Bill Text: CT SB00175 | 2016 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Recommendations Of The Department Of Education.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-26 - Referred by Senate to Committee on Appropriations [SB00175 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2016-SB00175-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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February Session, 2016 |
*_____SB00175ED____031716____* |
AN ACT CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 10-5 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):
(a) The Commissioner of Education shall, in accordance with this section, issue a state high school diploma to any person (1) who successfully completes an examination approved by the commissioner, or (2) who (A) is seventeen years of age and has been officially withdrawn from school in accordance with the provisions of section 10-184 or is eighteen years of age or older, and (B) presents to the commissioner evidence demonstrating educational qualifications which the commissioner deems equivalent to those required for graduation from a public high school. Application for such a diploma shall be made in the manner and form prescribed by the commissioner provided, at the time of application to take the examination described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, the applicant is seventeen years of age or older, has been officially withdrawn from school, in accordance with section 10-184, for at least six months and has been advised, in such manner as may be prescribed by the commissioner, of the other options for high school completion and other available educational programs. For good cause shown, the commissioner may allow a person who is sixteen years of age to apply to take the examination, provided the commissioner may not issue a state high school diploma to such person until the person has attained seventeen years of age.
(b) Application to take or retake the examination described in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section shall be accompanied by a money order or certified check in the nonrefundable amount of thirteen dollars. This amount shall include the fee for the state high school diploma.
(c) No veteran, member of the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or any person under twenty-one years of age shall be required to pay the fees described in subsection (b) of this section. The commissioner may waive any fee described in subsection (b) upon the submission of evidence indicating an inability to pay.
(d) The Commissioner of Education shall keep a correct account of all money received under the provisions of this section and shall deposit with the State Treasurer all such money received by said commissioner. Funds paid to a local or regional board of education under this section shall be deposited in the school activity fund established under section 10-237 and expended to defray the costs of such testing and related administration and information.
(e) The commissioner shall establish criteria by which an "honors diploma" may be issued for exemplary performance on the examination.
(f) Not later than September 1, 2017, the State Board of Education shall establish criteria by which a local or regional board of education may affix the Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy on a diploma awarded to a student who has achieved a high level of proficiency in English and one or more foreign languages. For purposes of this subsection, "foreign language" means a world language other than English and includes American Sign Language and any language spoken by a federally recognized Native American tribe.
Sec. 2. Section 10-221a of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (k) as follows (Effective July 1, 2016):
(NEW) (k) Commencing with classes graduating in 2018, and for each graduating class thereafter, a local or regional board of education may affix the Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy, as described in subsection (f) of section 10-5, as amended by this act, to a diploma awarded to a student who has achieved a high level of proficiency in English and one or more foreign languages, as defined in said subsection (f). The local or regional board of education shall include on such student's transcript a designation that the student received the Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy.
Sec. 3. Section 10-146c of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or territories or possessions of the United States; and
(2) "Educator preparation program" means a program designed to qualify an individual for professional certification as an educator provided by institutions of higher education or other providers, including, but not limited to, an alternate route to certification program.
(b) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, as agent for the state shall establish or join interstate agreements with other states to facilitate the certification of qualified educators from other states. [, territories or possessions of the United States, or the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, provided] Any such interstate agreement shall include provisions requiring candidates for certification to, at a minimum, (1) hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, (2) have fulfilled post preparation assessments as approved by the commissioner, [have taught under an appropriate certificate issued by another state, territory or possession of the United States or the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and meet all conditions as mandated by such interstate agreement] and (3) have successfully completed an approved educator preparation program. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 10-145b and 10-145f, the State Board of Education shall issue [an initial educator] the appropriate professional certificate to any [person] applicant, based on such applicant's qualifications, who satisfies the requirements of [this section and] the appropriate interstate agreement.
(c) If the commissioner is unable to establish or join an interstate agreement with another state, the commissioner may create and make available a recognition statement that specifies the states, assessments and educator preparation programs that the commissioner will recognize for purposes of issuing professional certification under sections 10-145b and 10-145f.
Sec. 4. Section 10-145h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):
(a) [On and after July 1, 2015, the] The State Board of Education shall require an applicant for certification as a bilingual education teacher to demonstrate written and oral competency in English and [written and oral competency] in the other language of instruction as a condition of certification. Written competency in English shall be demonstrated by successful passage of the essential skills test approved by the State Board of Education. Written competency in the other language shall be demonstrated on an examination, if available, of comparable difficulty as specified by the Department of Education. If such an examination is not available, competency shall be demonstrated by an appropriate alternative method as specified by the department. Oral competency [in the other language] shall be demonstrated by an appropriate method specified by the Department of Education.
(b) [On and after July 1, 2015, the] The State Board of Education shall require persons seeking to become (1) elementary level bilingual education teachers to meet coursework requirements in elementary education and bilingual education, and (2) secondary level bilingual education teachers to meet coursework requirements in both the subject area they will teach and in bilingual education. The State Board of Education may issue an endorsement in bilingual education to an applicant who has (A) completed coursework requirements in (i) elementary education and bilingual education, or (ii) the subject area they will teach and bilingual education, and (B) successful passage of examination requirements for bilingual education, as approved by the State Board of Education.
(c) [On and after July 1, 2000, the] The State Board of Education shall require bilingual education teachers holding provisional educator certificates to meet the requirements of this subsection in order to qualify for a professional educator certificate to teach bilingual education. (1) Such bilingual education teachers who teach on the elementary level shall take fifteen credit hours in bilingual education and fifteen credit hours in language arts, reading and mathematics. (2) Such bilingual education teachers who teach on the middle or secondary level shall take fifteen credit hours in bilingual education and fifteen credit hours in the subject matter that they teach. Such professional educator certificate shall be valid for bilingual education and the grade level and content area of preparation.
(d) Certification in elementary bilingual education shall be valid for grades kindergarten to eight, inclusive.
Sec. 5. Subsection (h) of section 10-262u of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):
(h) Any balance remaining for each local or regional board of education at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward for such local or regional board of education for the next fiscal year for use in accordance with the plan approved pursuant to subsection (d) of this section and the provisions of subsection (c) of section 10-262i.
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2016) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, the Department of Education shall administer a parent university program to provide grants to educational reform districts, as defined in section 10-262u of the general statutes, as amended by this act, selected by the Commissioner of Education, for the establishment of a parent university. Each parent university established under this section shall provide district-wide educational opportunities for parents and educational opportunities for parents of students enrolled in certain schools and who reside in certain neighborhoods. The local or regional board of education for an educational reform district or a nonprofit organization partnering with such board of education may apply to the commissioner for a grant under this section at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes. The department may accept private donations for purposes of the parent university program, provided such donations do not limit the scope of parent university program grants pursuant to this section.
Sec. 7. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 19 of public act 15-1 of the June special session, grants-in-aid for capital start-up costs paid to the Capitol Region Education Council, in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (i) of section 13 of public act 15-1 of the June special session and used pursuant to said subsection (i), shall not be subject to lien or repayment.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 38 of public act 15-1 of the June special session, grants-in-aid for capital start-up costs paid to the Capitol Region Education Council, in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (k) of section 32 of public act 15-1 of the June special session and used pursuant to said subsection (k), shall not be subject to lien or repayment.
Sec. 8. Subsections (f) and (g) of section 10-266p of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(f) In addition to the amounts allocated in subsection (a), and subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of this section, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, the State Board of Education shall allocate two million thirty-nine thousand six hundred eighty-six dollars to the towns that rank one to three, inclusive, in population pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (a), and for the fiscal [years] year ending June 30, 2007, [to June 30, 2015] and each fiscal year thereafter, the State Board of Education shall allocate two million six hundred ten thousand seven hundred ninety-eight dollars to the towns that rank one to three, inclusive, in population pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (a).
(g) In addition to the amounts allocated in subsection (a) and subsections (c) to (f), inclusive, of this section, for [the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, the State Board of Education shall allocate three million two hundred sixteen thousand nine hundred eight dollars as follows: Each priority school district shall receive an allocation based on the ratio of the amount it is eligible to receive pursuant to subsection (a) and subsections (c) to (f), inclusive, of this section to the total amount all priority school districts are eligible to receive pursuant to said subsection (a) and said subsections (c) to (f), inclusive. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, the State Board of Education shall allocate two million nine hundred twenty-five thousand four hundred eighty-one dollars as follows: Each priority school district shall receive an allocation based on the ratio of the amount it is eligible to receive pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and subsections (c) to (f), inclusive, of this section to the total amount all priority school districts are eligible to receive pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and subsections (c) to (f), inclusive, of this section. For] the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and each fiscal year thereafter, the State Board of Education shall allocate two million eight hundred eighty-two thousand three hundred sixty-eight dollars as follows: Each priority school district shall receive an allocation based on the ratio of the amount it is eligible to receive pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and subsections (c) to (f), inclusive, of this section to the total amount all priority school districts are eligible to receive pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and subsections (c) to (f), inclusive, of this section. For the fiscal year ending June 30, [2014] 2016, a priority school district may carry forward any unexpended funds allocated after May 1, [2014] 2016, pursuant to this subsection, into the fiscal year ending June 30, [2015] 2017.
Sec. 9. Subsection (i) of section 10-266p of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(i) In addition to the amounts allocated in subsection (a) and subsections (c) to (h), inclusive, of this section, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, and each fiscal year thereafter, the State Board of Education shall allocate two million twenty thousand dollars to the town ranked sixth when all towns are ranked from highest to lowest in population, based on the most recent federal decennial census, except that for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, the State Board of Education shall allocate two million two hundred seventy thousand [seventy] dollars to said town.
Sec. 10. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 10-264i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(4) In addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of Education may provide supplemental transportation grants to regional educational service centers for the purposes of transportation to interdistrict magnet schools. Any such grant shall be provided within available appropriations and after the commissioner has reviewed and approved the total interdistrict magnet school transportation budget for a regional educational service center, including all revenue and expenditure estimates. [For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, in addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of Education, with the approval of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, may provide supplemental transportation grants to the Hartford school district and the Capitol Region Education Council for the purposes of transportation of students who are not residents of Hartford to interdistrict magnet schools operated by the Capitol Region Education Council or the Hartford school district. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, in addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of Education may provide supplemental transportation grants to regional educational service centers for the purposes of transportation to interdistrict magnet schools that assist the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al. Any such grant shall be provided within available appropriations and upon a comprehensive financial review of all transportation activities as prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner may require the regional educational service center to provide an independent financial review, by an auditor selected by the Commissioner of Education, the costs of which may be paid from funds that are part of the supplemental transportation grant. Any such grant shall be paid as follows: Up to fifty per cent of the grant on or before June 30, 2012, and the balance on or before September 1, 2012, upon completion of the comprehensive financial review. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2015, inclusive, in addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of Education may provide supplemental transportation to interdistrict magnet schools that assist the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al. and for transportation provided by EASTCONN to interdistrict magnet schools. Any such grant shall be provided within available appropriations and upon a comprehensive financial review, by an auditor selected by the Commissioner of Education, the costs of such review may be paid from funds that are part of the supplemental transportation grant. Any such grant shall be paid as follows: For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, up to fifty per cent of the grant on or before June 30, 2013, and the balance on or before September 1, 2013, upon completion of the comprehensive financial review; for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, up to fifty per cent of the grant on or before June 30, 2014, and the balance on or before September 1, 2014, upon completion of the comprehensive financial review; and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, up to fifty per cent of the grant on or before June 30, 2015, and the balance on or before September 1, 2015, upon completion of the comprehensive financial review] For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2017, in addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of Education may provide supplemental transportation to the Capitol Region Education Council for the purposes of transportation of students to interdistrict magnet schools that assist the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended. Any such grant shall be provided within available appropriations and upon a comprehensive financial review, by an auditor selected by the Commissioner of Education, the costs of such review may be paid from funds that are appropriated for the supplemental transportation grant. Any such grant shall be paid in the subsequent fiscal year, upon completion of the comprehensive financial review.
Sec. 11. Subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of section 10-264l of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year thereafter, grants made pursuant to subparagraph (E) of subdivision (3) of subsection (c) of this section shall be paid as follows: Fifty per cent of the amount not later than September first based on estimated student enrollment for the first semester on [September] August first, and another fifty per cent not later than May first of each fiscal year based on actual student enrollment for the second semester on February first. The May first payment shall be adjusted to reflect actual interdistrict magnet school program enrollment for those students who have been enrolled at such school for at least two semesters of the school year, using the data of record, and actual student enrollment for those students who have been enrolled at such school for only one semester, using data of record. The May first payment shall be further adjusted for the difference between the total grant received by the magnet school operator in the prior fiscal year and the revised total grant amount calculated for the prior fiscal year where the financial audit submitted by the interdistrict magnet school operator pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (n) of this section indicates an overpayment by the department.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
July 1, 2016 |
10-5 |
Sec. 2 |
July 1, 2016 |
10-221a |
Sec. 3 |
July 1, 2016 |
10-146c |
Sec. 4 |
July 1, 2016 |
10-145h |
Sec. 5 |
July 1, 2016 |
10-262u(h) |
Sec. 6 |
July 1, 2016 |
New section |
Sec. 7 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 8 |
from passage |
10-266p(f) and (g) |
Sec. 9 |
from passage |
10-266p(i) |
Sec. 10 |
from passage |
10-264i(a)(4) |
Sec. 11 |
July 1, 2016 |
10-264l(d)(2) |
ED |
Joint Favorable Subst. |