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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1349
January Session, 2025
AN ACT CONCERNING THE CHARTER SCHOOL APPROVAL
PROCESS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) There is established the State-1
wide Office of School Choice within the Department of Education, 2
which shall be under the management of a chief. The chief shall be 3
qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office, 4
including, but not limited to, experience in charter school authorization, 5
interdistrict magnet school programs and charter school enrollment 6
practices, funding and other resourcing, infrastructure planning and 7
development and the implementation of the requirements on 8
interdistrict magnet school programs assisting the state in meeting its 9
obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 10
(1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect. The State-wide Office 11
of School Choice shall have the authority, in coordination with the 12
Commissioner of Education, to (1) oversee the request for proposal 13
process for any applicant for a certificate of approval for a state charter 14
school pursuant to section 10-66bb of the general statutes, as amended 15
by this act, (2) oversee the charter school renewal process for each 16
charter school pursuant to said section 10-66bb of the general statutes, 17
as amended by this act, (3) create, manage and publish a centralized 18
repository for all information regarding interdistrict magnet school 19 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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programs and charter school district governance, including, but not 20
limited to, (A) information related to the request and renewal processes 21
under said section 10-66bb of the general statutes, as amended by this 22
act, (B) board membership and term dates, if applicable, (C) board 23
meeting dates, agendas and minutes, (D) budget documents, as 24
required, and (E) interdistrict magnet school program and charter 25
school policies, (4) issue a report pursuant to section 10-66gg of the 26
general statutes, as amended by this act, and (5) assist the Regional 27
School Choice Office to implement the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 28
Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, where 29
applicable. 30
Sec. 2. (Effective July 1, 2025) The State-wide Office of School Choice, 31
established pursuant to section 1 of this act, shall develop a report on 32
strengthening and building greater transparency in the initial funding 33
process for charter schools. Such report shall include, but need not be 34
limited to, (1) examples from other states on the approval and initial 35
funding process of charter schools, (2) provisions to enhance 36
transparency and communication between charter school applicants, 37
families, local and regional boards of education, interdistrict magnet 38
school programs, the Department of Education and the State Board of 39
Education, and (3) recommendations on streamlining and improving 40
the charter funding and approval process under section 10-66bb of the 41
general statutes, as amended by this act. In developing such report, the 42
office shall consult with students and families, teachers, administrators 43
and representatives from the Connecticut Education Association, the 44
Connecticut Charter School Association and the Connecticut Coalition 45
for Achievement Now. Not later than July 1, 2026, the office shall submit 46
such report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 47
having cognizance of matters relating to education and appropriations 48
and the budgets of state agencies, in accordance with the provisions of 49
section 11-4a of the general statutes. 50
Sec. 3. Section 10-66bb of the general statutes is repealed and the 51
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 52 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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(a) (1) On and after July 1, [1997, and prior to July 1, 2015] 2026, the 53
State Board of Education may grant charters for local and state charter 54
schools in accordance with this section. On and after July 1, [2015] 2026, 55
such state board may grant [initial] certificates of approval for charters 56
for local and state charter schools in accordance with this section. Upon 57
granting [an initial] a certificate of approval for a charter, such state 58
board shall submit a copy of the [initial] certificate of approval for the 59
charter and a summary of the comments made at a public hearing 60
conducted pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section or 61
subparagraph (B)(ii) of subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of this section, 62
in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 63
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education 64
and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. 65
(2) The General Assembly may appropriate funds to the Department 66
of Education for the purposes of providing grants to local and state 67
charter schools, pursuant to section 10-66ee. [If such funds are 68
appropriated, an initial certificate of approval for a charter for a local or 69
state charter school shall be effective and deemed a charter as of July 70
first of the first fiscal year for which such funds are appropriated.] A 71
charter or initial certificate for a charter school under this section may 72
use funds as may be available from federal, state or other sources, as 73
approved by the governing authority of a charter school. 74
(3) A charter [or initial] certificate of approval for a charter granted 75
under this section shall not be considered a license, as defined in section 76
4-166, for the purposes of chapter 54. 77
(b) [Any] On or before January 1, 2026, and by January first of each 78
year thereafter, the Commissioner of Education shall issue a request for 79
proposals for any not-for-profit organization that is exempt from 80
taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 81
or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United 82
States, as amended from time to time, public or independent institution 83
of higher education, local or regional board of education or two or more 84
boards of education cooperatively, or regional educational service 85 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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center [may] to apply [to the Commissioner of Education, at such time 86
and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, to obtain an initial] 87
for a certificate of approval for a charter, provided no nonpublic 88
elementary or secondary school may be established as a charter school 89
and no parent or group of parents providing home instruction may 90
establish a charter school for such instruction. Any such request for 91
proposals issued under this subsection shall include a deadline of June 92
1, 2026, and by June first of each year thereafter. 93
(c) [On and after July 1, 2015] Not later than September 15, 2026, and 94
by September fifteenth of each year thereafter, the State Board of 95
Education shall review, annually, all applications submitted pursuant 96
to this section and grant [initial] certificates of approval for charters. [, 97
in accordance with subsections (e) and (f) of this section, for a local or 98
state charter school located in a town that has one or more schools that 99
have been designated as a commissioner's network school, pursuant to 100
section 10-223h, at the time of such application, or a town that has been 101
designated as a low achieving school district, pursuant to section 10-102
223e, at the time of such application.] (1) Except as provided for in 103
subdivision (2) of this subsection, no state charter school shall enroll (A) 104
(i) more than two hundred fifty students, or (ii) in the case of a 105
kindergarten to grade eight, inclusive, school, more than three hundred 106
students, or (B) twenty-five per cent of the enrollment of the school 107
district in which the state charter school is to be located, whichever is 108
less. (2) In the case of a state charter school found by the State Board of 109
Education to have a demonstrated record of achievement, said board 110
shall, upon application by such school to said board, waive the 111
provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection for such school. (3) The 112
State Board of Education shall give preference to applicants for charter 113
schools (A) whose primary purpose is the establishment of education 114
programs designed to serve one or more of the following student 115
populations: (i) Students with a history of low academic performance, 116
(ii) students who receive free or reduced priced lunches pursuant to 117
federal law and regulations, (iii) students with a history of behavioral 118
and social difficulties, (iv) students identified as requiring special 119 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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education, (v) students who are multilingual learners, or (vi) students of 120
a single gender; (B) whose primary purpose is to improve the academic 121
performance of an existing school that has consistently demonstrated 122
substandard academic performance, as determined by the 123
Commissioner of Education; (C) that will serve students who reside in 124
a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p; (D) that will serve 125
students who reside in a district in which seventy-five per cent or more 126
of the enrolled students are members of racial or ethnic minorities; (E) 127
that demonstrate highly credible and specific strategies to attract, enroll 128
and retain students from among the populations described in 129
subparagraph (A)(i) to (A)(vi), inclusive, of this subdivision; or (F) that, 130
in the case of an applicant for a state charter school, such state charter 131
school will be located at a work-site or such applicant is an institution 132
of higher education. In determining whether to grant [an initial] a 133
certificate of approval for a charter, the State Board of Education shall 134
consider (i) the effect of the proposed charter school on (I) the reduction 135
of racial, ethnic and economic isolation in the region in which it is to be 136
located, (II) the regional distribution of charter schools in the state, (III) 137
the potential of over-concentration of charter schools within a school 138
district or in contiguous school districts, and (IV) the state's efforts to 139
close achievement gaps, as defined in section 10-16oo, and (ii) the 140
comments made at a public hearing conducted pursuant to subdivision 141
(2) of subsection (e) of this section or subparagraph (B)(ii) of subdivision 142
(1) of subsection (f) of this section. 143
(d) Applications pursuant to this section shall include a description 144
of: (1) The mission, purpose and any specialized focus of the proposed 145
charter school; (2) the interest in the community for the establishment of 146
the charter school; (3) the school governance and procedures for the 147
establishment of a governing council that (A) includes (i) teachers and 148
parents and guardians of students enrolled in the school, and (ii) the 149
chairperson of the local or regional board of education of the town in 150
which the charter school is located and which has jurisdiction over a 151
school that resembles the approximate grade configuration of the 152
charter school, or the designee of such chairperson, provided such 153 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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designee is a member of the board of education or the superintendent of 154
schools for the school district, or the superintendent's designee, and (B) 155
is responsible for the oversight of charter school operations, provided 156
no member or employee of the governing council may have a personal 157
or financial interest in the assets, real or personal, of the school; (4) the 158
financial plan for operation of the school, provided no application fees 159
or other fees for attendance, except as provided in this section, may be 160
charged; (5) the educational program, instructional methodology and 161
services to be offered to students; (6) the number and qualifications of 162
teachers and administrators to be employed in the school; (7) the 163
organization of the school in terms of the ages or grades to be taught 164
and the total estimated enrollment of the school; (8) the student 165
admission criteria and procedures to (A) ensure effective public 166
information, (B) ensure open access on a space available basis, including 167
the enrollment of students during the school year if spaces become 168
available in the charter school, (C) promote a diverse student body, and 169
(D) ensure that the school complies with the provisions of section 10-15c 170
and that it does not discriminate on the basis of disability, athletic 171
performance or proficiency in the English language, provided the school 172
may limit enrollment to a particular grade level or specialized 173
educational focus and, if there is not space available for all students 174
seeking enrollment, the school may give preference to siblings but shall 175
otherwise determine enrollment by a lottery, except the State Board of 176
Education may waive the requirements for such enrollment lottery 177
pursuant to subsection (j) of this section; (9) a means to assess student 178
performance that includes participation in mastery examinations, 179
pursuant to section 10-14n; (10) procedures for teacher evaluation and 180
professional development for teachers and administrators; (11) the 181
provision of school facilities, pupil transportation and student health 182
and welfare services; (12) procedures to encourage involvement by 183
parents and guardians of enrolled students in student learning, school 184
activities and school decision-making; (13) procedures to document 185
efforts to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of staff; (14) a five-year 186
plan to sustain the maintenance and operation of the school; (15) a 187
student recruitment and retention plan that shall include, but not be 188 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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limited to, a clear description of a plan and the capacity of the school to 189
attract, enroll and retain students from among the populations 190
described in subparagraph (A)(i) to (A)(v), inclusive, of subdivision (3) 191
of subsection (c) of this section; (16) a plan to share student learning 192
practices and experiences with the local or regional board of education 193
of the town in which the proposed charter school is to be located; and 194
(17) in the case of an application in which the governing council of the 195
proposed charter school intends to contract with a charter management 196
organization for whole school management services: (A) Evidence of the 197
charter management organization's ability to (i) serve student 198
populations that are similar to the student population that will be served 199
by the proposed charter school, (ii) create strong academic outcomes for 200
students, and (iii) successfully manage nonacademic school functions, 201
(B) a term sheet that sets forth (i) the length of the contract for whole 202
school management services, (ii) the roles and responsibilities of the 203
governing council of the proposed charter school, the staff of the 204
proposed charter school and the charter management organization, (iii) 205
the scope of services and resources to be provided by the charter 206
management organization, (iv) the performance evaluation measures 207
and timelines, (v) the compensation structure, including a clear 208
identification of all fees to be paid to the charter management 209
organization, (vi) the methods of contract oversight and enforcement, 210
and (vii) the conditions for renewal and termination of the contract, and 211
(C) evidence of compliance with the provisions of section 10-66tt. 212
Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of section 10-66dd, an 213
application may include, or a charter school may file, requests to waive 214
provisions of the general statutes and regulations not required under 215
sections 10-66aa to 10-66nn, inclusive, and which are within the 216
jurisdiction of the State Board of Education. 217
(e) An application for the establishment of a local charter school shall 218
be submitted to the local or regional board of education of the school 219
district in which the local charter school is to be located for approval 220
pursuant to this subsection. The local or regional board of education 221
shall: (1) Review the application; (2) hold a public hearing in the school 222 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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district on such application; (3) survey teachers and parents in the school 223
district to determine if there is sufficient interest in the establishment 224
and operation of the local charter school; and (4) vote on a complete 225
application not later than seventy-five days after the date of receipt of 226
such application. Such board of education may approve the application 227
by a majority vote of the members of the board present and voting at a 228
regular or special meeting of the board called for such purpose. If the 229
application is approved, the board shall forward the application to the 230
State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall vote on the 231
application not later than sixty days after the date of receipt of such 232
application. Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, the 233
State Board of Education may approve the application and grant the 234
[initial] certificate of approval for the charter for the local charter school 235
or reject such application by a majority vote of the members of the state 236
board present and voting at a regular or special meeting of the state 237
board called for such purpose. The State Board of Education may 238
condition granting the [initial] certificate of approval for the charter for 239
the local charter school on the applicant meeting certain conditions 240
determined by the Commissioner of Education to be necessary and may 241
authorize the commissioner to release the [initial] certificate of approval 242
for the charter when the commissioner determines such conditions are 243
met. After [an initial] a certificate of approval for a charter for a local 244
charter school is deemed a charter pursuant to subdivision (2) of 245
subsection (a) of this section, such charter may be valid for a period of 246
time of up to five years. The state board may allow the applicant to delay 247
its opening for a period of up to one school year in order for the 248
applicant to fully prepare to provide appropriate instructional services. 249
On and after July 1, [2015] 2025, any [initial] certificate of approval for a 250
charter granted by the state board to a local charter school shall include 251
academic and organizational performance goals, developed by the state 252
board, that set forth the performance indicators, measures and metrics 253
that will be used by the state board to evaluate the local charter school. 254
(f) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (2) of this 255
subsection, an application for the establishment of a state charter school 256 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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shall be (A) submitted to the State Board of Education for approval in 257
accordance with the provisions of this subsection, and (B) filed with the 258
local or regional board of education in the school district in which the 259
charter school is to be located. The state board shall: (i) Review such 260
application; (ii) hold a public hearing on such application in the school 261
district in which such state charter school is to be located; (iii) solicit and 262
review comments on the application from the local or regional board of 263
education for the school district in which such charter school is to be 264
located and from the local or regional boards of education for school 265
districts that are contiguous to the district in which such school is to be 266
located; and (iv) vote on a complete application not later than ninety 267
days after the date of receipt of such application. The State Board of 268
Education may approve an application and grant the [initial] certificate 269
of approval for the charter for the state charter school by a majority vote 270
of the members of the state board present and voting at a regular or 271
special meeting of the state board called for such purpose. The State 272
Board of Education may condition granting the [initial] certificate of 273
approval for the charter for the state charter school on the applicant 274
meeting certain conditions determined by the Commissioner of 275
Education to be necessary and may authorize the commissioner to 276
release the [initial] certificate of approval for the charter when the 277
commissioner determines such conditions are met. After [an initial] a 278
certificate of approval for a charter for a state charter school is deemed 279
a charter pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section, 280
such charter may be valid for a period of time of up to five years. The 281
state board may allow the applicant to delay its opening for a period of 282
up to one school year in order for the applicant to fully prepare to 283
provide appropriate instructional services. On and after July 1, [2015] 284
2025, any [initial] certificate of approval for a charter granted by the state 285
board to a state charter school shall include academic and organizational 286
performance goals, developed by the state board, that set forth the 287
performance indicators, measures and metrics that will be used by the 288
state board to evaluate the state charter school. 289
(2) On and after July 1, 2012, and before July 1, 2015, the State Board 290 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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of Education shall not approve more than four applications for the 291
establishment of new state charter schools unless two of the four such 292
applications are for the establishment of two new state charter schools 293
whose mission, purpose and specialized focus is to provide dual 294
language programs or other models focusing on language acquisition 295
for multilanguage learners. Approval of applications under this 296
subdivision shall be in accordance with the provisions of this section. 297
(g) Charters may be renewed, upon application, in accordance with 298
the provisions of this section for the granting of such charters. Upon 299
application for such renewal, the State Board of Education may 300
commission an independent appraisal of the performance of the charter 301
school that includes, but is not limited to, an evaluation of the school's 302
compliance with the provisions of this section and, on and after July 1, 303
2015, progress in meeting the academic and organizational performance 304
goals set forth in the charter granted to the charter school. The State 305
Board of Education shall consider the results of any such appraisal in 306
determining whether to renew such charter. The State Board of 307
Education may deny an application for the renewal of a charter if (1) 308
student progress has not been sufficiently demonstrated, as determined 309
by the commissioner, (2) the governing council has not been sufficiently 310
responsible for the operation of the school or has misused or spent 311
public funds in a manner that is detrimental to the educational interests 312
of the students attending the charter school, (3) the school has not been 313
in compliance with the terms of the charter, applicable laws and 314
regulations, [(4) the efforts of the school have been insufficient to 315
effectively attract, enroll and retain students from among the following 316
populations: (A) Students with a history of low academic performance, 317
(B) students who receive free or reduced priced lunches pursuant to 318
federal law and regulations, (C) students with a history of behavioral 319
and social difficulties, (D) students identified as requiring special 320
education, or (E) students who are multilingual learners, or (5)] or (4) 321
the governing council of the state or local charter school has not 322
provided evidence that such council has initiated substantive 323
communication with the local or regional board of education of the town 324 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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in which the state or local charter school is located to share student 325
learning practices and experiences. If the State Board of Education does 326
not renew a charter, it shall notify the governing council of the charter 327
school of the reasons for such nonrenewal. On and after July 1, 2015, any 328
charter renewed by the State Board of Education shall include academic 329
and organizational performance goals, developed by the state board, 330
that set forth the performance indicators, measures and metrics that will 331
be used by the state board to evaluate the charter school. 332
(h) The Commissioner of Education may at any time place a charter 333
school on probation if (1) the school has failed to (A) adequately 334
demonstrate student progress, as determined by the commissioner, (B) 335
comply with the terms of its charter or with applicable laws and 336
regulations, (C) achieve measurable progress in reducing racial, ethnic 337
and economic isolation, or (D) maintain its nonsectarian status, or (2) the 338
governing council has demonstrated an inability to provide effective 339
leadership to oversee the operation of the charter school or has not 340
ensured that public funds are expended prudently or in a manner 341
required by law. If a charter school is placed on probation, the 342
commissioner shall provide written notice to the charter school of the 343
reasons for such placement, not later than five days after the placement, 344
and shall require the charter school to file with the Department of 345
Education a corrective action plan acceptable to the commissioner not 346
later than thirty-five days from the date of such placement. The charter 347
school shall implement a corrective action plan accepted by the 348
commissioner not later than thirty days after the date of such 349
acceptance. The commissioner may impose any additional terms of 350
probation on the school that the commissioner deems necessary to 351
protect the educational or financial interests of the state. The charter 352
school shall comply with any such additional terms not later than thirty 353
days after the date of their imposition. The commissioner shall 354
determine the length of time of the probationary period, which may be 355
up to one year, provided the commissioner may extend such period, for 356
up to one additional year, if the commissioner deems it necessary. In the 357
event that the charter school does not file or implement the corrective 358 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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action plan within the required time period or does not comply with any 359
additional terms within the required time period, the Commissioner of 360
Education may withhold grant funds from the school until the plan is 361
fully implemented or the school complies with the terms of probation, 362
provided the commissioner may extend the time period for such 363
implementation and compliance for good cause shown. Whenever a 364
charter school is placed on probation, the commissioner shall notify the 365
parents or guardians of students attending the school of the 366
probationary status of the school and the reasons for such status. During 367
the term of probation, the commissioner may require the school to file 368
interim reports concerning any matter the commissioner deems relevant 369
to the probationary status of the school, including financial reports or 370
statements. No charter school on probation may increase its student 371
enrollment or engage in the recruitment of new students without the 372
consent of the commissioner. 373
(i) The State Board of Education may revoke a charter if a charter 374
school has failed to: (1) Comply with the terms of probation, including 375
the failure to file or implement a corrective action plan; (2) demonstrate 376
satisfactory student progress, as determined by the commissioner; (3) 377
comply with the terms of its charter or applicable laws and regulations; 378
or (4) manage its public funds in a prudent or legal manner. Unless an 379
emergency exists, prior to revoking a charter, the State Board of 380
Education shall provide the governing council of the charter school with 381
a written notice of the reasons for the revocation, including the 382
identification of specific incidents of noncompliance with the law, 383
regulation or charter or other matters warranting revocation of the 384
charter. The State Board of Education shall also provide the governing 385
council with the opportunity to demonstrate compliance with all 386
requirements for the retention of its charter by providing the State Board 387
of Education or a subcommittee of the board, as determined by the State 388
Board of Education, with a written or oral presentation. Such 389
presentation shall include an opportunity for the governing council to 390
present documentary and testimonial evidence to refute the facts cited 391
by the State Board of Education for the proposed revocation or in 392 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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justification of its activities. Such opportunity shall not constitute a 393
contested case within the meaning of chapter 54. The State Board of 394
Education shall determine, not later than thirty days after the date of an 395
oral presentation or receipt of a written presentation, whether and when 396
the charter shall be revoked and notify the governing council of the 397
decision and the reasons therefor. A decision to revoke a charter shall 398
not constitute a final decision for purposes of chapter 54. In the event an 399
emergency exists in which the commissioner finds that there is 400
imminent harm to the students attending a charter school, the State 401
Board of Education may immediately revoke the charter of the school, 402
provided the notice concerning the reasons for the revocation is sent to 403
the governing council not later than ten days after the date of revocation 404
and the governing council is provided an opportunity to make a 405
presentation to the board not later than twenty days from the date of 406
such notice. 407
(j) (1) The governing council of a state or local charter school may 408
apply to the State Board of Education for a waiver of the requirements 409
of the enrollment lottery described in subdivision (8) of subsection (d) 410
of this section, provided such state or local charter school has as its 411
primary purpose the establishment of education programs designed to 412
serve one or more of the following populations: (A) Students with a 413
history of behavioral and social difficulties, (B) students identified as 414
requiring special education, (C) students who are multilingual learners, 415
or (D) students of a single gender. 416
(2) An enrollment lottery described in subdivision (8) of subsection 417
(d) of this section shall not be held for a local charter school that is 418
established at a school that is among the schools with a percentage equal 419
to or less than five per cent when all schools are ranked highest to lowest 420
in accountability index scores, as defined in section 10-223e. 421
(3) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection, 422
on and after July 1, 2023, no application for enrollment in a state or local 423
charter school shall inquire or request information about an applicant 424
student's need for or receipt of special education and related services, 425 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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and the criteria for administering an enrollment lottery for a state or 426
local charter school shall not include consideration of a student's need 427
for or status as requiring special education and related services. 428
Sec. 4. Section 10-66gg of the general statutes is repealed and the 429
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 430
Not later than January 1, 2012, and biennially thereafter, [within 431
available appropriations,] the Commissioner of Education shall, in 432
coordination with the State-wide Office of School Choice established 433
pursuant to section 1 of this act, review and report, in accordance with 434
the provisions of section 11-4a, on the operation of such charter schools 435
as may be established pursuant to sections 10-66aa to 10-66ff, inclusive, 436
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 437
cognizance of matters relating to education. Such report shall include: 438
(1) Recommendations for any statutory changes that would facilitate 439
expansion in the number of charter schools; (2) a compilation of school 440
profiles pursuant to section 10-66cc; (3) an assessment of the adequacy 441
of funding pursuant to section 10-66ee; [and] (4) the adequacy and 442
availability of suitable facilities for such schools; (5) a plan for 443
streamlining student enrollment, mobility and attrition policies and 444
data collection; (6) a description of the development and use of effective 445
academic, operational and human resources practices; and (7) 446
recommendations for expanding interdistrict collaboration, formal 447
partnerships and cooperatives designed to enhance academic, art, 448
music, athletic and extracurricular opportunities for students. 449
Sec. 5. Section 10-66rr of the general statutes is repealed and the 450
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 451
On and after July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall require 452
members of the governing council of a state or local charter school and 453
members of a charter management organization to submit to a records 454
check of the Department of Children and Families child abuse and 455
neglect registry, established pursuant to section 17a-101k, and to state 456
and national criminal history records checks before the state board 457 Substitute Bill No. 1349
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grants [initial] certificates of approval for charters pursuant to section 458
10-66bb, as amended by this act, or before such members may be hired 459
by the governing council of a state or local charter school or charter 460
management organization. The governing council of a state or local 461
charter school shall require each contractor doing business with a state 462
or local charter school, who performs a service involving direct student 463
contact, to submit to a records check of the Department of Children and 464
Families child abuse and neglect registry, established pursuant to 465
section 17a-101k, and to state and national criminal history records 466
checks before such contractor begins to perform such service. 467
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 10-66bb
Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 10-66gg
Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 10-66rr
ED Joint Favorable Subst. C/R APP