Bill Text: CT SB00996 | 2013 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Recommendations By The Legislative Commissioners For Technical Revisions To The Education Statutes.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Passed) 2013-05-28 - Signed by the Governor [SB00996 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2013-SB00996-Chaptered.html
AN ACT CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONERS FOR TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 4-124z of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) Not later than January 1, 2002, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Education shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, commerce, labor and higher education and employment advancement on (1) the implementation of any recommended programs or strategies within the technical high school system or the community-technical college system to strengthen the linkage between [vocational-technical] technical high school and community-technical college certification and degree programs and the employment needs of business and industry, and (2) any certification or degree programs offered by technical high schools or community-technical colleges that do not meet current industry standards.
Sec. 2. Section 7-127f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Grantees shall submit to the Department of Education on an annual basis program and financial reports on such forms as the [office] department may require. In accordance with the provisions of sections 4-230 to 4-236, inclusive, and regulations adopted thereunder, each grantee shall file an appropriate audit of grant funds with the department on or before December first of the fiscal year following the grant year.
Sec. 3. Subsection (d) of section 8-210 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(d) The state, acting by and in the discretion of the Commissioner of Education, may enter into a contract with a municipality, a human resource development agency or a nonprofit corporation for state financial assistance for a project of renovation of any child day care facility receiving assistance pursuant to the provisions of this section, to make such facility accessible to the physically disabled, in the form of a state grant-in-aid equal to (1) the total net cost of the project as approved by the Commissioner of Education, or (2) the total amount by which the net cost of the project as approved by the Commissioner of Education exceeds the federal grant-in-aid thereof.
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 10-5 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(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.
Sec. 5. Subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of section 10-14u of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(3) The principal of a school selected by the Commissioner of Education to participate in the intensive reading instruction program under this section shall notify the parent or guardian of any student in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, who has been identified as being below proficiency in reading. Such notice shall be in writing and [include,] (A) include an explanation of why such student is below proficiency in reading, and (B) inform such parent or guardian that a remediation plan, as described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, will be developed for such student to provide supplemental reading instruction, including strategies for the parent or guardian to use at home with such student.
Sec. 6. Subdivision (1) of subsection (j) of section 10-66bb of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(j) (1) The governing council of a state or local charter school may apply to the State Board of Education for a waiver of the requirements of the enrollment lottery described in subdivision (8) of subsection (d) of this section, provided such state or local charter school has as its primary purpose the establishment of education programs designed to serve one or more of the following populations: (A) Students with a history of behavioral and social difficulties, (B) students identified as requiring special education, (C) students who are English language learners, or (D) students of a single gender.
Sec. 7. Subsection (d) of section 10-73a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(d) The board of education of any providing school district may waive fees of any kind to a handicapped adult, as defined by the State Board of Education, or to a person sixty-two years of age or older registered for, or enrolled in, adult programs, classes or activities permitted by subparagraph (B) of subsection (a) of section 10-69, provided such board may charge a cooperating school district (1) a registration fee for any handicapped adult or any person sixty-two years of age or older who is a resident of such cooperating district and who is enrolled, through cooperative arrangements approved by the State Board of Education, in any adult class or program of adult classes maintained by such providing school district and required under section 10-69; and (2) a charge for any books or materials furnished to any such person for use in any adult class or activity or program of adult classes or activities required under section 10-69 or permitted by subparagraph (B) of subsection (a) of section 10-69.
Sec. 8. Subsection (f) of section 10-145o of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(f) Local and regional boards of education, in cooperation with the Department of Education, institutions of higher education and regional educational service centers, shall recruit mentors for their teacher education and mentoring program. Those persons eligible to serve as mentors for such programs shall hold a provisional educator certificate or a professional educator certificate, or a distinguished educator designation [,] pursuant to section 10-145s, as amended by this act, and have at least three years teaching experience in Connecticut, including at least one year of experience in the district in which they are presently employed. Retired certified teachers may also serve as mentors, provided they successfully complete a mentor training program offered by a regional educational service center. Each mentor shall be assigned two beginning teachers, except that in certain circumstances, a mentor may be assigned three beginning teachers. Such assignment shall be reflected in each district's three-year plan. Each mentor shall provide fifty contact hours to each beginning teacher during the program, with the expectation of approximately ten contact hours per module. Mentors shall receive a minimum of a five-hundred-dollar annual stipend for each beginning teacher assigned to such mentor from the local or regional board of education for participation in the teacher education and mentoring program. Such stipend shall be included in a person's total earnings for purposes of retirement.
Sec. 9. Section 10-145s of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) The State Board of Education shall award, upon receipt of a proper application, a distinguished educator designation to any person who (1) has successfully completed not less than five years of teaching in a public school or private special education facility approved by the State Board of Education, (2) holds a professional educator certificate, pursuant to section 10-145b, (3) has additional, advanced education beyond a master's degree from a degree or nondegree granting institution in areas to include, but not be limited to, mentorship or coaching of teachers, and (4) meets the performance requirements established by the Department of Education with consideration given to the demonstration of distinguished practice as validated by the department or an entity approved by the department.
(b) Such designation shall be renewed every five years after issuance upon the demonstration that such person meets performance requirements established by the department with consideration given to the demonstration of distinguished practice as validated by the department or an entity approved by the department.
(c) Upon application to the State Board of Education for the designation as a distinguished educator there shall be paid to the board by or on behalf of the applicant a [nonreturnable] nonrefundable fee of two hundred dollars. With each request for a duplicate copy of such designation there shall be paid to the board a [nonreturnable] nonrefundable fee of fifty dollars. The Commissioner of Education may, upon request by the applicant, waive any fee required under this subsection if the commissioner determines that the applicant is unable to pay such fee due to extenuating circumstances.
Sec. 10. Subsection (d) of section 10-148a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(d) The Department of Education shall conduct audits of the professional development programs provided by local and regional boards of education. If the State Board of Education determines, based on such audit, that a local or regional board of education is not in compliance with any provision of this section, the State Board of Education may require the local or regional board of education to forfeit [of] the total sum which is paid to such board of education from the State Treasury in an amount determined by the State Board of Education. The amount so forfeited shall be withheld from a grant payment, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, during the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which noncompliance is determined. The State Board of Education may waive such forfeiture if the State Board of Education determines that the failure of the local or regional board of education to comply with the provisions of this section was due to circumstances beyond its control.
Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 10-148b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) On or before July 1, 2013, the Commissioner of Education shall create a program of professional development for teachers, as defined in section 10-144d, and principals in scientifically-based reading research and instruction, as defined in section 10-14u, as amended by this act. Such program of professional development shall (1) count towards the professional development requirements pursuant to section 10-148a, as amended by this act, (2) be based on data collected from student reading assessments, (3) provide differentiated and intensified training in reading instruction for teachers, (4) outline how mentor teachers [who] will train teachers in reading instruction, (5) outline how model classrooms will be established in schools for reading instruction, (6) inform principals on how to evaluate classrooms and teacher performance in scientifically-based reading research and instruction, and (7) be job-embedded and local whenever possible.
Sec. 12. Subsections (d) and (e) of section 10-151 of the general statutes, as amended by section 57 of public act 12-116, are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):
(d) The contract of employment of a teacher who has attained tenure shall be continued from school year to school year, except that it may be terminated at any time for one or more of the following reasons: (1) Inefficiency, incompetence or ineffectiveness, provided, if a teacher is notified on or after July 1, 2014, that termination is under consideration due to incompetence or ineffectiveness, the determination of incompetence or ineffectiveness is based on evaluation of the teacher using teacher evaluation guidelines established pursuant to section 10-151b; (2) insubordination against reasonable rules of the board of education; (3) moral misconduct; (4) disability, as shown by competent medical evidence; (5) elimination of the position to which the teacher was appointed or loss of a position to another teacher, if no other position exists to which such teacher may be appointed if qualified, provided such teacher, if qualified, shall be appointed to a position held by a teacher who has not attained tenure, and provided further that determination of the individual contract or contracts of employment to be terminated shall be made in accordance with either (A) a provision for a layoff procedure agreed upon by the board of education and the exclusive employees' representative organization, or (B) in the absence of such agreement, a written policy of the board of education; or (6) other due and sufficient cause. Nothing in this section or in any other section of the general statutes or of any special act shall preclude a board of education from making an agreement with an exclusive bargaining representative which contains a recall provision. Prior to terminating a contract, the superintendent shall give the teacher concerned a written notice that termination of such teacher's contract is under consideration and give such teacher a statement of the reasons for such consideration of termination. Not later than ten calendar days after receipt of written notice by the superintendent that contract termination is under consideration, such teacher may file with the local or regional board of education a written request for a hearing. A board of education may designate a subcommittee of three or more board members to conduct hearings and submit written findings and recommendations to the board for final disposition in the case of teachers whose contracts are terminated. Such hearing shall commence not later than fifteen calendar days after receipt of such request, unless the parties mutually agree to an extension, not to exceed fifteen calendar days (A) before the board of education or a subcommittee of the board, or (B) if indicated in such request or if designated by the board before an impartial hearing officer chosen by the teacher and the superintendent. If the parties are unable to agree upon the choice of a hearing officer not later than five calendar days after the decision to use a hearing officer, the hearing officer shall be selected with the assistance of the American Arbitration Association using its expedited selection process and in accordance with its rules for selection of a neutral arbitrator in grievance arbitration. If the hearing officer is not selected with the assistance of such association after five days, the hearing shall be held before the board of education or a subcommittee of the board. When the reason for termination is incompetence or ineffectiveness, the hearing shall (i) address the question of whether the performance evaluation ratings of the teacher were determined in good faith in accordance with the program developed by the local or regional board of education pursuant to section 10-151b and were reasonable in light of the evidence presented, and (ii) be limited to twelve total hours of evidence and testimony, with each side allowed not more than six hours to present evidence and testimony except the board, subcommittee of the board or impartial hearing officer may extend the time period for evidence and testimony at the hearing when good cause is shown. Not later than forty-five calendar days after receipt of the request for a hearing, the subcommittee of the board or hearing officer, unless the parties mutually agree to an extension not to exceed fifteen calendar days, shall submit written findings and a recommendation to the board of education as to the disposition of the charges against the teacher and shall send a copy of such findings and recommendation to the teacher. The board of education shall give the teacher concerned its written decision not later than fifteen calendar days [of] after receipt of the written recommendation of the subcommittee or hearing officer. Each party shall share equally the fee of the hearing officer and all other costs incidental to the hearing. If the hearing is before the board of education, the board shall render its decision not later than fifteen calendar days after the close of such hearing and shall send a copy of its decision to the teacher. The hearing shall be public if the teacher so requests or the board, subcommittee or hearing officer so designates. The teacher concerned shall have the right to appear with counsel at the hearing, whether public or private. A copy of a transcript of the proceedings of the hearing shall be furnished by the board of education, upon written request by the teacher within fifteen days after the board's decision, provided the teacher shall assume the cost of any such copy. Nothing herein contained shall deprive a board of education or superintendent of the power to suspend a teacher from duty immediately when serious misconduct is charged without prejudice to the rights of the teacher as otherwise provided in this section.
(e) Any teacher aggrieved by the decision of a board of education after a hearing as provided in subsection (d) of this section may appeal therefrom, not later than thirty calendar days [of] after such decision, to the Superior Court. Such appeal shall be made returnable to said court in the same manner as is prescribed for civil actions brought to said court. Any such appeal shall be a privileged case to be heard by the court as soon after the return day as is practicable. The board of education shall file with the court a copy of the complete transcript of the proceedings of the hearing and the minutes of board of education meetings relating to such termination, including the vote of the board on the termination, together with such other documents, or certified copies thereof, as shall constitute the record of the case. The court, upon such appeal, shall review the proceedings of such hearing. The court, upon such appeal and hearing thereon, may affirm or reverse the decision appealed from in accordance with subsection (j) of section 4-183. Costs shall not be allowed against the board of education unless it appears to the court that it acted with gross negligence or in bad faith or with malice in making the decision appealed from.
Sec. 13. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 10-151f of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) For the school year commencing July 1, 2012, the Commissioner of Education shall administer a teacher evaluation and support pilot program. Not later than June 1, 2012, the commissioner shall select, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, at least eight school districts or consortia of school districts, but not more than ten school districts or consortia of school districts, to participate in a teacher evaluation and support program based on the guidelines adopted pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-151b. For purposes of this section, [the term] "teacher" [shall include] includes each professional employee of a board of education, below the rank of superintendent, who holds a certificate or permit issued by the State Board of Education.
(b) The teacher evaluation and support pilot program described in [subdivision (1) of] subsection (a) of this section shall (1) assess and evaluate the implementation of a teacher evaluation and support program developed by a local or regional board of education pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-151b that is in compliance with the guidelines for a teacher evaluation and support program adopted pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-151b, (2) identify district needs for technical assistance and support in implementing such teacher evaluation and support program, (3) provide training to administrators in how to conduct performance evaluations under the teacher evaluation and support program, (4) provide orientation to teachers being evaluated under the teacher evaluation and support program, (5) include a validation process for performance evaluations to be conducted by the Department of Education, or the department's designee, and (6) provide funding for the administration of the teacher evaluation and support program developed by the local or regional board of education.
Sec. 14. Section 10-151h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Prior to the implementation of the teacher evaluation and support program developed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-151b, but not later than July 1, 2014, each local and regional board of education shall conduct training programs for all evaluators and orientation for all teachers employed by such board relating to the provisions of such teacher evaluation and support program developed by such board of education. Such training shall provide instruction to evaluators in how to conduct proper performance evaluations prior to conducting an evaluation under the teacher evaluation and support program. Such orientation shall be completed by each teacher before a teacher receives an evaluation under the teacher evaluation and support program. For purposes of this section, [the term] "teacher" [shall include] includes each professional employee of a board of education, below the rank of superintendent, who holds a certificate or permit issued by the State Board of Education.
Sec. 15. Subsection (d) of section 10-212a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(d) (1) With the written authorization of a student's parent or guardian, and (2) pursuant to the written order of [the student's] (A) a physician licensed under chapter 370, (B) an optometrist licensed to practice optometry under chapter 380, (C) an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to prescribe in accordance with section 20-94a, or (D) a physician assistant licensed to prescribe in accordance with section 20-12d, a school nurse and a school medical advisor may jointly approve and provide general supervision to an identified school paraprofessional to administer medication, including, but not limited to, medication administered with a cartridge injector, to a specific student with a medically diagnosed allergic condition that may require prompt treatment in order to protect the student against serious harm or death. For purposes of this subsection, "cartridge injector" means an automatic prefilled cartridge injector or similar automatic injectable equipment used to deliver epinephrine in a standard dose for emergency first aid response to allergic reactions.
Sec. 16. Section 10-212e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
No claim for damages shall be made against a town, local or regional board of education or school employee, as defined in section 10-222d, for any injury or damage resulting from the provision of food or dietary supplements by a parent or guardian, or a person designated by such parent or guardian, on school grounds to a student with glycogen storage disease [on school grounds] under an individualized health care and glycogen storage disease action plan, pursuant to section 10-212c.
Sec. 17. Subsection (a) of section 10-220a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Each local or regional board of education shall provide an in-service training program for its teachers, administrators and pupil personnel who hold the initial educator, provisional educator or professional educator certificate. Such program shall provide such teachers, administrators and pupil personnel with information on (1) the nature and the relationship of drugs, as defined in subdivision (17) of section 21a-240, and alcohol to health and personality development, and procedures for discouraging their abuse, (2) health and mental health risk reduction education which includes, but need not be limited to, the prevention of risk-taking behavior by children and the relationship of such behavior to substance abuse, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-infection and AIDS, as defined in section 19a-581, violence, teen dating violence, domestic violence, child abuse and youth suicide, (3) the growth and development of exceptional children, including handicapped and gifted and talented children and children who may require special education, including, but not limited to, children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or learning disabilities, and methods for identifying, planning for and working effectively with special needs children in a regular classroom, including, but not limited to, implementation of student individualized education programs, (4) school violence prevention, conflict resolution, the prevention of and response to youth suicide and the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10-222d, except that those boards of education that implement any evidence-based model approach that is approved by the Department of Education and is consistent with subsection (d) of section 10-145a, subsection (a) of section 10-220a, as amended by this act, sections 10-222d, 10-222g and 10-222h, subsection (g) of section 10-233c and sections 1 and 3 of public act 08-160, shall not be required to provide in-service training on the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, (5) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency life saving procedures, (6) computer and other information technology as applied to student learning and classroom instruction, communications and data management, (7) the teaching of the language arts, reading and reading readiness for teachers in grades kindergarten to three, inclusive, (8) second language acquisition in districts required to provide a program of bilingual education pursuant to section 10-17f, (9) the requirements and obligations of a mandated reporter, and (10) the teacher evaluation and support program developed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-151b. Each local and regional board of education may allow any paraprofessional or noncertified employee to participate, on a voluntary basis, in any in-service training program provided pursuant to this section. [, and (10) the teacher evaluation and support program developed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-151b. ] The State Board of Education, within available appropriations and utilizing available materials, shall assist and encourage local and regional boards of education to include: (A) Holocaust and genocide education and awareness; (B) the historical events surrounding the Great Famine in Ireland; (C) African-American history; (D) Puerto Rican history; (E) Native American history; (F) personal financial management; (G) domestic violence and teen dating violence; and (H) topics approved by the state board upon the request of local or regional boards of education as part of in-service training programs pursuant to this subsection.
Sec. 18. Subsection (c) of section 10-223h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(c) Following the establishment of a turnaround committee, the Department of Education shall conduct, in consultation with the local or regional board of education for a school selected to participate in the commissioner's network of schools, the school governance council for such school and such turnaround committee, an operations and instructional audit, as described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 10-223e, for such school. Such operations and instructional audit shall be conducted pursuant to guidelines issued by the department and shall determine the extent to which the school (1) has established a strong family and community connection to the school; (2) has a positive school environment, as evidenced by a culture of high expectations, a safe and orderly workplace, and that address other nonacademic factors that impact student achievement, such as students' social, emotional, arts, cultural, recreational and health needs; (3) has effective leadership, as evidenced by the school principal's performance appraisals, track record in improving student achievement, ability to lead turnaround efforts, and managerial skills and authority in the areas of scheduling, staff management, curriculum implementation and budgeting; (4) has effective teachers and support staff as evidenced by performance evaluations, policies to retain staff determined to be effective and who have the ability to be successful in the turnaround effort, policies to prevent ineffective teachers from transferring to the schools, and job-embedded, ongoing professional development informed by the teacher evaluation and support programs that are tied to teacher and student needs; (5) uses time effectively as evidenced by the redesign of the school day, week, or year to include additional time for student learning and teacher collaboration; (6) has a curriculum and instructional program that is based on student needs, is research-based, rigorous and aligned with state academic content standards, and serves all children, including students at every achievement level; and (7) uses evidence to inform decision-making and for continuous improvement, including by providing time for collaboration on the use of data. Such operations and instructional audit shall be informed by an inventory of the following: (A) Before and after school programs, (B) any school-based health centers, family resource centers or other community services offered at the school, including, but not limited to, social services, mental health services and parenting support programs, (C) whether scientific research-based interventions are being fully implemented at the school, (D) resources for scientific research-based interventions during the school year and summer school programs, (E) resources for gifted and talented students, (F) the length of the school day and the school year, (G) summer school programs, (H) the alternative high school, if any, available to students at the school, (I) the number of teachers employed at the school and the number of teachers who have left the school in each of the previous three school years, (J) student mobility, including the number of students who have been enrolled in and left the school, (K) the number of students whose primary language is not English, (L) the number of students receiving special education services, (M) the number of truants, (N) the number of students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches, (O) the number of students who are eligible for HUSKY Plan, Part A, (P) the curricula used at the school, (Q) the reading curricula and programs for kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, if any, at the school, (R) arts and music programs offered at the school, (S) physical education programs offered and periods for recess or physical activity, (T) the number of school psychologists at the school and the ratio of school psychologists to students at the school, (U) the number of social workers at the school and the ratio of social workers to students at the school, (V) the teacher and administrator performance evaluation program, including the frequency of performance evaluations, how such evaluations are conducted and by whom, the standards for performance ratings and follow-up and remediation plans and the aggregate results of teacher performance evaluation ratings conducted pursuant to section 10-151b and any other available measures of teacher effectiveness, (W) professional development activities and programs, (X) teacher and student access to technology inside and outside of the classroom, (Y) student access to and enrollment in mastery test preparation programs, (Z) the availability of textbooks, learning materials and other supplies, (AA) student demographics, including race, gender and ethnicity, [and] (BB) chronic absenteeism, and (CC) preexisting school improvement plans, for the purpose of (i) determining why such school improvement plans have not improved student academic performance, and (ii) identifying governance, legal, operational, staffing or resource constraints that contributed to the lack of student academic performance at such school and should be addressed, modified or removed for such school to improve student academic performance.
Sec. 19. Subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 10-223j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(3) Terms of voting members elected pursuant to this [subdivision] subsection shall be for two years and no members shall serve more than two terms on the council. The nonvoting student members shall serve one year and no student member shall serve more than two terms on the council.
Sec. 20. Subsection (d) of section 10-223j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(d) The school governance council shall have the following responsibilities: (1) Analyzing school achievement data and school needs relative to the improvement plan for the school prepared pursuant to this section; (2) reviewing the fiscal objectives of the draft budget for the school and providing advice to the principal of the school before such school's budget is submitted to the superintendent of schools for the district; (3) participating in the hiring process [of] for the school principal or other administrators of the school by conducting interviews of candidates and reporting on such interviews to the superintendent of schools for the school district and the local and regional board of education; (4) assisting the principal of the school in making programmatic and operational changes for improving the school's achievement, including program changes, adjusting school hours and days of operation, and enrollment goals for the school; (5) working with the school administration to develop and approve a school compact for parents, legal guardians and students that includes an outline of the criteria and responsibilities for enrollment and school membership consistent with the school's goals and academic focus, and the ways that parents and school personnel can build a partnership to improve student learning; (6) developing and approving a written parent involvement policy that outlines the role of parents and legal guardians in the school; (7) utilizing records relating to information about parents and guardians of students maintained by the local or regional board of education for the sole purpose of the election described in subsection (b) of this section. Such information shall be confidential and shall only be disclosed as provided in this subdivision and shall not be further disclosed; and (8) if the council determines it necessary and subject to the provisions of subsection (i) of this section recommending reconstitution of the school in accordance with the provisions of subsection (g) of this section.
Sec. 21. Subsection (i) of section 10-223j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(i) The Department of Education shall allow not more than twenty-five schools per school year to reconstitute pursuant to this [subsection] section. The department shall notify school districts and school governance councils when this limit has been reached. For purposes of this [subdivision] subsection, a reconstitution shall be counted towards this limit upon receipt by the department of notification of a final decision regarding reconstitution by the local or regional board of education.
Sec. 22. Section 10-262t of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
The Commissioner of Education may provide, within available appropriations, grants for technical assistance and regional cooperation to support any local or regional [boards] board of education that develops a plan to implement significant cost-saving strategies while simultaneously maintaining or improving the quality of education in the district.
Sec. 23. Subsection (g) of section 10-262u of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(g) Any local or regional board of education receiving funding under this section shall submit an annual expenditure report to the commissioner on such form and in such manner as requested by the commissioner. The commissioner shall determine if [(A)] (1) the local or regional board of education shall repay any funds not expended in accordance with the approved application, or [(B)] (2) such funding should be reduced in a subsequent fiscal year up to an amount equal to the amount that the commissioner determines is out of compliance with the provisions of this subsection.
Sec. 24. Subsection (a) of section 10-264h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, and each fiscal year thereafter, a local or regional board of education, a regional educational service center, a cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a, or any of the following entities that operate an interdistrict magnet school that assists 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 determined by the Commissioner of Education: (1) The Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (2) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (3) the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (4) the board of governors for an independent college or university, as defined in section 10a-37, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent college or university, and (5) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the Commissioner of Education, may be eligible for reimbursement, except as otherwise provided for, up to eighty per cent of the eligible cost of any capital expenditure for the purchase, construction, extension, replacement, leasing or major alteration of interdistrict magnet school facilities, including any expenditure for the purchase of equipment, in accordance with this section. To be eligible for reimbursement under this section a magnet school construction project shall meet the requirements for a school building project established in chapter 173, except that the Commissioner of Construction Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, may waive any requirement in [such] said chapter for good cause. On and after July 1, 2011, the Commissioner of Construction Services shall approve only applications for reimbursement under this section that the Commissioner of Education finds will reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation. Applications for reimbursement under this section for the construction of new interdistrict magnet schools shall not be accepted until the Commissioner of Education develops a comprehensive state-wide interdistrict magnet school plan, in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-264l, unless the Commissioner of Education determines that such construction will 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.
Sec. 25. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10-264i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) (1) (A) A local or regional board of education, (B) a regional educational service center, (C) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of Quinebaug Valley Community College and Three Rivers Community College, (D) a cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a, or (E) to 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 determined by the Commissioner of Education, (i) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (ii) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (iii) the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (iv) the board of governors for an independent college or university, as defined in section 10a-37, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent college or university, and (v) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the commissioner which transports a child to an interdistrict magnet school program, as defined in section 10-264l, as amended by this act, in a town other than the town in which the child resides shall be eligible pursuant to section 10-264e to receive a grant for the cost of transporting such child in accordance with this section.
Sec. 26. Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision (3) of subsection (c) of section 10-264l of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(3) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (C) to (F), inclusive, of this subdivision, each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional educational service center that enrolls less than fifty-five per cent of the school's students from a single town shall receive a per pupil grant in the amount of (i) six thousand two hundred fifty dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, (ii) six thousand five hundred dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, (iii) seven thousand sixty dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, (iv) seven thousand six hundred twenty dollars for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2012, inclusive, and (v) seven thousand nine hundred dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (C) to (F), inclusive, of this subdivision, each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional educational service center that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent of the school's students from a single town shall receive a per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is not a resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent of the school's students in the amount of (i) six thousand sixteen dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, (ii) six thousand seven hundred thirty dollars for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2012, inclusive, and (iii) seven thousand eighty-five dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter. The per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is a resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent of the school's students shall be three thousand dollars.
Sec. 27. Section 10-265o of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Education shall establish the municipal aid for new educators grant program. On or before March first of each year, the program shall, within available appropriations, provide grants of up to two hundred thousand dollars to the local or regional board of education for an educational reform district, as defined in section 10-262u, as amended by this act, for the purpose of extending offers of employment to up to five students who are enrolled in a teacher preparation program offered by a public or private institution of higher education in the state, [who] are graduating seniors and are academically in the top ten per cent of their graduating class.
Sec. 28. Section 11-89 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
The State Librarian shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to (1) prescribe the form of written notification to persons loaning property pursuant to section 11-81, and (2) establish the procedures for recording and maintaining records of property on loan to a museum pursuant to section 11-83.
Sec. 29. Subdivision (4) of subsection (j) of section 46b-129 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(4) The commissioner shall be the guardian of such child or youth for the duration of the commitment, provided the child or youth has not reached the age of eighteen years or, in the case of a child or youth in full-time attendance in a secondary school, a technical high school, a college or a state-accredited job training program, provided such child or youth has not reached the age of twenty-one years, by consent of such child or youth, or until another guardian has been legally appointed, and in like manner, upon such vesting of the care of such child or youth, such other public or private agency or individual shall be the guardian of such child or youth until such child or youth has reached the age of eighteen years or, in the case of a child or youth in full-time attendance in a secondary school, a technical high school, a college or a state-accredited job training program, until such child or youth has reached the age of twenty-one years or until another guardian has been legally appointed. The commissioner may place any child or youth so committed to the commissioner in a suitable foster home or in the home of a person related by blood or marriage to such child or youth or in a licensed child-caring institution or in the care and custody of any accredited, licensed or approved child-caring agency, within or without the state, provided a child shall not be placed outside the state except for good cause and unless the parents or guardian of such child are notified in advance of such placement and given an opportunity to be heard, or in a receiving home maintained and operated by the Commissioner of Children and Families. In placing such child or youth, the commissioner shall, if possible, select a home, agency, institution or person of like religious faith to that of a parent of such child or youth, if such faith is known or may be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, provided such home conforms to the standards of said commissioner and the commissioner shall, when placing siblings, if possible, place such children together. Upon the issuance of an order committing the child or youth to the Commissioner of Children and Families, or not later than sixty days after the issuance of such order, the court shall determine whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible, taking into consideration the child's or youth's best interests, including the child's or youth's health and safety.