Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01288 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
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2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 18
	3	+	LCO No. 4680 1 of 26
4	4
5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 1288
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1288
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 4680
7	8
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(ED)
8	15
9	16
10	17
11	18
12	19		AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
13	20		DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
14	21		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
15	22		Assembly convened:
16	23
17	24		Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 10-264l of the general statutes is 1
18	25		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2
19	26		2025): 3
20	27		(b) (1) Applications for interdistrict magnet school program 4
21	28		operating grants awarded pursuant to this section shall be submitted 5
22	29		annually to the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such 6
23	30		manner as the commissioner prescribes, except that on and after July 1, 7
24	31		2009, applications for such operating grants for new interdistrict magnet 8
25	32		schools, other than those that the commissioner determines will assist 9
26	33		the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. 10
27	34		O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, 11
28	35		as determined by the commissioner, shall not be accepted until the 12
29	36		commissioner develops a comprehensive state-wide interdistrict 13
30	37		magnet school plan. The commissioner shall submit such 14
31	38		comprehensive state-wide interdistrict magnet school plan on or before 15
	39	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
	40	+
	41	+
	42	+
	43	+	LCO No. 4680 2 of 26
	44	+
32	45		October 1, 2016, to the joint standing committees of the General 16
33	46		Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and 17
34		-	appropriations. 18 Substitute Bill No. 1288
35		-
36		-
37		-	LCO 2 of 18
38		-
	47	+	appropriations. 18
39	48		(2) In determining whether an application shall be approved and 19
40	49		funds awarded pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall 20
41	50		consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to: (A) Whether the 21
42	51		program offered by the school is likely to increase student achievement; 22
43	52		(B) whether the program is likely to reduce racial, ethnic and economic 23
44	53		isolation; (C) the percentage of the student enrollment in the program 24
45	54		from each participating district; and (D) the proposed operating budget 25
46	55		and the sources of funding for the interdistrict magnet school. For a 26
47	56		magnet school not operated by a local or regional board of education, 27
48	57		the commissioner shall only approve a proposed operating budget that, 28
49	58		on a per pupil basis, does not exceed the maximum allowable threshold 29
50	59		established in accordance with this subdivision. The maximum 30
51	60		allowable threshold shall be an amount equal to one hundred twenty 31
52	61		per cent of the state average of the quotient obtained by dividing net 32
53	62		current expenditures, as defined in section 10-261, by average daily 33
54	63		membership, as defined in said section, for the fiscal year two years 34
55	64		prior to the fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. The 35
56	65		Department of Education shall establish the maximum allowable 36
57	66		threshold no later than December fifteenth of the fiscal year prior to the 37
58	67		fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. If requested by an 38
59	68		applicant that is not a local or regional board of education, the 39
60	69		commissioner may approve a proposed operating budget that exceeds 40
61	70		the maximum allowable threshold if the commissioner determines that 41
62	71		there are extraordinary programmatic needs. For the fiscal years ending 42
63	72		June 30, 2017, [to June 30, 2025, inclusive] and each fiscal year thereafter, 43
64	73		in the case of an interdistrict magnet school that will assist the state in 44
65	74		meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 45
66	75		Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as 46
67	76		determined by the commissioner, the commissioner shall also consider 47
68	77		whether the school is meeting the enrollment standards for interdistrict 48
	78	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
	79	+
	80	+
	81	+
	82	+	LCO No. 4680 3 of 26
	83	+
69	84		magnet school programs, developed by the commissioner pursuant to 49
70	85		section 10-264r. If such school has not met such enrollment standards, it 50
71	86		shall not be entitled to receive a grant pursuant to this section unless the 51
72	87		commissioner finds that it is appropriate to award a grant for an 52
73		-	additional year or years and approves a plan to bring such school into 53 Substitute Bill No. 1288
74		-
75		-
76		-	LCO 3 of 18
77		-
	88	+	additional year or years and approves a plan to bring such school into 53
78	89		compliance with such enrollment standards. If requested by the 54
79	90		commissioner, the applicant shall meet with the commissioner or the 55
80	91		commissioner's designee to discuss the budget and sources of funding. 56
81		-	(3) For the fiscal [years~~] year~~ ending June 30, 2018, [to June 30, 2025, 57
	92	+	(3) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, [to June 30, 2025, 57
82	93		inclusive] and each fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner shall not 58
83	94		award a grant to an interdistrict magnet school program that (A) has 59
84	95		more than seventy-five per cent of the total school enrollment from one 60
85	96		school district, or (B) does not maintain a total school enrollment that is 61
86	97		in accordance with the enrollment standards for interdistrict magnet 62
87	98		school programs, developed by the Commissioner of Education 63
88	99		pursuant to section 10-264r, except the commissioner may award a grant 64
89	100		to such school for an additional year or years if the commissioner finds 65
90	101		it is appropriate to do so and approves a plan to bring such school into 66
91	102		compliance with such residency or enrollment standards. 67
92		-	(4) For the fiscal [years~~] year~~ ending June 30, 2018, [to June 30, 2025, 68
	103	+	(4) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, [to June 30, 2025, 68
93	104		inclusive] and each fiscal year thereafter, if an interdistrict magnet 69
94	105		school program does not maintain a total school enrollment that is in 70
95	106		accordance with the enrollment standards for interdistrict magnet 71
96	107		school programs, developed by the commissioner pursuant to section 72
97	108		10-264r, for two or more consecutive years, the commissioner may 73
98	109		impose a financial penalty on the operator of such interdistrict magnet 74
99	110		school program, or take any other measure, in consultation with such 75
100	111		operator, as may be appropriate to assist such operator in complying 76
101	112		with such enrollment standards. 77
102		-	(5) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 78
103		-	thereafter, for the purposes of equalization aid under section 10-262h, a 79
104		-	student enrolled in an interdistrict magnet school program shall be 80
105		-	counted as a resident student, as defined in section 10-262f, of the town 81
106		-	in which such student resides. 82
107		-	Sec. 2. Subsection (i) of section 10-266aa of the general statutes is 83
108		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 84
109		-	2025): 85 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	113	+	[(5) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, for the purposes of 78
	114	+	equalization aid under section 10-262h, a student enrolled in an 79
	115	+	interdistrict magnet school program shall be counted as a resident 80
	116	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
110	117
111	118
112		-	LCO 4 of 18
113	119
114		-	(i) (1) In the case of an out-of-district student who requires special 86
115		-	education and related services, the sending district shall: (A) Hold the 87
116		-	planning and placement team meeting for such student and shall invite 88
117		-	representatives from the receiving district to participate in such 89
118		-	meeting, and (B) pay the receiving district an amount equal to the 90
119		-	difference between the reasonable cost of providing such special 91
120		-	education and related services to such student and the amount received 92
121		-	by the receiving district pursuant to subsection (g) of this section and in 93
122		-	the case of students participating pursuant to subsection (d) of this 94
123		-	section, the per pupil amount received pursuant to section 10-74d. The 95
124		-	sending district shall be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 96
125		-	10-76g. The receiving district shall ensure that out-of-district students 97
126		-	who require special education services receive the services mandated by 98
127		-	the student's individualized education program whether such services 99
128		-	are provided by the sending district or the receiving district. 100
129		-	(2) In the case of a student with a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the 101
130		-	Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, the receiving 102
131		-	district shall ensure that such student receives the services mandated by 103
132		-	the student's plan and for the costs of providing such services to such 104
133		-	student. 105
134		-	Sec. 3. Subsection (f) of section 13 of public act 23-205 is repealed and 106
135		-	the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 107
136		-	(f) For the Department of Education: 108
137		-	(1) Grants-in-aid to local and regional boards of education to assist 109
138		-	targeted local and regional school districts for alterations, repairs, 110
139		-	improvements, technology and equipment in low-performing schools, 111
140		-	not exceeding $5,000,000; 112
141		-	(2) Grants-in-aid to regional educational service centers and 113
142		-	Goodwin University Education Services for capital expenses at 114
143		-	interdistrict magnet schools, not exceeding $8,500,000. 115
144		-	Sec. 4. Subsection (e) of section 32 of public act 23-205 is repealed and 116 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	120	+	LCO No. 4680 4 of 26
	121	+
	122	+	student, as defined in section 10-262f, of the town in which such student 81
	123	+	resides.] 82
	124	+	Sec. 2. Subsection (h) of section 10-264l of the general statutes is 83
	125	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 84
	126	+	2025): 85
	127	+	(h) (1) In the case of a student identified as requiring special 86
	128	+	education, the school district in which the student resides shall: (A) 87
	129	+	Hold the planning and placement team meeting for such student and 88
	130	+	shall invite representatives from the interdistrict magnet school to 89
	131	+	participate in such meeting; and (B) pay the interdistrict magnet school 90
	132	+	an amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of 91
	133	+	educating such student and the sum of the amount received by the 92
	134	+	interdistrict magnet school for such student pursuant to subsection (c) 93
	135	+	of this section and amounts received from other state, federal, local or 94
	136	+	private sources calculated on a per pupil basis. Such school district shall 95
	137	+	be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 10-76g. If a student 96
	138	+	requiring special education attends an interdistrict magnet school on a 97
	139	+	full-time basis, such interdistrict magnet school shall be responsible for 98
	140	+	ensuring that such student receives the services mandated by the 99
	141	+	student's individualized education program whether such services are 100
	142	+	provided by the interdistrict magnet school or by the school district in 101
	143	+	which the student resides. For the purposes of this subsection, 102
	144	+	"reasonable cost" means the actual cost incurred by the interdistrict 103
	145	+	magnet school in providing and implementing the services mandated 104
	146	+	by a student's individualized education program. 105
	147	+	(2) In the case of a student with a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the 106
	148	+	Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, [the school 107
	149	+	district in which the student resides shall pay the interdistrict magnet 108
	150	+	school an amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of 109
	151	+	educating such student and the sum of the amount received by the 110
	152	+	interdistrict magnet school for such student pursuant to subsection (c) 111
	153	+	of this section and amounts received from other state, federal, local or 112
	154	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
145	155
146	156
147		-	LCO 5 of 18
148	157
149		-	the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 117
150		-	(e) For the Department of Education: 118
151		-	(1) Grants-in-aid to local and regional boards of education to assist 119
152		-	targeted local and regional school districts for alterations, repairs, 120
153		-	improvements, technology and equipment in low-performing schools, 121
154		-	not exceeding $5,000,000; 122
155		-	(2) Grants-in-aid to regional educational service centers and 123
156		-	Goodwin University Education Services for capital expenses at 124
157		-	interdistrict magnet schools, not exceeding $12,500,000. 125
158		-	Sec. 5. Section 10-264i of the general statutes is repealed and the 126
159		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 127
160		-	(a) (1) The following entities shall be eligible, pursuant to section 10-128
161		-	264e, to receive a transportation grant for the cost of transporting a child 129
162		-	to an interdistrict magnet school program, as defined in section 10-264l, 130
163		-	as amended by this act, located in a town other than the town in which 131
164		-	such child resides: (A) A local or regional board of education, (B) a 132
165		-	regional educational service center, (C) the Board of Trustees of the 133
166		-	Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of Quinebaug Valley 134
167		-	Community College and Three Rivers Community College, (D) a 135
168		-	cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a, [or] and (E) to 136
169		-	assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in 137
170		-	Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order 138
171		-	in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, (i) the Board 139
172		-	of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional 140
173		-	community-technical college, (ii) the Board of Trustees of the 141
174		-	Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (iii) 142
175		-	the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the 143
176		-	university, (iv) the board of governors for an independent institution of 144
177		-	higher education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the 145
178		-	equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent institution of 146
179		-	higher education, and (v) any other third-party not-for-profit 147
180		-	corporation approved by the commissioner. [which transports a child to 148 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	158	+	LCO No. 4680 5 of 26
	159	+
	160	+	private sources calculated on a per pupil basis. If a student with a plan 113
	161	+	pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 114
	162	+	from time to time, attends an interdistrict magnet school on a full-time 115
	163	+	basis, such] the interdistrict magnet school that such student attends 116
	164	+	shall [be responsible for ensuring] ensure that such student receives the 117
	165	+	services mandated by the student's plan, whether such services are 118
	166	+	provided by the interdistrict magnet school or by the school district in 119
	167	+	which the student resides. 120
	168	+	Sec. 3. Subsection (i) of section 10-266aa of the general statutes is 121
	169	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 122
	170	+	2025): 123
	171	+	(i) (1) In the case of an out-of-district student who requires special 124
	172	+	education and related services, the sending district shall: (A) Hold the 125
	173	+	planning and placement team meeting for such student and shall invite 126
	174	+	representatives from the receiving district to participate in such 127
	175	+	meeting, and (B) pay the receiving district an amount equal to the 128
	176	+	difference between the reasonable cost of providing such special 129
	177	+	education and related services to such student and the amount received 130
	178	+	by the receiving district pursuant to subsection (g) of this section and in 131
	179	+	the case of students participating pursuant to subsection (d) of this 132
	180	+	section, the per pupil amount received pursuant to section 10-74d. The 133
	181	+	sending district shall be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 134
	182	+	10-76g. The receiving district shall ensure that out-of-district students 135
	183	+	who require special education services receive the services mandated by 136
	184	+	the student's individualized education program whether such services 137
	185	+	are provided by the sending district or the receiving district. For the 138
	186	+	purposes of this subsection, "reasonable cost" means the actual cost 139
	187	+	incurred by the receiving district in providing and implementing the 140
	188	+	services mandated by a student's individualized education program. 141
	189	+	(2) In the case of a student with a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the 142
	190	+	Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, the receiving 143
	191	+	district shall ensure that such student receives the services mandated by 144
	192	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
181	193
182	194
183		-	LCO 6 of 18
184	195
185		-	an interdistrict magnet school program, as defined in section 10-264l, in 149
186		-	a town other than the town in which the child resides shall be eligible 150
187		-	pursuant to section 10-264e to receive a grant for the cost of transporting 151
188		-	such child in accordance with this section.] 152
189		-	(2) Except as provided in [subdivisions] subdivision (3) [and (4)] of 153
190		-	this subsection, the amount of such transportation grant shall not exceed 154
191		-	an amount equal to the number of such children transported multiplied 155
192		-	by one thousand three hundred dollars. 156
193		-	(3) For [districts] any eligible entity identified in subdivision (1) of 157
194		-	this subsection assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to 158
195		-	the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related 159
196		-	stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the commissioner, (A) 160
197		-	for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, the amount of such 161
198		-	transportation grant shall not exceed an amount equal to the number of 162
199		-	such children transported multiplied by one thousand four hundred 163
200		-	dollars, [and] (B) for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2011, [and 164
201		-	each fiscal year thereafter] to June 30, 2024, inclusive, the amount of such 165
202		-	transportation grant shall not exceed an amount equal to the number of 166
203		-	such children transported multiplied by two thousand dollars, and (C) 167
204		-	for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, 168
205		-	the amount of such transportation grant shall equal the actual cost of 169
206		-	reasonable transportation services, subject to a comprehensive financial 170
207		-	review pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection. 171
208		-	(4) [In addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this 172
209		-	section, the Commissioner of Education may provide supplemental 173
210		-	transportation grants to regional educational service centers for the 174
211		-	purposes of transportation to interdistrict magnet schools. Any such 175
212		-	grant shall be provided within available appropriations and after the 176
213		-	commissioner has reviewed and approved the total interdistrict magnet 177
214		-	school transportation budget for a regional educational service center, 178
215		-	including all revenue and expenditure estimates. For the fiscal years 179
216		-	ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2018, inclusive, in addition to the grants 180
217		-	otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of 181 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	196	+	LCO No. 4680 6 of 26
	197	+
	198	+	the student's plan and for the costs of providing such services to such 145
	199	+	student. 146
	200	+	Sec. 4. Subsection (f) of section 13 of public act 23-205 is repealed and 147
	201	+	the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 148
	202	+	(f) For the Department of Education: 149
	203	+	(1) Grants-in-aid to local and regional boards of education to assist 150
	204	+	targeted local and regional school districts for alterations, repairs, 151
	205	+	improvements, technology and equipment in low-performing schools, 152
	206	+	not exceeding $5,000,000; 153
	207	+	(2) Grants-in-aid to regional educational service centers and 154
	208	+	Goodwin University Education Services for capital expenses at 155
	209	+	interdistrict magnet schools, not exceeding $8,500,000. 156
	210	+	Sec. 5. Subsection (e) of section 32 of public act 23-205 is repealed and 157
	211	+	the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 158
	212	+	(e) For the Department of Education: 159
	213	+	(1) Grants-in-aid to local and regional boards of education to assist 160
	214	+	targeted local and regional school districts for alterations, repairs, 161
	215	+	improvements, technology and equipment in low-performing schools, 162
	216	+	not exceeding $5,000,000; 163
	217	+	(2) Grants-in-aid to regional educational service centers and 164
	218	+	Goodwin University Education Services for capital expenses at 165
	219	+	interdistrict magnet schools, not exceeding $12,500,000. 166
	220	+	Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The enrollment lottery algorithm 167
	221	+	and placement protocols used by the Regional School Choice Office 168
	222	+	within the Department of Education to place students in schools and 169
	223	+	programs pursuant to sections 10-264l, as amended by this act, 10-266aa, 170
	224	+	as amended by this act, and 10-66bb, as amended by this act, of the 171
	225	+	general statutes, to assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to 172
	226	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
218	227
219	228
220		-	LCO 7 of 18
221	229
222		-	~~Education may provide supplemental transportation to interdistrict 182~~
223		-	~~magnet schools that assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant 183~~
224		-	to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related ~~184~~
225		-	stipulation or order in effect, ~~as determined by the commissioner.] Any 185~~
226		-	~~[such] transportation grant pursuant~~ to ~~subdivision (3)~~ of ~~this 186~~
227		-	~~subsection shall be provided within available appropriations and upon 187~~
228		-	~~a comprehensive financial review,~~ ~~by an auditor selected by~~ the ~~188~~
229		-	~~Commissioner of Education~~, ~~the costs of such review may be paid from 189~~
230		-	~~funds that are part of~~ the ~~[supplemental] transportation grant.~~ ~~[Any 190~~
231		-	~~such~~ grant ~~shall be paid as follows:~~ For the ~~fiscal year ending June 30,~~ ~~191~~
232		-	~~2021~~, ~~up to seventy per cent of the grant on or before June thirtieth of 192~~
233		-	~~the fiscal year~~, ~~and~~ the ~~balance on or before September first of the 193~~
234		-	~~following fiscal year upon completion~~ of ~~the comprehensive financial 194~~
235		-	~~review~~, ~~provided any unpaid balance~~ of ~~eligible transportation costs 195~~
236		-	~~incurred~~ on ~~or before December thirty-first~~ of ~~the fiscal year based on 196~~
237		-	~~documentation~~, ~~including, but not limited to, vendor bills dated on or 197~~
238		-	~~before February first of the fiscal year,~~ and ~~any unpaid balance of 198~~
239		-	~~eligible transportation costs incurred on or before March thirty-first~~ ~~of 199~~
240		-	~~the fiscal year based on documentation~~, ~~including~~, ~~but not limited to,~~ ~~200~~
241		-	~~vendor bills on or before May first~~ of ~~the fiscal year~~, ~~and~~ the ~~balance of 201~~
242		-	~~the grant on or before September first~~ of the ~~following fiscal year upon 202~~
243		-	~~completion~~ of the ~~comprehensive financial review. For the fiscal year 203~~
244		-	~~ending June 30,~~ ~~2022, up to one hundred per cent~~ of ~~the grant on or 204~~
245		-	~~before June thirtieth~~ of the ~~fiscal year and any remaining balance on or 205~~
246		-	~~before September first~~ of ~~the following fiscal year upon completion~~ of ~~206~~
247		-	~~the comprehensive financial review. If~~, ~~upon completion~~ of the ~~207~~
248		-	~~comprehensive financial review~~, the ~~commissioner determines that 208~~
249		-	~~there was an overpayment of the grant in the prior fiscal year~~, ~~such 209~~
250		-	~~funds shall be refunded~~ to ~~the department.] For the fiscal year ending 210~~
251		-	~~June 30~~, ~~[2023] 2025~~, ~~and each fiscal year thereafter, [up] such 211~~
252		-	~~transportation grant~~ shall be ~~paid as follows: Up to ninety-five per cent 212~~
253		-	of the ~~grant on or before June thirtieth~~ of ~~the fiscal year based on 213~~
254		-	~~documentation provided prior to May thirty-first of the fiscal year,~~ with ~~214~~
255		-	~~an amount equal to one-half~~ of ~~the total estimated transportation cost 215~~
256		-	~~on or before October thirty-first of the fiscal year, and the remaining 216 Substitute~~ Bill No. 1288
	230	+	LCO No. 4680 7 of 26
	231	+
	232	+	the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related 173
	233	+	stipulation or order in effect, shall be confidential and shall not be 174
	234	+	subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined 175
	235	+	in section 1-200 of the general statutes. 176
	236	+	Sec. 7. Section 10-264i of the general statutes is repealed and the 177
	237	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 178
	238	+	(a) (1) The following entities shall be eligible, pursuant to section 10-179
	239	+	264e, to receive a transportation grant for the cost of transporting a child 180
	240	+	to an interdistrict magnet school program, as defined in section 10-264l, 181
	241	+	as amended by this act, located in a town other than the town in which 182
	242	+	such child resides: (A) A local or regional board of education, (B) a 183
	243	+	regional educational service center, (C) the Board of Trustees of the 184
	244	+	Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of Quinebaug Valley 185
	245	+	Community College and Three Rivers Community College, (D) a 186
	246	+	cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a, [or] and (E) to 187
	247	+	assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in 188
	248	+	Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order 189
	249	+	in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, (i) the Board 190
	250	+	of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional 191
	251	+	community-technical college, (ii) the Board of Trustees of the 192
	252	+	Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (iii) 193
	253	+	the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the 194
	254	+	university, (iv) the board of governors for an independent institution of 195
	255	+	higher education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the 196
	256	+	equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent institution of 197
	257	+	higher education, and (v) any other third-party not-for-profit 198
	258	+	corporation approved by the commissioner. [which transports a child to 199
	259	+	an interdistrict magnet school program, as defined in section 10-264l, in 200
	260	+	a town other than the town in which the child resides shall be eligible 201
	261	+	pursuant to section 10-264e to receive a grant for the cost of transporting 202
	262	+	such child in accordance with this section.] 203
	263	+	(2) Except as provided in [subdivisions] subdivision (3) [and (4)] of 204
	264	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
257	265
258	266
259		-	LCO 8 of 18
260	267
261		-	total balance on or before [September] November first of the following 217
262		-	fiscal year upon completion of the comprehensive financial review. If, 218
263		-	upon completion of the comprehensive financial review, the 219
264		-	commissioner determines there was an overpayment of the grant in the 220
265		-	prior fiscal year, such funds shall be refunded to the department. 221
266		-	(5) [The Department of Education shall provide such grants within 222
267		-	available appropriations.] Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 223
268		-	to prevent a local or regional board of education, regional educational 224
269		-	service center or cooperative arrangement from receiving 225
270		-	reimbursement under section 10-266m for reasonable transportation 226
271		-	expenses for which such board, service center or cooperative 227
272		-	arrangement is not reimbursed pursuant to this section. 228
273		-	(b) Grants under this section shall be contingent on documented costs 229
274		-	of providing such transportation. [Eligible entities] Each eligible entity 230
275		-	identified in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section shall submit 231
276		-	[applications for grants under] an application to receive a transportation 232
277		-	grant pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section to the 233
278		-	Commissioner of Education in such form and at such times as [he] the 234
279		-	commissioner prescribes. Grants pursuant to subdivision (2) of 235
280		-	subsection (a) of this section shall be paid as follows: [In October one-236
281		-	half] One-half of the estimated eligible transportation costs on or before 237
282		-	October thirty-first and the balance of such costs [in] on or before May 238
283		-	thirty-first. 239
284		-	(c) Each [eligible] entity [identified in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) 240
285		-	of this section] participating in the transportation grant program shall 241
286		-	prepare a financial statement of expenditures which shall be submitted 242
287		-	to the Department of Education on or before September first of the fiscal 243
288		-	year immediately following each fiscal year in which the [school district, 244
289		-	regional educational service center or cooperative arrangement] entity 245
290		-	participates in the transportation grant program. Based on such 246
291		-	statement, any underpayment or overpayment may be calculated and 247
292		-	adjusted by the Department of Education in the transportation grant for 248
293		-	any subsequent year. 249 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	268	+	LCO No. 4680 8 of 26
	269	+
	270	+	this subsection, the amount of such transportation grant shall not exceed 205
	271	+	an amount equal to the number of such children transported multiplied 206
	272	+	by one thousand three hundred dollars. 207
	273	+	(3) For [districts] any eligible entity identified in subdivision (1) of 208
	274	+	this subsection assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to 209
	275	+	the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related 210
	276	+	stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the commissioner, (A) 211
	277	+	for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, the amount of such 212
	278	+	transportation grant shall not exceed an amount equal to the number of 213
	279	+	such children transported multiplied by one thousand four hundred 214
	280	+	dollars, [and] (B) for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2011, [and 215
	281	+	each fiscal year thereafter] to June 30, 2024, inclusive, the amount of such 216
	282	+	transportation grant shall not exceed an amount equal to the number of 217
	283	+	such children transported multiplied by two thousand dollars, and (C) 218
	284	+	for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, 219
	285	+	the amount of such transportation grant shall equal the actual cost of 220
	286	+	reasonable transportation services, subject to a comprehensive financial 221
	287	+	review pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection. 222
	288	+	(4) [In addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this 223
	289	+	section, the Commissioner of Education may provide supplemental 224
	290	+	transportation grants to regional educational service centers for the 225
	291	+	purposes of transportation to interdistrict magnet schools. Any such 226
	292	+	grant shall be provided within available appropriations and after the 227
	293	+	commissioner has reviewed and approved the total interdistrict magnet 228
	294	+	school transportation budget for a regional educational service center, 229
	295	+	including all revenue and expenditure estimates. For the fiscal years 230
	296	+	ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2018, inclusive, in addition to the grants 231
	297	+	otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of 232
	298	+	Education may provide supplemental transportation to interdistrict 233
	299	+	magnet schools that assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant 234
	300	+	to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related 235
	301	+	stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the commissioner.] Any 236
	302	+	[such] transportation grant pursuant to subdivision (3) of this 237
	303	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
294	304
295	305
296		-	LCO 9 of 18
297	306
298		-	Sec. 6. Section 10-145r of the general statutes is repealed and the 250
299		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 251
300		-	[For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and biennially 252
301		-	thereafter, the local or regional board of education that employs a 253
302		-	certified individual who holds an initial, provisional or professional 254
303		-	educator certificate with an early childhood nursery through grade 255
304		-	three or an elementary endorsement in a position requiring such an 256
305		-	endorsement in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, shall require 257
306		-	each such certified individual to take a survey on reading instruction, 258
307		-	developed by the Department of Education that is based on the reading 259
308		-	instruction examination approved by the State Board of Education on 260
309		-	April 1, 2009, or a comparable reading instruction examination with 261
310		-	minimum standards that are equivalent to the examination approved by 262
311		-	the State Board of Education on April 1, 2009. The department shall 263
312		-	design such survey in a manner that identifies the strengths and 264
313		-	weaknesses of such certified individuals in reading instruction practices 265
314		-	and knowledge on an individual, school and district level. Such survey 266
315		-	shall be administered at no financial cost to such certified individual. 267
316		-	The results of such survey shall be confidential and shall not be included 268
317		-	as part of any summative ratings for performance evaluations, 269
318		-	conducted pursuant to section 10-151b, and not be subject to disclosure 270
319		-	under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, 271
320		-	except such results shall be (1) distributed to such certified individual 272
321		-	and the supervisor of such certified individual who is responsible for 273
322		-	designing and facilitating the program of professional development 274
323		-	conducted pursuant to section 10-148b for such certified individual, and 275
324		-	(2) used for the purpose of improving reading instruction by developing 276
325		-	student learning objectives and teacher practice goals that will be 277
326		-	included in the professional development conducted pursuant to 278
327		-	section 10-148b for such certified individuals.] The results from any 279
328		-	survey on reading instruction developed by the Department of 280
329		-	Education and administered from the school year commencing July 1, 281
330		-	2014, to the school year commencing July 1, 2024, inclusive, shall be 282
331		-	confidential and not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of 283 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	307	+	LCO No. 4680 9 of 26
	308	+
	309	+	subsection shall be provided within available appropriations and upon 238
	310	+	a comprehensive financial review, by an auditor selected by the 239
	311	+	Commissioner of Education, the costs of such review may be paid from 240
	312	+	funds that are part of the [supplemental] transportation grant. [Any 241
	313	+	such grant shall be paid as follows: For the fiscal year ending June 30, 242
	314	+	2021, up to seventy per cent of the grant on or before June thirtieth of 243
	315	+	the fiscal year, and the balance on or before September first of the 244
	316	+	following fiscal year upon completion of the comprehensive financial 245
	317	+	review, provided any unpaid balance of eligible transportation costs 246
	318	+	incurred on or before December thirty-first of the fiscal year based on 247
	319	+	documentation, including, but not limited to, vendor bills dated on or 248
	320	+	before February first of the fiscal year, and any unpaid balance of 249
	321	+	eligible transportation costs incurred on or before March thirty-first of 250
	322	+	the fiscal year based on documentation, including, but not limited to, 251
	323	+	vendor bills on or before May first of the fiscal year, and the balance of 252
	324	+	the grant on or before September first of the following fiscal year upon 253
	325	+	completion of the comprehensive financial review. For the fiscal year 254
	326	+	ending June 30, 2022, up to one hundred per cent of the grant on or 255
	327	+	before June thirtieth of the fiscal year and any remaining balance on or 256
	328	+	before September first of the following fiscal year upon completion of 257
	329	+	the comprehensive financial review. If, upon completion of the 258
	330	+	comprehensive financial review, the commissioner determines that 259
	331	+	there was an overpayment of the grant in the prior fiscal year, such 260
	332	+	funds shall be refunded to the department.] For the fiscal year ending 261
	333	+	June 30, [2023] 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, [up] such 262
	334	+	transportation grant shall be paid as follows: Up to ninety-five per cent 263
	335	+	of the grant on or before June thirtieth of the fiscal year based on 264
	336	+	documentation provided prior to May thirty-first of the fiscal year, with 265
	337	+	an amount equal to one-half of the total estimated transportation cost 266
	338	+	on or before October thirty-first of the fiscal year, and the remaining 267
	339	+	total balance on or before [September] November first of the following 268
	340	+	fiscal year upon completion of the comprehensive financial review. If, 269
	341	+	upon completion of the comprehensive financial review, the 270
	342	+	commissioner determines there was an overpayment of the grant in the 271
	343	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
332	344
333	345
334		-	LCO 10 of 18
335	346
336		-	Information Act, as defined in section 1-200. 284
337		-	Sec. 7. Section 10-145o of the general statutes, as amended by section 285
338		-	58 of public act 23-167, is repealed and the following is substituted in 286
339		-	lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 287
340		-	(a) The Department of Education, with cooperation from local and 288
341		-	regional school districts, regional educational service centers, 289
342		-	representatives of the exclusive bargaining representative for certified 290
343		-	employees chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, and public institutions 291
344		-	of higher education, shall establish and administer a teacher education 292
345		-	and mentoring program that includes guided teacher support and 293
346		-	coaching and the completion of instructional modules, pursuant to 294
347		-	subsection (e) of this section, for beginning teachers. The program shall 295
348		-	be aligned with the principles of teaching approved by the State Board 296
349		-	of Education. As part of the program, each beginning teacher shall 297
350		-	develop a two-year individualized mentoring plan. 298
351		-	(b) In administering the teacher education and mentoring program 299
352		-	under this section: 300
353		-	(1) The Department of Education shall (A) develop a statement for 301
354		-	the teacher education and mentoring program that includes the state's 302
355		-	goals for state-wide teacher induction, mentoring, professional 303
356		-	development and evaluation, using state-wide data and national 304
357		-	research findings; (B) distribute state funding to local and regional 305
358		-	school districts to assist with implementation of district teacher 306
359		-	education and mentoring plans; (C) manage and make accessible to local 307
360		-	and regional school districts the data systems needed to document that 308
361		-	teachers and mentors have satisfactorily completed the instructional 309
362		-	modules; (D) monitor district implementation of the teacher education 310
363		-	and mentoring program to ensure fidelity to the program's plan and 311
364		-	goals, including random district audits and observations by state 312
365		-	personnel; (E) issue [provisional] professional educator certificates to 313
366		-	teachers [that] who have satisfactorily completed the induction program 314
367		-	and the other requirements set forth in subdivision (3) of subsection (g) 315 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	347	+	LCO No. 4680 10 of 26
	348	+
	349	+	prior fiscal year, such funds shall be refunded to the department. 272
	350	+	(5) [The Department of Education shall provide such grants within 273
	351	+	available appropriations.] Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 274
	352	+	to prevent a local or regional board of education, regional educational 275
	353	+	service center or cooperative arrangement from receiving 276
	354	+	reimbursement under section 10-266m for reasonable transportation 277
	355	+	expenses for which such board, service center or cooperative 278
	356	+	arrangement is not reimbursed pursuant to this section. 279
	357	+	(b) Grants under this section shall be contingent on documented costs 280
	358	+	of providing such transportation. [Eligible entities] Each eligible entity 281
	359	+	identified in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section shall submit 282
	360	+	[applications for grants under] an application to receive a transportation 283
	361	+	grant pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section to the 284
	362	+	Commissioner of Education in such form and at such times as [he] the 285
	363	+	commissioner prescribes. Grants pursuant to subdivision (2) of 286
	364	+	subsection (a) of this section shall be paid as follows: [In October one-287
	365	+	half] One-half of the estimated eligible transportation costs on or before 288
	366	+	October thirty-first and the balance of such costs [in] on or before May 289
	367	+	thirty-first. 290
	368	+	(c) Each [eligible] entity [identified in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) 291
	369	+	of this section] participating in the transportation grant program shall 292
	370	+	prepare a financial statement of expenditures which shall be submitted 293
	371	+	to the Department of Education on or before September first of the fiscal 294
	372	+	year immediately following each fiscal year in which the [school district, 295
	373	+	regional educational service center or cooperative arrangement] entity 296
	374	+	participates in the transportation grant program. Based on such 297
	375	+	statement, any underpayment or overpayment may be calculated and 298
	376	+	adjusted by the Department of Education in the transportation grant for 299
	377	+	any subsequent year. 300
	378	+	Sec. 8. Section 10-145r of the general statutes is repealed and the 301
	379	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 302
	380	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
368	381
369	382
370		-	LCO 11 of 18
371	383
372		-	of section 10-145b; (F) develop guidelines for the creation and approval 316
373		-	of district teacher education and mentoring plans, based on input and 317
374		-	recommendations from stakeholder groups; and (G) oversee an outside 318
375		-	evaluation of the teacher education and mentoring program every three 319
376		-	to five years; 320
377		-	(2) The Department of Education, in collaboration with EASTCONN, 321
378		-	the RESC Alliance, institutions of higher education and other 322
379		-	stakeholders, shall (A) develop instructional modules for beginning 323
380		-	teachers to complete; (B) train mentors to carry out responsibilities at 324
381		-	the district level; (C) provide professional development and training for 325
382		-	regional mentors working at the district level; (D) provide professional 326
383		-	development and training for district teams and principals in managing, 327
384		-	designing and administering teacher education and mentoring plans; 328
385		-	and (E) provide technical assistance to districts based on district size and 329
386		-	needs; 330
387		-	(3) The Department of Education and public institutions of higher 331
388		-	education shall (A) work with regional educational service centers to 332
389		-	align modules with National Council for Accreditation of Teacher 333
390		-	Education approved preservice teacher preparation programs; (B) 334
391		-	develop and deliver regional strategies for supporting mentor 335
392		-	assistance programs; and (C) train cooperating teachers to work with 336
393		-	teacher preparation candidates during student teaching and 337
394		-	internships; 338
395		-	(4) Local and regional boards of education shall (A) develop a three-339
396		-	year teacher education and mentoring plan in accordance with 340
397		-	subsection (c) of this section; (B) form a local or regional coordinating 341
398		-	committee or committees, with representatives of the exclusive 342
399		-	bargaining representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to 343
400		-	section 10-153b, based on district size, to guide the activities outlined in 344
401		-	the three-year teacher education and mentoring plan; (C) develop an 345
402		-	annual budget to support the activities detailed in the three-year teacher 346
403		-	education and mentoring plan and submit such budget annually to the 347
404		-	Department of Education to receive state assistance for such activities; 348 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	384	+	LCO No. 4680 11 of 26
	385	+
	386	+	[For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and biennially 303
	387	+	thereafter, the local or regional board of education that employs a 304
	388	+	certified individual who holds an initial, provisional or professional 305
	389	+	educator certificate with an early childhood nursery through grade 306
	390	+	three or an elementary endorsement in a position requiring such an 307
	391	+	endorsement in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, shall require 308
	392	+	each such certified individual to take a survey on reading instruction, 309
	393	+	developed by the Department of Education that is based on the reading 310
	394	+	instruction examination approved by the State Board of Education on 311
	395	+	April 1, 2009, or a comparable reading instruction examination with 312
	396	+	minimum standards that are equivalent to the examination approved by 313
	397	+	the State Board of Education on April 1, 2009. The department shall 314
	398	+	design such survey in a manner that identifies the strengths and 315
	399	+	weaknesses of such certified individuals in reading instruction practices 316
	400	+	and knowledge on an individual, school and district level. Such survey 317
	401	+	shall be administered at no financial cost to such certified individual. 318
	402	+	The results of such survey shall be confidential and shall not be included 319
	403	+	as part of any summative ratings for performance evaluations, 320
	404	+	conducted pursuant to section 10-151b, and not be subject to disclosure 321
	405	+	under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, 322
	406	+	except such results shall be (1) distributed to such certified individual 323
	407	+	and the supervisor of such certified individual who is responsible for 324
	408	+	designing and facilitating the program of professional development 325
	409	+	conducted pursuant to section 10-148b for such certified individual, and 326
	410	+	(2) used for the purpose of improving reading instruction by developing 327
	411	+	student learning objectives and teacher practice goals that will be 328
	412	+	included in the professional development conducted pursuant to 329
	413	+	section 10-148b for such certified individuals.] The results from any 330
	414	+	survey on reading instruction developed by the Department of 331
	415	+	Education and administered from the school year commencing July 1, 332
	416	+	2014, to the school year commencing July 1, 2024, inclusive, shall be 333
	417	+	confidential and not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of 334
	418	+	Information Act, as defined in section 1-200. 335
	419	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
405	420
406	421
407		-	LCO 12 of 18
408	422
409		-	(D) recruit and pair mentors from within and outside of the district to 349
410		-	work with beginning teachers; (E) ensure substitute teacher coverage for 350
411		-	mentors and beginning teachers to participate in the activities and 351
412		-	modules required in the three-year teacher education and mentoring 352
413		-	plan; (F) communicate regularly with beginning teachers about training 353
414		-	opportunities, state-wide workshops and support group work; (G) 354
415		-	coordinate the teacher education and mentoring program and teacher 355
416		-	evaluation and supervision program, provided they are kept separate; 356
417		-	(H) verify, through the local or regional coordinating committee, that 357
418		-	the work of beginning teachers and instructional modules has been 358
419		-	successfully completed; [to warrant provisional certification;] (I) when 359
420		-	a beginning teacher has satisfactorily completed all modules, attest to 360
421		-	that fact and that the teacher is eligible for [provisional] professional 361
422		-	certification upon completion of the other requirements set forth in 362
423		-	subdivision (3) of subsection (g) of section 10-145b; and (J) ensure that 363
424		-	schools under the board's jurisdiction (i) administer the state's on-line 364
425		-	needs assessment to establish the goals and priorities of each beginning 365
426		-	teacher as such teacher develops an individualized mentoring plan, (ii) 366
427		-	review and approve beginning teachers' individualized, two-year 367
428		-	mentoring plan, (iii) organize mentoring opportunities by grade, 368
429		-	department or specialty area, (iv) take steps to make time available, as 369
430		-	needed, to help teachers achieve the goals of their mentoring plans, (v) 370
431		-	coordinate the activities and schedules of mentors and beginning 371
432		-	teachers to ensure faithful implementation of the district plan, and (vi) 372
433		-	submit annual report on mentor-teacher activities to the district 373
434		-	coordinating committee for review and approval. 374
435		-	(c) Local and regional school districts shall develop a three-year 375
436		-	teacher education and mentoring plan that incorporates the Department 376
437		-	of Education's goals and instructional priorities, as well as any local 377
438		-	considerations based on community and student needs. Such plan shall 378
439		-	include: (1) Background information about the district that includes a 379
440		-	community profile, district profile, student profile, faculty profile, 380
441		-	mentor profile and beginning teacher profile; (2) a statement of three-381
442		-	year objectives related to the state's goal statement for the teacher 382 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	423	+	LCO No. 4680 12 of 26
	424	+
	425	+	Sec. 9. Section 10-145o of the general statutes is repealed and the 336
	426	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 337
	427	+	(a) The Department of Education, with cooperation from local and 338
	428	+	regional school districts, regional educational service centers, 339
	429	+	representatives of the exclusive bargaining representative for certified 340
	430	+	employees chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, and public institutions 341
	431	+	of higher education, shall establish and administer a teacher education 342
	432	+	and mentoring program that includes guided teacher support and 343
	433	+	coaching and the completion of instructional modules, pursuant to 344
	434	+	subsection (e) of this section, for beginning teachers. The program shall 345
	435	+	be aligned with the principles of teaching approved by the State Board 346
	436	+	of Education. As part of the program, each beginning teacher shall 347
	437	+	develop a two-year individualized mentoring plan. 348
	438	+	(b) In administering the teacher education and mentoring program 349
	439	+	under this section: 350
	440	+	(1) The Department of Education shall (A) develop a statement for 351
	441	+	the teacher education and mentoring program that includes the state's 352
	442	+	goals for state-wide teacher induction, mentoring, professional 353
	443	+	development and evaluation, using state-wide data and national 354
	444	+	research findings; (B) distribute state funding to local and regional 355
	445	+	school districts to assist with implementation of district teacher 356
	446	+	education and mentoring plans; (C) manage and make accessible to local 357
	447	+	and regional school districts the data systems needed to document that 358
	448	+	teachers and mentors have satisfactorily completed the instructional 359
	449	+	modules; (D) monitor district implementation of the teacher education 360
	450	+	and mentoring program to ensure fidelity to the program's plan and 361
	451	+	goals, including random district audits and observations by state 362
	452	+	personnel; (E) issue [provisional] professional educator certificates to 363
	453	+	teachers [that] who have satisfactorily completed the induction program 364
	454	+	and the other requirements set forth in subdivision (3) of subsection (g) 365
	455	+	of section 10-145b; (F) develop guidelines for the creation and approval 366
	456	+	of district teacher education and mentoring plans, based on input and 367
	457	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
443	458
444	459
445		-	LCO 13 of 18
446	460
447		-	education and mentoring program; (3) a general timeline for district 383
448		-	coordinating teams to meet with central office personnel, principals, 384
449		-	mentors or district facilitators; (4) a description of the process used to 385
450		-	select mentors and assign them to beginning teachers, based on subject 386
451		-	areas, levels and need; (5) a description of the process used to train and 387
452		-	update mentors in best practices and essential knowledge; (6) a timeline 388
453		-	of district-wide mentoring days for observations, individual discussion, 389
454		-	small group meetings, professional development days, regional 390
455		-	educational service center training sessions and beginning teachers' 391
456		-	completion of tasks associated with each module; (7) a description of the 392
457		-	process used to collect, review and coordinate teachers' mentoring 393
458		-	plans; (8) a description of the process to resolve internal disputes over 394
459		-	the district's recommendations to the state concerning which 395
460		-	individuals have satisfactorily completed the instructional modules; 396
461		-	and (9) a description of the resources and budget needed to carry out 397
462		-	the activities described in the plan. 398
463		-	(d) Local and regional boards of education shall not consider a 399
464		-	teacher's completion of the teacher education and mentoring program 400
465		-	as a factor in its decision to continue a teacher's employment in the 401
466		-	district. 402
467		-	(e) (1) Beginning teachers shall satisfactorily complete instructional 403
468		-	modules in the following areas: (A) Classroom management and 404
469		-	climate, which shall include training regarding the prevention, 405
470		-	identification and response to bullying, as defined in section 10-222aa, 406
471		-	and the prevention of and response to youth suicide; (B) lesson planning 407
472		-	and unit design; (C) delivering instruction; (D) assessing student 408
473		-	learning; and (E) professional practice. Beginning teachers shall 409
474		-	complete two modules in their first year in the program and three 410
475		-	modules in their second year in the program, except as otherwise 411
476		-	provided by the Commissioner of Education, or as provided for in 412
477		-	subsection (h) of this section. 413
478		-	(2) Beginning teachers shall work with their mentors in developing a 414
479		-	planned set of activities, based on the topics offered within each 415 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	461	+	LCO No. 4680 13 of 26
	462	+
	463	+	recommendations from stakeholder groups; and (G) oversee an outside 368
	464	+	evaluation of the teacher education and mentoring program every three 369
	465	+	to five years; 370
	466	+	(2) The Department of Education, in collaboration with EASTCONN, 371
	467	+	the RESC Alliance, institutions of higher education and other 372
	468	+	stakeholders, shall (A) develop instructional modules for beginning 373
	469	+	teachers to complete; (B) train mentors to carry out responsibilities at 374
	470	+	the district level; (C) provide professional development and training for 375
	471	+	regional mentors working at the district level; (D) provide professional 376
	472	+	development and training for district teams and principals in managing, 377
	473	+	designing and administering teacher education and mentoring plans; 378
	474	+	and (E) provide technical assistance to districts based on district size and 379
	475	+	needs; 380
	476	+	(3) The Department of Education and public institutions of higher 381
	477	+	education shall (A) work with regional educational service centers to 382
	478	+	align modules with National Council for Accreditation of Teacher 383
	479	+	Education approved preservice teacher preparation programs; (B) 384
	480	+	develop and deliver regional strategies for supporting mentor 385
	481	+	assistance programs; and (C) train cooperating teachers to work with 386
	482	+	teacher preparation candidates during student teaching and 387
	483	+	internships; 388
	484	+	(4) Local and regional boards of education shall (A) develop a three-389
	485	+	year teacher education and mentoring plan in accordance with 390
	486	+	subsection (c) of this section; (B) form a local or regional coordinating 391
	487	+	committee or committees, with representatives of the exclusive 392
	488	+	bargaining representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to 393
	489	+	section 10-153b, based on district size, to guide the activities outlined in 394
	490	+	the three-year teacher education and mentoring plan; (C) develop an 395
	491	+	annual budget to support the activities detailed in the three-year teacher 396
	492	+	education and mentoring plan and submit such budget annually to the 397
	493	+	Department of Education to receive state assistance for such activities; 398
	494	+	(D) recruit and pair mentors from within and outside of the district to 399
	495	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
480	496
481	497
482		-	LCO 14 of 18
483	498
484		-	instructional module, to complete each such instructional module, and 416
485		-	such activities shall be reflected in the beginning teacher needs 417
486		-	assessment. Such activities may be presented in person by mentors, 418
487		-	offered in workshops, through on-line courses or through the 419
488		-	completion of a set of readings. For each instructional module, 420
489		-	beginning teachers shall (A) apply the knowledge gained through such 421
490		-	activities in a lesson, project or demonstration of how the activity 422
491		-	impacted student learning, and (B) submit a reflection paper or project, 423
492		-	to be signed by the mentor, that summarizes, describes or analyzes what 424
493		-	has been learned by the beginning teacher and their students 425
494		-	throughout the module and how the learning contributed to the 426
495		-	development of such beginning teacher. Such reflection paper or project 427
496		-	shall be forwarded to the district's coordinating committee for approval. 428
497		-	(3) Upon successful completion of the instructional modules and final 429
498		-	review by the coordinating committee, the superintendent of the school 430
499		-	district shall submit to the State Board of Education the names of the 431
500		-	beginning teachers eligible for receipt of a [provisional] professional 432
501		-	educator certificate [to the State Board of Education] upon completion 433
502		-	of the other requirements set forth in subdivision (3) of subsection (g) of 434
503		-	section 10-145b. 435
504		-	(f) Local and regional boards of education, in cooperation with the 436
505		-	Department of Education, institutions of higher education and regional 437
506		-	educational service centers, shall recruit mentors for their teacher 438
507		-	education and mentoring program. Those persons eligible to serve as 439
508		-	mentors for such programs shall hold a [provisional educator certificate 440
509		-	or a] professional educator certificate [,] or a distinguished educator 441
510		-	designation pursuant to section 10-145s, and have at least three years 442
511		-	teaching experience in Connecticut, including at least one year of 443
512		-	experience in the district in which they are presently employed. Retired 444
513		-	certified teachers may also serve as mentors, provided they successfully 445
514		-	complete a mentor training program offered by a regional educational 446
515		-	service center. Each mentor shall be assigned two beginning teachers, 447
516		-	except that in certain circumstances, a mentor may be assigned three 448
517		-	beginning teachers. Such assignment shall be reflected in each district's 449 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	499	+	LCO No. 4680 14 of 26
	500	+
	501	+	work with beginning teachers; (E) ensure substitute teacher coverage for 400
	502	+	mentors and beginning teachers to participate in the activities and 401
	503	+	modules required in the three-year teacher education and mentoring 402
	504	+	plan; (F) communicate regularly with beginning teachers about training 403
	505	+	opportunities, state-wide workshops and support group work; (G) 404
	506	+	coordinate the teacher education and mentoring program and teacher 405
	507	+	evaluation and supervision program, provided they are kept separate; 406
	508	+	(H) verify, through the local or regional coordinating committee, that 407
	509	+	the work of beginning teachers and instructional modules has been 408
	510	+	successfully completed; [to warrant provisional certification;] (I) when 409
	511	+	a beginning teacher has satisfactorily completed all modules, attest to 410
	512	+	that fact and that the teacher is eligible for [provisional] professional 411
	513	+	certification upon completion of the other requirements set forth in 412
	514	+	subdivision (3) of subsection (g) of section 10-145b; and (J) ensure that 413
	515	+	schools under the board's jurisdiction (i) administer the state's on-line 414
	516	+	needs assessment to establish the goals and priorities of each beginning 415
	517	+	teacher as such teacher develops an individualized mentoring plan, (ii) 416
	518	+	review and approve beginning teachers' individualized, two-year 417
	519	+	mentoring plan, (iii) organize mentoring opportunities by grade, 418
	520	+	department or specialty area, (iv) take steps to make time available, as 419
	521	+	needed, to help teachers achieve the goals of their mentoring plans, (v) 420
	522	+	coordinate the activities and schedules of mentors and beginning 421
	523	+	teachers to ensure faithful implementation of the district plan, and (vi) 422
	524	+	submit annual report on mentor-teacher activities to the district 423
	525	+	coordinating committee for review and approval. 424
	526	+	(c) Local and regional school districts shall develop a three-year 425
	527	+	teacher education and mentoring plan that incorporates the Department 426
	528	+	of Education's goals and instructional priorities, as well as any local 427
	529	+	considerations based on community and student needs. Such plan shall 428
	530	+	include: (1) Background information about the district that includes a 429
	531	+	community profile, district profile, student profile, faculty profile, 430
	532	+	mentor profile and beginning teacher profile; (2) a statement of three-431
	533	+	year objectives related to the state's goal statement for the teacher 432
	534	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
518	535
519	536
520		-	LCO 15 of 18
521	537
522		-	three-year plan. Each mentor shall provide fifty contact hours to each 450
523		-	beginning teacher during the program, with the expectation of 451
524		-	approximately ten contact hours per module. Mentors shall receive a 452
525		-	minimum of a five-hundred-dollar annual stipend for each beginning 453
526		-	teacher assigned to such mentor from the local or regional board of 454
527		-	education for participation in the teacher education and mentoring 455
528		-	program. Such stipend shall be included in a person's total earnings for 456
529		-	purposes of retirement. 457
530		-	(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (h) of this section, 458
531		-	for the school year commencing July 1, 2010, beginning teachers who 459
532		-	hold an initial educator certificate and have not participated in any 460
533		-	beginning educator program as of July 1, 2009, shall participate in the 461
534		-	teacher education and mentoring programs as follows: 462
535		-	(1) Beginning teachers in the following subject areas and 463
536		-	endorsement areas shall be required to successfully complete the 464
537		-	teacher education and mentoring program in full: Elementary 465
538		-	education, English and language arts, mathematics, science, social 466
539		-	studies, special education, bilingual education, music, physical 467
540		-	education, visual arts, world languages and teachers of English as a 468
541		-	second language. 469
542		-	(2) Beginning teachers in any other endorsement area and whose 470
543		-	primary function is providing direct instruction to students shall be 471
544		-	required to successfully complete one year of mentorship and two 472
545		-	instructional modules. 473
546		-	(h) Teachers who began in a beginning educator program, pursuant 474
547		-	to section 10-145b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to 475
548		-	January 1, 2009, but have not completed that program as of July 1, 2009, 476
549		-	and teach during the 2009-2010 school year, shall be granted a one-year 477
550		-	extension of their initial educator certificates, if necessary, and shall 478
551		-	participate in the teacher education and mentoring program, pursuant 479
552		-	to this section, through the completion of two instructional modules 480
553		-	during the 2010-2011 school year. Such teachers shall exit the program 481 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	538	+	LCO No. 4680 15 of 26
	539	+
	540	+	education and mentoring program; (3) a general timeline for district 433
	541	+	coordinating teams to meet with central office personnel, principals, 434
	542	+	mentors or district facilitators; (4) a description of the process used to 435
	543	+	select mentors and assign them to beginning teachers, based on subject 436
	544	+	areas, levels and need; (5) a description of the process used to train and 437
	545	+	update mentors in best practices and essential knowledge; (6) a timeline 438
	546	+	of district-wide mentoring days for observations, individual discussion, 439
	547	+	small group meetings, professional development days, regional 440
	548	+	educational service center training sessions and beginning teachers' 441
	549	+	completion of tasks associated with each module; (7) a description of the 442
	550	+	process used to collect, review and coordinate teachers' mentoring 443
	551	+	plans; (8) a description of the process to resolve internal disputes over 444
	552	+	the district's recommendations to the state concerning which 445
	553	+	individuals have satisfactorily completed the instructional modules; 446
	554	+	and (9) a description of the resources and budget needed to carry out 447
	555	+	the activities described in the plan. 448
	556	+	(d) Local and regional boards of education shall not consider a 449
	557	+	teacher's completion of the teacher education and mentoring program 450
	558	+	as a factor in its decision to continue a teacher's employment in the 451
	559	+	district. 452
	560	+	(e) (1) Beginning teachers shall satisfactorily complete instructional 453
	561	+	modules in the following areas: (A) Classroom management and 454
	562	+	climate, which shall include training regarding the prevention, 455
	563	+	identification and response to school bullying, as defined in section 10-456
	564	+	222d, and the prevention of and response to youth suicide; (B) lesson 457
	565	+	planning and unit design; (C) delivering instruction; (D) assessing 458
	566	+	student learning; and (E) professional practice. Beginning teachers shall 459
	567	+	complete two modules in their first year in the program and three 460
	568	+	modules in their second year in the program, except as otherwise 461
	569	+	provided by the Commissioner of Education, or as provided for in 462
	570	+	subsection (h) of this section. 463
	571	+	(2) Beginning teachers shall work with their mentors in developing a 464
	572	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
554	573
555	574
556		-	LCO 16 of 18
557	575
558		-	at the end of the 2010-2011 school year upon the successful completion 482
559		-	of the two instructional modules. 483
560		-	(i) The Department of Education, in consultation with EASTCONN, 484
561		-	shall create a data system for local and regional school districts to access 485
562		-	the resources and record-keeping tools to manage the teacher education 486
563		-	and mentoring program at the local level. Such data system shall include 487
564		-	(1) templates for (A) writing and updating each district's plan, (B) 488
565		-	recording each teacher's completion of each of the five instructional 489
566		-	modules, and (C) teachers to record the completion of instructional 490
567		-	module activities and submit written reflection papers or projects, and 491
568		-	(2) links to on-line programs or workshops that are part of the five 492
569		-	modules. 493
570		-	(j) Not later than July 1, 2010, the State Board of Education shall adopt 494
571		-	guidelines to provide for the implementation of the teacher education 495
572		-	and mentoring program in accordance with this section and the Report 496
573		-	of the Beginning Educator Support and Training Program 497
574		-	(BEST)/Mentor Assistance Program (MAP) Task Force dated December 498
575		-	29, 2008. 499
576		-	Sec. 8. Section 10-91j of the general statutes is repealed and the 500
577		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 501
578		-	(a) Any agreement entered into or amended on or after July 1, 2018, 502
579		-	but prior to June 30, 2019, or any contract entered into or amended on 503
580		-	or after July 1, 2019, pursuant to section 10-76d, between a local or 504
581		-	regional board of education and a private provider of special education 505
582		-	services, as defined in section 10-91g, shall include an explanation of 506
583		-	how the tuition or costs for services provided under the agreement or 507
584		-	contract are to be calculated. Any such agreement or contract may 508
585		-	include the following provisions: (1) A requirement that such private 509
586		-	provider of special education services submit monthly or quarterly 510
587		-	reports to such board regarding the specific services and frequency of 511
588		-	such services being provided by such private provider of special 512
589		-	education services to students under the agreement or contract, and (2) 513 Substitute Bill No. 1288
	576	+	LCO No. 4680 16 of 26
	577	+
	578	+	planned set of activities, based on the topics offered within each 465
	579	+	instructional module, to complete each such instructional module, and 466
	580	+	such activities shall be reflected in the beginning teacher needs 467
	581	+	assessment. Such activities may be presented in person by mentors, 468
	582	+	offered in workshops, through on-line courses or through the 469
	583	+	completion of a set of readings. For each instructional module, 470
	584	+	beginning teachers shall (A) apply the knowledge gained through such 471
	585	+	activities in a lesson, project or demonstration of how the activity 472
	586	+	impacted student learning, and (B) submit a reflection paper or project, 473
	587	+	to be signed by the mentor, that summarizes, describes or analyzes what 474
	588	+	has been learned by the beginning teacher and their students 475
	589	+	throughout the module and how the learning contributed to the 476
	590	+	development of such beginning teacher. Such reflection paper or project 477
	591	+	shall be forwarded to the district's coordinating committee for approval. 478
	592	+	(3) Upon successful completion of the instructional modules and final 479
	593	+	review by the coordinating committee, the superintendent of the school 480
	594	+	district shall submit to the State Board of Education the names of the 481
	595	+	beginning teachers eligible for receipt of a [provisional] professional 482
	596	+	educator certificate [to the State Board of Education] upon completion 483
	597	+	of the other requirements set forth in subdivision (3) of subsection (g) of 484
	598	+	section 10-145b. 485
	599	+	(f) Local and regional boards of education, in cooperation with the 486
	600	+	Department of Education, institutions of higher education and regional 487
	601	+	educational service centers, shall recruit mentors for their teacher 488
	602	+	education and mentoring program. Those persons eligible to serve as 489
	603	+	mentors for such programs shall hold a [provisional educator certificate 490
	604	+	or a] professional educator certificate [,] or a distinguished educator 491
	605	+	designation pursuant to section 10-145s, and have at least three years 492
	606	+	teaching experience in Connecticut, including at least one year of 493
	607	+	experience in the district in which they are presently employed. Retired 494
	608	+	certified teachers may also serve as mentors, provided they successfully 495
	609	+	complete a mentor training program offered by a regional educational 496
	610	+	service center. Each mentor shall be assigned two beginning teachers, 497
	611	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
590	612
591	613
592		-	LCO 17 of 18
593	614
594		-	authorization for such board to (A) review and reconcile such reports to 514
595		-	the contracted services described in the agreement or contract, or (B) 515
596		-	conduct periodic site visits at the location where such private provider 516
597		-	of special education services provides services. 517
598		-	(b) On and after July 1, 2019, a local or regional board of education 518
599		-	shall not be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to subsection (b) of 519
600		-	section 10-76g for any costs of special education paid by such board of 520
601		-	education to a private provider of special education services unless such 521
602		-	board of education has entered into a written contract with such private 522
603		-	provider of special education services for the provision of such special 523
604		-	education services. The individualized education program of a child 524
605		-	shall not be considered a contract between a local or regional board of 525
606		-	education and a private provider of special education services for 526
607		-	purposes of this section. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 527
608		-	to limit or interrupt the provision of special education and related 528
609		-	services to a child by a local or regional board of education or private 529
610		-	provider of special education services. 530
611		-	(c) Any written contract entered into or amended on or after July 1, 531
612		-	2025, between a local or regional board of education and a private 532
613		-	provider of special education services shall include a provision that 533
614		-	requires such private provider of special education services to submit a 534
615		-	base tuition and cost for services for each school year in which services 535
616		-	are to be provided pursuant to such contract to such local or regional 536
617		-	board of education not later than December thirty-first preceding the 537
618		-	school year in which services are to be provided. 538
	615	+	LCO No. 4680 17 of 26
	616	+
	617	+	except that in certain circumstances, a mentor may be assigned three 498
	618	+	beginning teachers. Such assignment shall be reflected in each district's 499
	619	+	three-year plan. Each mentor shall provide fifty contact hours to each 500
	620	+	beginning teacher during the program, with the expectation of 501
	621	+	approximately ten contact hours per module. Mentors shall receive a 502
	622	+	minimum of a five-hundred-dollar annual stipend for each beginning 503
	623	+	teacher assigned to such mentor from the local or regional board of 504
	624	+	education for participation in the teacher education and mentoring 505
	625	+	program. Such stipend shall be included in a person's total earnings for 506
	626	+	purposes of retirement. 507
	627	+	(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (h) of this section, 508
	628	+	for the school year commencing July 1, 2010, beginning teachers who 509
	629	+	hold an initial educator certificate and have not participated in any 510
	630	+	beginning educator program as of July 1, 2009, shall participate in the 511
	631	+	teacher education and mentoring programs as follows: 512
	632	+	(1) Beginning teachers in the following subject areas and 513
	633	+	endorsement areas shall be required to successfully complete the 514
	634	+	teacher education and mentoring program in full: Elementary 515
	635	+	education, English and language arts, mathematics, science, social 516
	636	+	studies, special education, bilingual education, music, physical 517
	637	+	education, visual arts, world languages and teachers of English as a 518
	638	+	second language. 519
	639	+	(2) Beginning teachers in any other endorsement area and whose 520
	640	+	primary function is providing direct instruction to students shall be 521
	641	+	required to successfully complete one year of mentorship and two 522
	642	+	instructional modules. 523
	643	+	(h) Teachers who began in a beginning educator program, pursuant 524
	644	+	to section 10-145b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to 525
	645	+	January 1, 2009, but have not completed that program as of July 1, 2009, 526
	646	+	and teach during the 2009-2010 school year, shall be granted a one-year 527
	647	+	extension of their initial educator certificates, if necessary, and shall 528
	648	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
	649	+
	650	+
	651	+
	652	+	LCO No. 4680 18 of 26
	653	+
	654	+	participate in the teacher education and mentoring program, pursuant 529
	655	+	to this section, through the completion of two instructional modules 530
	656	+	during the 2010-2011 school year. Such teachers shall exit the program 531
	657	+	at the end of the 2010-2011 school year upon the successful completion 532
	658	+	of the two instructional modules. 533
	659	+	(i) The Department of Education, in consultation with EASTCONN, 534
	660	+	shall create a data system for local and regional school districts to access 535
	661	+	the resources and record-keeping tools to manage the teacher education 536
	662	+	and mentoring program at the local level. Such data system shall include 537
	663	+	(1) templates for (A) writing and updating each district's plan, (B) 538
	664	+	recording each teacher's completion of each of the five instructional 539
	665	+	modules, and (C) teachers to record the completion of instructional 540
	666	+	module activities and submit written reflection papers or projects, and 541
	667	+	(2) links to on-line programs or workshops that are part of the five 542
	668	+	modules. 543
	669	+	(j) Not later than July 1, 2010, the State Board of Education shall adopt 544
	670	+	guidelines to provide for the implementation of the teacher education 545
	671	+	and mentoring program in accordance with this section and the Report 546
	672	+	of the Beginning Educator Support and Training Program 547
	673	+	(BEST)/Mentor Assistance Program (MAP) Task Force dated December 548
	674	+	29, 2008. 549
	675	+	Sec. 10. Subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 10-145o of the 550
	676	+	general statutes, as amended by section 58 of public act 23-167, is 551
	677	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 552
	678	+	2025): 553
	679	+	(e) (1) Beginning teachers shall satisfactorily complete instructional 554
	680	+	modules in the following areas: (A) Classroom management and 555
	681	+	climate, which shall include training regarding the prevention, 556
	682	+	identification and response to bullying, as defined in section 10-222aa, 557
	683	+	and the prevention of and response to youth suicide; (B) lesson planning 558
	684	+	and unit design; (C) delivering instruction; (D) assessing student 559
	685	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
	686	+
	687	+
	688	+
	689	+	LCO No. 4680 19 of 26
	690	+
	691	+	learning; and (E) professional practice. Beginning teachers shall 560
	692	+	complete two modules in their first year in the program and three 561
	693	+	modules in their second year in the program, except as otherwise 562
	694	+	provided by the Commissioner of Education, or as provided for in 563
	695	+	subsection (h) of this section. 564
	696	+	Sec. 11. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 10-66bb of the 565
	697	+	general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 566
	698	+	thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 567
	699	+	(a) (1) [On and after July 1, 1997, and prior to July 1, 2015, the State 568
	700	+	Board of Education may grant charters for local and state charter schools 569
	701	+	in accordance with this section. On and after July 1, 2015, such state 570
	702	+	board] The State Board of Education may grant initial certificates of 571
	703	+	approval for charters for local and state charter schools in accordance 572
	704	+	with this section. Upon granting an initial certificate of approval for a 573
	705	+	charter, such state board shall submit a copy of the initial certificate of 574
	706	+	approval for the charter and a summary of the comments made at a 575
	707	+	public hearing conducted pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) 576
	708	+	of this section or subparagraph (B)(ii) of subdivision (1) of subsection (f) 577
	709	+	of this section, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing 578
	710	+	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 579
	711	+	relating to education and appropriations and the budgets of state 580
	712	+	agencies. 581
	713	+	(2) The General Assembly may appropriate funds to the Department 582
	714	+	of Education for the purposes of providing grants to local and state 583
	715	+	charter schools, pursuant to section 10-66ee, as amended by this act. If 584
	716	+	such funds are appropriated, an initial certificate of approval for a 585
	717	+	charter for a local or state charter school shall be effective and deemed a 586
	718	+	charter as of July first of the first fiscal year for which such funds are 587
	719	+	appropriated. 588
	720	+	(3) A charter or initial certificate of approval for a charter granted 589
	721	+	under this section shall not be considered a license, as defined in section 590
	722	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
	723	+
	724	+
	725	+
	726	+	LCO No. 4680 20 of 26
	727	+
	728	+	4-166, for the purposes of chapter 54. 591
	729	+	(b) Any not-for-profit organization that is exempt from taxation 592
	730	+	under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any 593
	731	+	subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, 594
	732	+	as amended from time to time, public or independent institution of 595
	733	+	higher education, local or regional board of education or two or more 596
	734	+	boards of education cooperatively, or regional educational service 597
	735	+	center may apply to the Commissioner of Education, at such time and 598
	736	+	in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, to obtain an initial 599
	737	+	certificate of approval for a charter, provided (1) the time and manner 600
	738	+	of application prescribed by the commissioner correlates with the 601
	739	+	development of the biennial budget of the state, and (2) no nonpublic 602
	740	+	elementary or secondary school may be established as a charter school 603
	741	+	and no parent or group of parents providing home instruction may 604
	742	+	establish a charter school for such instruction. 605
	743	+	(c) On and after July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall review 606
	744	+	[, annually,] all applications and grant initial certificates of approval for 607
	745	+	charters, in accordance with subsections (e) and (f) of this section, for a 608
	746	+	local or state charter school located in a town that has one or more 609
	747	+	schools that have been designated as a commissioner's network school, 610
	748	+	pursuant to section 10-223h, at the time of such application, or a town 611
	749	+	that has been designated as a low achieving school district, pursuant to 612
	750	+	section 10-223e, at the time of such application. (1) Except as provided 613
	751	+	for in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no state charter school shall 614
	752	+	enroll (A) (i) more than two hundred fifty students, or (ii) in the case of 615
	753	+	a kindergarten to grade eight, inclusive, school, more than three 616
	754	+	hundred students, or (B) twenty-five per cent of the enrollment of the 617
	755	+	school district in which the state charter school is to be located, 618
	756	+	whichever is less. (2) In the case of a state charter school found by the 619
	757	+	State Board of Education to have a demonstrated record of achievement, 620
	758	+	said board shall, upon application by such school to said board, waive 621
	759	+	the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection for such school. (3) 622
	760	+	The State Board of Education shall give preference to applicants for 623
	761	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
	762	+
	763	+
	764	+
	765	+	LCO No. 4680 21 of 26
	766	+
	767	+	charter schools (A) whose primary purpose is the establishment of 624
	768	+	education programs designed to serve one or more of the following 625
	769	+	student populations: (i) Students with a history of low academic 626
	770	+	performance, (ii) students who receive free or reduced priced lunches 627
	771	+	pursuant to federal law and regulations, (iii) students with a history of 628
	772	+	behavioral and social difficulties, (iv) students identified as requiring 629
	773	+	special education, (v) students who are multilingual learners, or (vi) 630
	774	+	students of a single gender; (B) whose primary purpose is to improve 631
	775	+	the academic performance of an existing school that has consistently 632
	776	+	demonstrated substandard academic performance, as determined by 633
	777	+	the Commissioner of Education; (C) that will serve students who reside 634
	778	+	in a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p; (D) that will 635
	779	+	serve students who reside in a district in which seventy-five per cent or 636
	780	+	more of the enrolled students are members of racial or ethnic minorities; 637
	781	+	(E) that demonstrate highly credible and specific strategies to attract, 638
	782	+	enroll and retain students from among the populations described in 639
	783	+	subparagraph (A)(i) to (A)(vi), inclusive, of this subdivision; or (F) that, 640
	784	+	in the case of an applicant for a state charter school, such state charter 641
	785	+	school will be located at a work-site or such applicant is an institution 642
	786	+	of higher education. In determining whether to grant an initial 643
	787	+	certificate of approval for a charter, the State Board of Education shall 644
	788	+	consider (i) the effect of the proposed charter school on (I) the reduction 645
	789	+	of racial, ethnic and economic isolation in the region in which it is to be 646
	790	+	located, (II) the regional distribution of charter schools in the state, (III) 647
	791	+	the potential of over-concentration of charter schools within a school 648
	792	+	district or in contiguous school districts, and (IV) the state's efforts to 649
	793	+	close achievement gaps, as defined in section 10-16oo, and (ii) the 650
	794	+	comments made at a public hearing conducted pursuant to subdivision 651
	795	+	(2) of subsection (e) of this section or subparagraph (B)(ii) of subdivision 652
	796	+	(1) of subsection (f) of this section. 653
	797	+	Sec. 12. Section 10-74v of the general statutes is repealed and the 654
	798	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 655
	799	+	[Not later than January 1, 2024, the] The Department of Education 656
	800	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
	801	+
	802	+
	803	+
	804	+	LCO No. 4680 22 of 26
	805	+
	806	+	shall develop [an informational handout] a bill of rights for students that 657
	807	+	explains what it means for a student to have an individualized 658
	808	+	education program or a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the 659
	809	+	Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, including 660
	810	+	what rights such student is entitled to in the classroom under such 661
	811	+	program or plan. Such [handout] bill of rights shall (1) be age-662
	812	+	appropriate, (2) be prepared separately for students in grades (A) 663
	813	+	kindergarten to four, inclusive, (B) five to eight, inclusive, and (C) nine 664
	814	+	to twelve, inclusive, (3) be translated into multiple languages, including 665
	815	+	English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Polish, and (4) include a 666
	816	+	glossary of the most common tools used in the implementation of such 667
	817	+	program or plan. The department shall make such [handout] bill of 668
	818	+	rights available to local and regional boards of education and post such 669
	819	+	[handout] bill of rights on the department's Internet web site. 670
	820	+	Sec. 13. Subparagraph (E) of subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of 671
	821	+	section 10-76d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is 672
	822	+	substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 673
	823	+	(E) Each local and regional board of education shall have in effect at 674
	824	+	the beginning of each school year an educational program for each child 675
	825	+	or pupil who has been identified as eligible for special education, and 676
	826	+	shall provide (i) the [informational handout] bill of rights for students 677
	827	+	described in section 10-74v to each, as amended by this act, child with 678
	828	+	an individualized education program or plan pursuant to Section 504 of 679
	829	+	the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and (ii) the Parent's Guide to Special 680
	830	+	Education in Connecticut developed by the Department of Education 681
	831	+	and the rights and resources available to such child in the provision of 682
	832	+	special education and related services. 683
	833	+	Sec. 14. Section 10-5 of the general statutes is amended by adding 684
	834	+	subsection (g) as follows (Effective July 1, 2025): 685
	835	+	(NEW) (g) The Department of Education shall establish criteria by 686
	836	+	which a local or regional board of education, or the governing board of 687
	837	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
	838	+
	839	+
	840	+
	841	+	LCO No. 4680 23 of 26
	842	+
	843	+	any other school that awards diplomas, may affix the Connecticut State 688
	844	+	Seal of Civics Education and Engagement on a diploma awarded to a 689
	845	+	student who has achieved a high level of proficiency in civics education 690
	846	+	and engagement. Such criteria shall include, but need not be limited to, 691
	847	+	(1) successful completion of history or social science courses for at least 692
	848	+	two school years, one of which shall be a course on the United States 693
	849	+	government or civics, (2) participation in at least one civic engagement 694
	850	+	project, such as community service, participation in student 695
	851	+	government or involvement in a civic organization, and (3) 696
	852	+	demonstrated proficiency in civics knowledge through a standardized 697
	853	+	assessment, portfolio of work that includes essays, projects or 698
	854	+	presentations related to civics or other mastery-based assessment or 699
	855	+	process. 700
	856	+	Sec. 15. Section 10-221a of the general statutes is amended by adding 701
	857	+	subsection (m) as follows (Effective July 1, 2025): 702
	858	+	(NEW) (m) Commencing with classes graduating in 2026, and for 703
	859	+	each graduating class thereafter, a local or regional board of education 704
	860	+	may affix the Connecticut State Seal of Civics Education and 705
	861	+	Engagement, as described in subsection (g) of section 10-5, as amended 706
	862	+	by this act, to a diploma awarded to a student who has achieved a high 707
	863	+	level of proficiency in civics education and engagement. The local or 708
	864	+	regional board of education shall include on such student's transcript a 709
	865	+	designation that the student received the Connecticut State Seal of 710
	866	+	Civics Education and Engagement. 711
	867	+	Sec. 16. Section 10-91j of the general statutes is repealed and the 712
	868	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 713
	869	+	(a) Any agreement entered into or amended on or after July 1, 2018, 714
	870	+	but prior to June 30, 2019, or any contract entered into or amended on 715
	871	+	or after July 1, 2019, pursuant to section 10-76d, as amended by this act, 716
	872	+	between a local or regional board of education and a private provider of 717
	873	+	special education services, as defined in section 10-91g, shall include an 718
	874	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
	875	+
	876	+
	877	+
	878	+	LCO No. 4680 24 of 26
	879	+
	880	+	explanation of how the tuition or costs for services provided under the 719
	881	+	agreement or contract are to be calculated. Any such agreement or 720
	882	+	contract may include the following provisions: (1) A requirement that 721
	883	+	such private provider of special education services submit monthly or 722
	884	+	quarterly reports to such board regarding the specific services and 723
	885	+	frequency of such services being provided by such private provider of 724
	886	+	special education services to students under the agreement or contract, 725
	887	+	and (2) authorization for such board to (A) review and reconcile such 726
	888	+	reports to the contracted services described in the agreement or contract, 727
	889	+	or (B) conduct periodic site visits at the location where such private 728
	890	+	provider of special education services provides services. 729
	891	+	(b) On and after July 1, 2019, a local or regional board of education 730
	892	+	shall not be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to subsection (b) of 731
	893	+	section 10-76g for any costs of special education paid by such board of 732
	894	+	education to a private provider of special education services unless such 733
	895	+	board of education has entered into a written contract with such private 734
	896	+	provider of special education services for the provision of such special 735
	897	+	education services. The individualized education program of a child 736
	898	+	shall not be considered a contract between a local or regional board of 737
	899	+	education and a private provider of special education services for 738
	900	+	purposes of this section. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 739
	901	+	to limit or interrupt the provision of special education and related 740
	902	+	services to a child by a local or regional board of education or private 741
	903	+	provider of special education services. 742
	904	+	(c) Any written contract entered into or amended on or after July 1, 743
	905	+	2025, between a local or regional board of education and a private 744
	906	+	provider of special education services shall include a provision that 745
	907	+	requires such private provider of special education services to submit a 746
	908	+	base tuition and cost for services for each school year in which services 747
	909	+	are to be provided pursuant to such contract to such local or regional 748
	910	+	board of education not later than December thirty-first preceding the 749
	911	+	school year in which services are to be provided. 750
	912	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
	913	+
	914	+
	915	+
	916	+	LCO No. 4680 25 of 26
	917	+
	918	+	Sec. 17. Subdivision (7) of subsection (d) of section 10-66ee of the 751
	919	+	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 752
	920	+	thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 753
	921	+	(7) In the case of a student identified as requiring special education, 754
	922	+	the school district in which the student resides shall: (A) Hold the 755
	923	+	planning and placement team meeting for such student and shall invite 756
	924	+	representatives from the charter school to participate in such meeting; 757
	925	+	and (B) pay the state charter school, on a quarterly basis, an amount 758
	926	+	equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of educating such 759
	927	+	student and the sum of the amount received by the state charter school 760
	928	+	for such student pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and 761
	929	+	amounts received from other state, federal, local or private sources 762
	930	+	calculated on a per pupil basis. Such school district shall be eligible for 763
	931	+	reimbursement pursuant to section 10-76g. The charter school a student 764
	932	+	requiring special education attends shall [be responsible for ensuring] 765
	933	+	ensure that such student receives the services mandated by the student's 766
	934	+	individualized education program whether such services are provided 767
	935	+	by the charter school or by the school district in which the student 768
	936	+	resides. For the purposes of this subsection, "reasonable cost" means the 769
	937	+	actual cost incurred by the charter school in providing and 770
	938	+	implementing the services mandated by a student's individualized 771
	939	+	education program. 772
619	940		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
620	941		sections:
621	942
622	943		Section 1 July 1, 2025 10-264l(b)
623		-	Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 10-266aa(i)
624		-	Sec. 3 from passage PA 23-205, Sec. 13(f)
625		-	Sec. 4 from passage PA 23-205, Sec. 32(e)
626		-	Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 10-264i
627		-	Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 10-145r Substitute Bill No. 1288
	944	+	Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 10-264l(h)
	945	+	Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 10-266aa(i)
	946	+	Sec. 4 from passage PA 23-205, Sec. 13(f)
	947	+	Sec. 5 from passage PA 23-205, Sec. 32(e)
	948	+	Sec. 6 from passage New section
	949	+	Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 10-264i
	950	+	Sec. 8 July 1, 2025 10-145r
	951	+	Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 10-145o
	952	+	Raised Bill No. 1288
628	953
629	954
630		-	LCO 18 of 18
631	955
632		-	Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 10-145o
633		-	Sec. 8 July 1, 2025 10-91j
	956	+	LCO No. 4680 26 of 26
634	957
635		-	ED Joint Favorable Subst.
	958	+	Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 10-145o(e)(1)
	959	+	Sec. 11 July 1, 2025 10-66bb(a) to (c)
	960	+	Sec. 12 July 1, 2025 10-74v
	961	+	Sec. 13 July 1, 2025 10-76d(a)(10)(E)
	962	+	Sec. 14 July 1, 2025 10-5(g)
	963	+	Sec. 15 July 1, 2025 10-221a(m)
	964	+	Sec. 16 July 1, 2025 10-91j
	965	+	Sec. 17 July 1, 2025 10-66ee(d)(7)
	966	+
	967	+	Statement of Purpose:
	968	+	To implement the recommendations of the Department of Education.
	969	+
	970	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	971	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	972	+	underlined.]
636	973