File No. 741

House of Representatives, April 20, 2009

The Committee on Education reported through REP. FLEISCHMANN of the 18th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING HIGH SCHOOL REFORM.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 10-221a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

(a) For classes graduating from 1988 to 2003, inclusive, no local or regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily completed a minimum of twenty credits, not fewer than four of which shall be in English, not fewer than three in mathematics, not fewer than three in social studies, not fewer than two in science, not fewer than one in the arts or vocational education and not fewer than one in physical education.

(b) [Commencing with classes graduating in 2004, and for each graduating class thereafter] For classes graduating from 2004 to 2015, inclusive, no local or regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily completed a minimum of twenty credits, not fewer than four of which shall be in English, not fewer than three in mathematics, not fewer than three in social studies, including at least a one-half credit course on civics and American government, not fewer than two in science, not fewer than one in the arts or vocational education and not fewer than one in physical education.

(c) Commencing with classes graduating in 2016, and for each graduating class thereafter, no local or regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily completed: (1) A minimum of twenty-five credits, not fewer than four of which shall be in English, including composition, not fewer than four in mathematics, including algebra I, geometry and algebra II, not fewer than three in science, including two laboratory science courses, not fewer than three in social studies, including a one credit course on American history and at least a one-half credit course on civics and American government, not fewer than one in the arts or vocational education, not fewer than one in physical education and not fewer than two in world languages subject to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section; (2) specific course requirements in three academic clusters: (A) Science, technology, engineering and mathematics; (B) humanities; and (C) career and life skills; and (3) a one credit senior demonstration project. Local and regional boards of education shall provide alternate means for a student to complete the high school graduation requirements if such student is unable to satisfactorily complete any of the required courses, and allow students to attend a public institution of higher education through participation in a dual enrollment program that is funded by an education equalization aid grant pursuant to section 10-262h.

[(c)] (d) Any student who presents a certificate from a physician stating that, in the opinion of the physician, participation in physical education is medically contraindicated because of the physical condition of such student, shall be excused from the physical education requirement, provided the credit for physical education may be fulfilled by an elective.

[(d)] (e) Determination of eligible credits shall be at the discretion of the local or regional board of education, provided the primary focus of the curriculum of eligible credits corresponds directly to the subject matter of the specified course requirements. The local or regional board of education may permit a student to graduate during a period of expulsion pursuant to section 10-233d, if the board determines the student has satisfactorily completed the necessary credits pursuant to this section. The requirements of this section shall apply to any student requiring special education pursuant to section 10-76a, except when the planning and placement team for such student determines the requirement not to be appropriate. For purposes of this section, a credit shall consist of not less than the equivalent of a forty-minute class period for each school day of a school year except for a credit or part of a credit toward high school graduation earned at an institution accredited by the Department of Higher Education or regionally accredited.

[(e)] (f) Only courses taken in grades nine through twelve, inclusive, shall satisfy this graduation requirement, except that a local or regional board of education may grant a student credit (1) toward meeting a specified course requirement upon the successful completion in grade seven or eight of any course, the primary focus of which corresponds directly to the subject matter of a specified course requirement in grades nine to twelve, inclusive; (2) toward meeting the high school graduation requirement upon the successful completion of a world language course (A) in grade six, seven or eight, (B) through online coursework, or (C) offered privately through a nonprofit provider, provided such student achieves a passing grade on an examination prescribed, within available appropriations, by the Commissioner of Education and such credits do not exceed four; (3) toward meeting the high school graduation requirement upon achievement of a passing grade on a subject area proficiency examination identified and approved, within available appropriations, by the Commissioner of Education, regardless of the number of hours the student spent in a public school classroom learning such subject matter; or (4) toward meeting the high school graduation requirement upon the successful completion of coursework at an institution accredited by the Department of Higher Education or regionally accredited. One three-credit semester course, or its equivalent, at such an institution shall equal one-half credit for purposes of this section.

[(f)] (g) A local or regional board of education may offer one-half credit in community service which, if satisfactorily completed, shall qualify for high school graduation credit pursuant to this section, provided such community service is supervised by a certified school administrator or teacher and consists of not less than fifty hours of actual service that may be performed at times when school is not regularly in session and not less than ten hours of related classroom instruction. For purposes of this section, community service does not include partisan political activities. The State Board of Education shall assist local and regional boards of education in meeting the requirements of this section.

[(g)] (h) A local or regional board of education may award a diploma to a veteran of World War II, pursuant to section 27-103, who left high school prior to graduation in order to serve in the armed forces of the United States and did not receive a diploma as a consequence of such service.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2009) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, and each ending fiscal year thereafter the state Department of Education shall provide grants to local and regional school districts to implement the provisions of subsection (c) of section 10-221a of the general statutes, as amended by this act.

Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 10-69 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

(a) Each local and regional board of education shall establish and maintain a program of adult classes or shall provide for participation in a program of adult classes for its adult residents through cooperative arrangements with one or more other boards of education, one or more cooperating eligible entities or a regional educational service center pursuant to the provisions of section 10-66a. Such board of education may admit an adult to any public elementary or secondary school. [No] A person sixteen years of age or older and enrolled in a full-time program of study in any local or regional school district may enroll in [an] not more than two adult education [activity without] classes or activities in a school year. Such enrollment shall be with the approval of the school principal of the school in which such person is enrolled in such full-time program. High school graduation credit awarded for an adult education class may only be awarded in proportion to the instructional hours required in section 10-221a, as amended by this act, and shall not exceed one-half high school credit for each adult education credit. A student may not be awarded, for purposes of meeting graduation requirements, more than two credits earned through adult education. Instruction: (1) Shall be provided in Americanization and United States citizenship, English for adults with limited English proficiency and elementary and secondary school completion programs or classes; and (2) may be provided in (A) any subject provided by the elementary and secondary schools of such school district, including vocational education, (B) adult literacy, (C) parenting skills, and (D) any other subject or activity.

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst's professional knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: See Below

Explanation

Section 1 revises high school graduation requirements. Beginning with the freshman class of 2012 (graduating class of 2016), the bill raises, from 20 to 25, the number of credits required to graduate and changes course requirements.

In order to prepare for the change in curriculum the State Department of Education (SDE) will need to develop model curriculums. Additionally, online courses may need to be utilized to prepare schools and teachers for the change.

It is anticipated that SDE will require approximately $3.4 million in FY 10 and $3.7 million in FY 11 to develop the model curriculum and prepare local and regional school districts.

Section 2 requires SDE, beginning in FY 12, to provide grants to local and regional school districts to help implement the new graduation requirements. Since the grants will not be issued until FY 12, there is no cost in the current biennium.

Section 3 limits the number of adult education classes that high school students (age 16 and over) can take to two per school year, and is not anticipated to result in a fiscal impact.

The Out Years

The state will incur additional costs in FY 12 associated with providing grants to municipalities. Although they are anticipated to be significant, the specific cost of the grant is indeterminate as the size and the scope of the assistance from the state is unclear. Municipalities could incur additional costs beginning in FY 12 if the grants issued from SDE are not sufficient to implement the new graduation requirements.

Sources: Secondary School Reform, The Connecticut Plan: Academic and Personal Success for Every Middle and High School Student

OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 6488

AN ACT CONCERNING HIGH SCHOOL REFORM.

SUMMARY:

Starting with students graduating from high school in 2016, this bill raises from 20 to 25 the number of credits required to graduate, changes course requirements, and requires the State Department of Education to provide grants to school districts to implement these changes starting in FY 12.

The bill also limits the number of adult education classes that high school students (age 16 and over) can take to two per school year. Current law prohibits adult education students enrolled in a full-time program of study in a school district from taking such classes unless they have the principal's permission, but places no limits on the number of classes. The bill specifies that high school graduation credit awarded for adult education must be awarded in proportion to the required instructional hours required for high schools, not to exceed half a credit for each adult education credit. It limits to two the number of credits earned through adult education students may use to meet graduation requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009

MINIMUM GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to these requirements, the bill requires (1) specific course requirements in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology; humanities; and career/life skills and (2) a one credit senior demonstration project.

The bill requires school boards to (1) provide alternate means to meet these requirements if students cannot satisfactorily complete any of the required courses and (2) allow participation in a dual-enrollment magnet school funded by the Education Cost Sharing grant.

Additionally, the bill specifies that a world language course successfully completed in grade six, seven, or eight or online can count towards the graduation requirement. Current law already allows world language classes taken through a private nonprofit provider to count toward the graduation requirements. The bill requires these private classes to be completed successfully. The bill does not define “successful.”

COMMITTEE ACTION

Education Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute