services for capital expenses at 114
interdistrict magnet schools, not exceeding $8,500,000. 115
Sec. 4. Subsection (e) of section 32 of public act 23-205 is repealed and 116 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 117
(e) For the Department of Education: 118
(1) Grants-in-aid to local and regional boards of education to assist 119
targeted local and regional school districts for alterations, repairs, 120
improvements, technology and equipment in low-performing schools, 121
not exceeding $5,000,000; 122
(2) Grants-in-aid to regional educational service centers and 123
Goodwin University Education Services for capital expenses at 124
interdistrict magnet schools, not exceeding $12,500,000. 125
Sec. 5. Section 10-264i of the general statutes is repealed and the 126
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 127
(a) (1) The following entities shall be eligible, pursuant to section 10-128
264e, to receive a transportation grant for the cost of transporting a child 129
to an interdistrict magnet school program, as defined in section 10-264l, 130
as amended by this act, located in a town other than the town in which 131
such child resides: (A) A local or regional board of education, (B) a 132
regional educational service center, (C) the Board of Trustees of the 133
Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of Quinebaug Valley 134
Community College and Three Rivers Community College, (D) a 135
cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a, [or] and (E) to 136
assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in 137
Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order 138
in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, (i) the Board 139
of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional 140
community-technical college, (ii) the Board of Trustees of the 141
Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (iii) 142
the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the 143
university, (iv) the board of governors for an independent institution of 144
higher education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the 145
equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent institution of 146
higher education, and (v) any other third-party not-for-profit 147
corporation approved by the commissioner. [which transports a child to 148 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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an interdistrict magnet school program, as defined in section 10-264l, in 149
a town other than the town in which the child resides shall be eligible 150
pursuant to section 10-264e to receive a grant for the cost of transporting 151
such child in accordance with this section.] 152
(2) Except as provided in [subdivisions] subdivision (3) [and (4)] of 153
this subsection, the amount of such transportation grant shall not exceed 154
an amount equal to the number of such children transported multiplied 155
by one thousand three hundred dollars. 156
(3) For [districts] any eligible entity identified in subdivision (1) of 157
this subsection assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to 158
the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related 159
stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the commissioner, (A) 160
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, the amount of such 161
transportation grant shall not exceed an amount equal to the number of 162
such children transported multiplied by one thousand four hundred 163
dollars, [and] (B) for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2011, [and 164
each fiscal year thereafter] to June 30, 2024, inclusive, the amount of such 165
transportation grant shall not exceed an amount equal to the number of 166
such children transported multiplied by two thousand dollars, and (C) 167
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, 168
the amount of such transportation grant shall equal the actual cost of 169
reasonable transportation services, subject to a comprehensive financial 170
review pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection. 171
(4) [In addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this 172
section, the Commissioner of Education may provide supplemental 173
transportation grants to regional educational service centers for the 174
purposes of transportation to interdistrict magnet schools. Any such 175
grant shall be provided within available appropriations and after the 176
commissioner has reviewed and approved the total interdistrict magnet 177
school transportation budget for a regional educational service center, 178
including all revenue and expenditure estimates. For the fiscal years 179
ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2018, inclusive, in addition to the grants 180
otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of 181 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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Education may provide supplemental transportation to interdistrict 182
magnet schools that assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant 183
to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related 184
stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the commissioner.] Any 185
[such] transportation grant pursuant to subdivision (3) of this 186
subsection shall be provided within available appropriations and upon 187
a comprehensive financial review, by an auditor selected by the 188
Commissioner of Education, the costs of such review may be paid from 189
funds that are part of the [supplemental] transportation grant. [Any 190
such grant shall be paid as follows: For the fiscal year ending June 30, 191
2021, up to seventy per cent of the grant on or before June thirtieth of 192
the fiscal year, and the balance on or before September first of the 193
following fiscal year upon completion of the comprehensive financial 194
review, provided any unpaid balance of eligible transportation costs 195
incurred on or before December thirty-first of the fiscal year based on 196
documentation, including, but not limited to, vendor bills dated on or 197
before February first of the fiscal year, and any unpaid balance of 198
eligible transportation costs incurred on or before March thirty-first of 199
the fiscal year based on documentation, including, but not limited to, 200
vendor bills on or before May first of the fiscal year, and the balance of 201
the grant on or before September first of the following fiscal year upon 202
completion of the comprehensive financial review. For the fiscal year 203
ending June 30, 2022, up to one hundred per cent of the grant on or 204
before June thirtieth of the fiscal year and any remaining balance on or 205
before September first of the following fiscal year upon completion of 206
the comprehensive financial review. If, upon completion of the 207
comprehensive financial review, the commissioner determines that 208
there was an overpayment of the grant in the prior fiscal year, such 209
funds shall be refunded to the department.] For the fiscal year ending 210
June 30, [2023] 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, [up] such 211
transportation grant shall be paid as follows: Up to ninety-five per cent 212
of the grant on or before June thirtieth of the fiscal year based on 213
documentation provided prior to May thirty-first of the fiscal year, with 214
an amount equal to one-half of the total estimated transportation cost 215
on or before October thirty-first of the fiscal year, and the remaining 216 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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total balance on or before [September] November first of the following 217
fiscal year upon completion of the comprehensive financial review. If, 218
upon completion of the comprehensive financial review, the 219
commissioner determines there was an overpayment of the grant in the 220
prior fiscal year, such funds shall be refunded to the department. 221
(5) [The Department of Education shall provide such grants within 222
available appropriations.] Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 223
to prevent a local or regional board of education, regional educational 224
service center or cooperative arrangement from receiving 225
reimbursement under section 10-266m for reasonable transportation 226
expenses for which such board, service center or cooperative 227
arrangement is not reimbursed pursuant to this section. 228
(b) Grants under this section shall be contingent on documented costs 229
of providing such transportation. [Eligible entities] Each eligible entity 230
identified in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section shall submit 231
[applications for grants under] an application to receive a transportation 232
grant pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section to the 233
Commissioner of Education in such form and at such times as [he] the 234
commissioner prescribes. Grants pursuant to subdivision (2) of 235
subsection (a) of this section shall be paid as follows: [In October one-236
half] One-half of the estimated eligible transportation costs on or before 237
October thirty-first and the balance of such costs [in] on or before May 238
thirty-first. 239
(c) Each [eligible] entity [identified in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) 240
of this section] participating in the transportation grant program shall 241
prepare a financial statement of expenditures which shall be submitted 242
to the Department of Education on or before September first of the fiscal 243
year immediately following each fiscal year in which the [school district, 244
regional educational service center or cooperative arrangement] entity 245
participates in the transportation grant program. Based on such 246
statement, any underpayment or overpayment may be calculated and 247
adjusted by the Department of Education in the transportation grant for 248
any subsequent year. 249 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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Sec. 6. Section 10-145r of the general statutes is repealed and the 250
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 251
[For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and biennially 252
thereafter, the local or regional board of education that employs a 253
certified individual who holds an initial, provisional or professional 254
educator certificate with an early childhood nursery through grade 255
three or an elementary endorsement in a position requiring such an 256
endorsement in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, shall require 257
each such certified individual to take a survey on reading instruction, 258
developed by the Department of Education that is based on the reading 259
instruction examination approved by the State Board of Education on 260
April 1, 2009, or a comparable reading instruction examination with 261
minimum standards that are equivalent to the examination approved by 262
the State Board of Education on April 1, 2009. The department shall 263
design such survey in a manner that identifies the strengths and 264
weaknesses of such certified individuals in reading instruction practices 265
and knowledge on an individual, school and district level. Such survey 266
shall be administered at no financial cost to such certified individual. 267
The results of such survey shall be confidential and shall not be included 268
as part of any summative ratings for performance evaluations, 269
conducted pursuant to section 10-151b, and not be subject to disclosure 270
under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, 271
except such results shall be (1) distributed to such certified individual 272
and the supervisor of such certified individual who is responsible for 273
designing and facilitating the program of professional development 274
conducted pursuant to section 10-148b for such certified individual, and 275
(2) used for the purpose of improving reading instruction by developing 276
student learning objectives and teacher practice goals that will be 277
included in the professional development conducted pursuant to 278
section 10-148b for such certified individuals.] The results from any 279
survey on reading instruction developed by the Department of 280
Education and administered from the school year commencing July 1, 281
2014, to the school year commencing July 1, 2024, inclusive, shall be 282
confidential and not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of 283 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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Information Act, as defined in section 1-200. 284
Sec. 7. Section 10-145o of the general statutes, as amended by section 285
58 of public act 23-167, is repealed and the following is substituted in 286
lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 287
(a) The Department of Education, with cooperation from local and 288
regional school districts, regional educational service centers, 289
representatives of the exclusive bargaining representative for certified 290
employees chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, and public institutions 291
of higher education, shall establish and administer a teacher education 292
and mentoring program that includes guided teacher support and 293
coaching and the completion of instructional modules, pursuant to 294
subsection (e) of this section, for beginning teachers. The program shall 295
be aligned with the principles of teaching approved by the State Board 296
of Education. As part of the program, each beginning teacher shall 297
develop a two-year individualized mentoring plan. 298
(b) In administering the teacher education and mentoring program 299
under this section: 300
(1) The Department of Education shall (A) develop a statement for 301
the teacher education and mentoring program that includes the state's 302
goals for state-wide teacher induction, mentoring, professional 303
development and evaluation, using state-wide data and national 304
research findings; (B) distribute state funding to local and regional 305
school districts to assist with implementation of district teacher 306
education and mentoring plans; (C) manage and make accessible to local 307
and regional school districts the data systems needed to document that 308
teachers and mentors have satisfactorily completed the instructional 309
modules; (D) monitor district implementation of the teacher education 310
and mentoring program to ensure fidelity to the program's plan and 311
goals, including random district audits and observations by state 312
personnel; (E) issue [provisional] professional educator certificates to 313
teachers [that] who have satisfactorily completed the induction program 314
and the other requirements set forth in subdivision (3) of subsection (g) 315 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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of section 10-145b; (F) develop guidelines for the creation and approval 316
of district teacher education and mentoring plans, based on input and 317
recommendations from stakeholder groups; and (G) oversee an outside 318
evaluation of the teacher education and mentoring program every three 319
to five years; 320
(2) The Department of Education, in collaboration with EASTCONN, 321
the RESC Alliance, institutions of higher education and other 322
stakeholders, shall (A) develop instructional modules for beginning 323
teachers to complete; (B) train mentors to carry out responsibilities at 324
the district level; (C) provide professional development and training for 325
regional mentors working at the district level; (D) provide professional 326
development and training for district teams and principals in managing, 327
designing and administering teacher education and mentoring plans; 328
and (E) provide technical assistance to districts based on district size and 329
needs; 330
(3) The Department of Education and public institutions of higher 331
education shall (A) work with regional educational service centers to 332
align modules with National Council for Accreditation of Teacher 333
Education approved preservice teacher preparation programs; (B) 334
develop and deliver regional strategies for supporting mentor 335
assistance programs; and (C) train cooperating teachers to work with 336
teacher preparation candidates during student teaching and 337
internships; 338
(4) Local and regional boards of education shall (A) develop a three-339
year teacher education and mentoring plan in accordance with 340
subsection (c) of this section; (B) form a local or regional coordinating 341
committee or committees, with representatives of the exclusive 342
bargaining representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to 343
section 10-153b, based on district size, to guide the activities outlined in 344
the three-year teacher education and mentoring plan; (C) develop an 345
annual budget to support the activities detailed in the three-year teacher 346
education and mentoring plan and submit such budget annually to the 347
Department of Education to receive state assistance for such activities; 348 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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(D) recruit and pair mentors from within and outside of the district to 349
work with beginning teachers; (E) ensure substitute teacher coverage for 350
mentors and beginning teachers to participate in the activities and 351
modules required in the three-year teacher education and mentoring 352
plan; (F) communicate regularly with beginning teachers about training 353
opportunities, state-wide workshops and support group work; (G) 354
coordinate the teacher education and mentoring program and teacher 355
evaluation and supervision program, provided they are kept separate; 356
(H) verify, through the local or regional coordinating committee, that 357
the work of beginning teachers and instructional modules has been 358
successfully completed; [to warrant provisional certification;] (I) when 359
a beginning teacher has satisfactorily completed all modules, attest to 360
that fact and that the teacher is eligible for [provisional] professional 361
certification upon completion of the other requirements set forth in 362
subdivision (3) of subsection (g) of section 10-145b; and (J) ensure that 363
schools under the board's jurisdiction (i) administer the state's on-line 364
needs assessment to establish the goals and priorities of each beginning 365
teacher as such teacher develops an individualized mentoring plan, (ii) 366
review and approve beginning teachers' individualized, two-year 367
mentoring plan, (iii) organize mentoring opportunities by grade, 368
department or specialty area, (iv) take steps to make time available, as 369
needed, to help teachers achieve the goals of their mentoring plans, (v) 370
coordinate the activities and schedules of mentors and beginning 371
teachers to ensure faithful implementation of the district plan, and (vi) 372
submit annual report on mentor-teacher activities to the district 373
coordinating committee for review and approval. 374
(c) Local and regional school districts shall develop a three-year 375
teacher education and mentoring plan that incorporates the Department 376
of Education's goals and instructional priorities, as well as any local 377
considerations based on community and student needs. Such plan shall 378
include: (1) Background information about the district that includes a 379
community profile, district profile, student profile, faculty profile, 380
mentor profile and beginning teacher profile; (2) a statement of three-381
year objectives related to the state's goal statement for the teacher 382 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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education and mentoring program; (3) a general timeline for district 383
coordinating teams to meet with central office personnel, principals, 384
mentors or district facilitators; (4) a description of the process used to 385
select mentors and assign them to beginning teachers, based on subject 386
areas, levels and need; (5) a description of the process used to train and 387
update mentors in best practices and essential knowledge; (6) a timeline 388
of district-wide mentoring days for observations, individual discussion, 389
small group meetings, professional development days, regional 390
educational service center training sessions and beginning teachers' 391
completion of tasks associated with each module; (7) a description of the 392
process used to collect, review and coordinate teachers' mentoring 393
plans; (8) a description of the process to resolve internal disputes over 394
the district's recommendations to the state concerning which 395
individuals have satisfactorily completed the instructional modules; 396
and (9) a description of the resources and budget needed to carry out 397
the activities described in the plan. 398
(d) Local and regional boards of education shall not consider a 399
teacher's completion of the teacher education and mentoring program 400
as a factor in its decision to continue a teacher's employment in the 401
district. 402
(e) (1) Beginning teachers shall satisfactorily complete instructional 403
modules in the following areas: (A) Classroom management and 404
climate, which shall include training regarding the prevention, 405
identification and response to bullying, as defined in section 10-222aa, 406
and the prevention of and response to youth suicide; (B) lesson planning 407
and unit design; (C) delivering instruction; (D) assessing student 408
learning; and (E) professional practice. Beginning teachers shall 409
complete two modules in their first year in the program and three 410
modules in their second year in the program, except as otherwise 411
provided by the Commissioner of Education, or as provided for in 412
subsection (h) of this section. 413
(2) Beginning teachers shall work with their mentors in developing a 414
planned set of activities, based on the topics offered within each 415 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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instructional module, to complete each such instructional module, and 416
such activities shall be reflected in the beginning teacher needs 417
assessment. Such activities may be presented in person by mentors, 418
offered in workshops, through on-line courses or through the 419
completion of a set of readings. For each instructional module, 420
beginning teachers shall (A) apply the knowledge gained through such 421
activities in a lesson, project or demonstration of how the activity 422
impacted student learning, and (B) submit a reflection paper or project, 423
to be signed by the mentor, that summarizes, describes or analyzes what 424
has been learned by the beginning teacher and their students 425
throughout the module and how the learning contributed to the 426
development of such beginning teacher. Such reflection paper or project 427
shall be forwarded to the district's coordinating committee for approval. 428
(3) Upon successful completion of the instructional modules and final 429
review by the coordinating committee, the superintendent of the school 430
district shall submit to the State Board of Education the names of the 431
beginning teachers eligible for receipt of a [provisional] professional 432
educator certificate [to the State Board of Education] upon completion 433
of the other requirements set forth in subdivision (3) of subsection (g) of 434
section 10-145b. 435
(f) Local and regional boards of education, in cooperation with the 436
Department of Education, institutions of higher education and regional 437
educational service centers, shall recruit mentors for their teacher 438
education and mentoring program. Those persons eligible to serve as 439
mentors for such programs shall hold a [provisional educator certificate 440
or a] professional educator certificate [,] or a distinguished educator 441
designation pursuant to section 10-145s, and have at least three years 442
teaching experience in Connecticut, including at least one year of 443
experience in the district in which they are presently employed. Retired 444
certified teachers may also serve as mentors, provided they successfully 445
complete a mentor training program offered by a regional educational 446
service center. Each mentor shall be assigned two beginning teachers, 447
except that in certain circumstances, a mentor may be assigned three 448
beginning teachers. Such assignment shall be reflected in each district's 449 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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three-year plan. Each mentor shall provide fifty contact hours to each 450
beginning teacher during the program, with the expectation of 451
approximately ten contact hours per module. Mentors shall receive a 452
minimum of a five-hundred-dollar annual stipend for each beginning 453
teacher assigned to such mentor from the local or regional board of 454
education for participation in the teacher education and mentoring 455
program. Such stipend shall be included in a person's total earnings for 456
purposes of retirement. 457
(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (h) of this section, 458
for the school year commencing July 1, 2010, beginning teachers who 459
hold an initial educator certificate and have not participated in any 460
beginning educator program as of July 1, 2009, shall participate in the 461
teacher education and mentoring programs as follows: 462
(1) Beginning teachers in the following subject areas and 463
endorsement areas shall be required to successfully complete the 464
teacher education and mentoring program in full: Elementary 465
education, English and language arts, mathematics, science, social 466
studies, special education, bilingual education, music, physical 467
education, visual arts, world languages and teachers of English as a 468
second language. 469
(2) Beginning teachers in any other endorsement area and whose 470
primary function is providing direct instruction to students shall be 471
required to successfully complete one year of mentorship and two 472
instructional modules. 473
(h) Teachers who began in a beginning educator program, pursuant 474
to section 10-145b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to 475
January 1, 2009, but have not completed that program as of July 1, 2009, 476
and teach during the 2009-2010 school year, shall be granted a one-year 477
extension of their initial educator certificates, if necessary, and shall 478
participate in the teacher education and mentoring program, pursuant 479
to this section, through the completion of two instructional modules 480
during the 2010-2011 school year. Such teachers shall exit the program 481 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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at the end of the 2010-2011 school year upon the successful completion 482
of the two instructional modules. 483
(i) The Department of Education, in consultation with EASTCONN, 484
shall create a data system for local and regional school districts to access 485
the resources and record-keeping tools to manage the teacher education 486
and mentoring program at the local level. Such data system shall include 487
(1) templates for (A) writing and updating each district's plan, (B) 488
recording each teacher's completion of each of the five instructional 489
modules, and (C) teachers to record the completion of instructional 490
module activities and submit written reflection papers or projects, and 491
(2) links to on-line programs or workshops that are part of the five 492
modules. 493
(j) Not later than July 1, 2010, the State Board of Education shall adopt 494
guidelines to provide for the implementation of the teacher education 495
and mentoring program in accordance with this section and the Report 496
of the Beginning Educator Support and Training Program 497
(BEST)/Mentor Assistance Program (MAP) Task Force dated December 498
29, 2008. 499
Sec. 8. Section 10-91j of the general statutes is repealed and the 500
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 501
(a) Any agreement entered into or amended on or after July 1, 2018, 502
but prior to June 30, 2019, or any contract entered into or amended on 503
or after July 1, 2019, pursuant to section 10-76d, between a local or 504
regional board of education and a private provider of special education 505
services, as defined in section 10-91g, shall include an explanation of 506
how the tuition or costs for services provided under the agreement or 507
contract are to be calculated. Any such agreement or contract may 508
include the following provisions: (1) A requirement that such private 509
provider of special education services submit monthly or quarterly 510
reports to such board regarding the specific services and frequency of 511
such services being provided by such private provider of special 512
education services to students under the agreement or contract, and (2) 513 Substitute Bill No. 1288
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authorization for such board to (A) review and reconcile such reports to 514
the contracted services described in the agreement or contract, or (B) 515
conduct periodic site visits at the location where such private provider 516
of special education services provides services. 517
(b) On and after July 1, 2019, a local or regional board of education 518
shall not be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to subsection (b) of 519
section 10-76g for any costs of special education paid by such board of 520
education to a private provider of special education services unless such 521
board of education has entered into a written contract with such private 522
provider of special education services for the provision of such special 523
education services. The individualized education program of a child 524
shall not be considered a contract between a local or regional board of 525
education and a private provider of special education services for 526
purposes of this section. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 527
to limit or interrupt the provision of special education and related 528
services to a child by a local or regional board of education or private 529
provider of special education services. 530
(c) Any written contract entered into or amended on or after July 1, 531
2025, between a local or regional board of education and a private 532
provider of special education services shall include a provision that 533
requires such private provider of special education services to submit a 534
base tuition and cost for services for each school year in which services 535
are to be provided pursuant to such contract to such local or regional 536
board of education not later than December thirty-first preceding the 537
school year in which services are to be provided. 538
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 10-264l(b)
Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 10-266aa(i)
Sec. 3 from passage PA 23-205, Sec. 13(f)
Sec. 4 from passage PA 23-205, Sec. 32(e)
Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 10-264i
Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 10-145r Substitute Bill No. 1288
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Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 10-145o
Sec. 8 July 1, 2025 10-91j
ED Joint Favorable Subst.