CHAPTER 163*
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

      Sec. 10-1. Appointment of board members. (a)(1) Prior to July 1, 1998, the State Board of Education shall consist of nine members. On and after July 1, 1998, but prior to July 1, 2010, the State Board of Education shall consist of eleven members, two of whom shall be nonvoting student members.

      (2) On and after July 1, 2010, but prior to April 1, 2011, the State Board of Education shall consist of thirteen members, at least two of whom shall have experience in manufacturing or a trade offered at the regional vocational-technical schools or be alumni of or have served as educators at a regional vocational-technical school and two of whom shall be nonvoting student members. Only those members with experience in manufacturing or a trade offered at the regional vocational-technical schools or are alumni of or have served as educators at a regional vocational-technical school shall be eligible to serve as the chairperson for the regional vocational-technical school subcommittee of the board.

      (3) On and after April 1, 2011, the State Board of Education shall consist of thirteen members, (A) at least two of whom shall have experience in manufacturing or a trade offered at the regional vocational-technical schools or be alumni of or have served as educators at a regional vocational-technical school, (B) at least one of whom shall have experience in agriculture or be an alumni of or have served as an educator at a regional agricultural science and technology education center, and (C) two of whom shall be nonvoting student members. Only those members described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall be eligible to serve as the chairperson for the regional vocational-technical school subcommittee of the board.

      (b) The Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the General Assembly, the members of said board, provided each student member (1) is on the list submitted to the Governor pursuant to section 10-2a, (2) is enrolled in a public high school in the state, (3) has completed eleventh grade prior to the commencement of his term, (4) has at least a B plus average, and (5) provides at least three references from teachers in the school he is attending. The nonstudent members shall serve for terms of four years commencing on March first in the year of their appointment. The student members shall serve for terms of one year commencing on July first in the year of their appointment. The Commissioner of Higher Education shall serve as an ex-officio member without a vote. Any vacancy in said State Board of Education shall be filled in the manner provided in section 4-19.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1332; 1969, P.A. 690, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 252; P.A. 77-573, S. 24, 30; 77-614, S. 301, 610; P.A. 78-218, S. 1, 212; P.A. 83-587, S. 11, 96; P.A. 98-84, S. 1, 3; P.A. 10-76, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1, S. 58.)

      History: 1969 act changed appointment date to February in odd-numbered years from previous date of May in years general assembly meets, required that appointments be made with advice and consent of general assembly, deleted requirement that there be one member for each county and provided that vacancies be filled as provided in Sec. 4-19 rather than by governor for the unexpired portion of term; 1971 act provided that chief executive officer of commission for higher education be ex-officio, nonvoting member; P.A. 77-573 substituted board of higher education for commission for higher education; P.A. 77-614 changed appointment procedure, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-218 specified that vacancy-filling procedure applies to state board of education, thereby avoiding any confusion which might result from reference to board of higher education immediately before; P.A. 83-587 substituted commissioner of higher education for chief executive officer of board of higher education; P.A. 98-84 increased board membership to eleven as of July 1, 1998, adding student members, effective May 4, 1998; P.A. 10-76 designated existing provisions as Subsecs. (a)(1) and (b), added Subsec. (a)(2) re 13 members on board on and after July 1, 2010, with 2 designated as persons with regional vocational-technical school experience, added Subsec. (a)(3) re 13 members on board on and after April 1, 2011, with 2 designated as persons with regional vocational-technical school experience and 1 designated as person with regional agricultural science and technology education center experience, and made conforming changes, effective July 1, 2010; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (a)(3), effective July 1, 2010.

      Cited. 210 C. 286.

      Sec. 10-2. Officers. Secretaries. Agents. Employees. "Secretary to the State Board of Education" deemed to mean "Commissioner of Education". (a) The Governor shall select one of the members of the State Board of Education to serve as chairperson. Said board shall appoint such committees as may be convenient or necessary in the transaction of its business. The Commissioner of Education shall serve as secretary to the board and said commissioner may appoint an assistant secretary, provided neither of them shall be members of the board. The commissioner shall record all acts of the board and certify the same to all concerned and shall be the custodian of its records and papers; shall prepare such routine business for presentation to said board as may be necessary or advisable; shall compile and publish, under the direction of said board, all regulations and acts which may be required and shall perform such duties as the board prescribes. Said board may appoint, and may prescribe the duties of, such subordinates, agents and employees as it finds necessary in the conduct of its business.

      (b) Whenever the term the secretary to the State Board of Education occurs or is referred to in the general statutes, it shall be deemed to mean or refer to the Commissioner of Education.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1333; P.A. 77-614, S. 302, 610; P.A. 78-218, S. 2, 3, 212.)

      History: P.A. 77-614 provided for selection of chairman by governor rather than by board itself, provided that commissioner of education serve as secretary and have power to appoint assistant secretary and that neither be considered a member, replacing provision for appointment of secretary and assistant by board itself and added Subsec. (b); P.A. 78-218 substituted "chairperson" for "chairman" and deleted provision concerning appointment of agent to "secure the observance of the laws relating to the instruction of children".

      Cited. 152 C. 568. Cited. 184 C. 1.

      Sec. 10-2a. Student Advisory Council on Education. (a) The Commissioner of Education shall appoint a state Student Advisory Council on Education. The commissioner shall ensure that the membership of the council (1) includes male and female students, (2) is racially, ethnically and economically diverse, (3) includes students from each Congressional district in the state, and (4) includes students who have disabilities.

      (b) The council shall submit to the Governor a list of five candidates for appointment as student members to the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-1. Such candidates shall meet the criteria established pursuant to said section 10-1 for student membership on the state board.

      (P.A. 98-84, S. 2, 3.)

      History: P.A. 98-84 effective May 4, 1998.

      Sec. 10-3. Prosecuting agents to enforce school laws. Section 10-3 is repealed.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1334; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 92; February, 1965, P.A. 112, S. 1.)

      Sec. 10-3a. Department of Education. Commissioner. Organization of bureaus, divisions and other units. Regulations. Advisory boards. (a) There shall be a Department of Education which shall serve as the administrative arm of the State Board of Education. The department shall be under the direction of the Commissioner of Education, whose appointment shall be recommended to the Governor by the State Board of Education for a term of four years to be coterminous with the term of the Governor. Such appointment shall be in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-7, inclusive. The Commissioner of Education shall be the administrative officer of the department and shall administer, coordinate and supervise the activities of the department in accordance with the policies established by the board.

      (b) The State Board of Education shall organize the Department of Education into such bureaus, divisions and other units as may be necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of the department, and may, from time to time, create, abolish, transfer or consolidate within the department any bureau, division or other unit as may be necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of said board. Upon such organization or reorganization the board shall adopt regulations pursuant to the provisions of chapter 54. The board may create such advisory boards as it deems necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of the department.

      (P.A. 77-614, S. 299, 300, 610; P.A. 07-114, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 07-114 amended Subsec. (a) to make appointment of commissioner gubernatorial with recommendation by State Board of Education and to add reference to Secs. 4-5 to 4-7, inclusive.

      Cited. 198 C. 445. Cited. 210 C. 286.

      Cited. 39 CS 443.

      Sec. 10-4. Duties of board. Reports. Comprehensive plan for elementary, secondary, vocational, career and adult education. (a) Said board shall have general supervision and control of the educational interests of the state, which interests shall include preschool, elementary and secondary education, special education, vocational education and adult education; shall provide leadership and otherwise promote the improvement of education in the state, including research, planning and evaluation and services relating to the provision and use of educational technology, including telecommunications, by school districts; shall prepare such courses of study and publish such curriculum guides including recommendations for textbooks, materials, instructional technological resources and other teaching aids as it determines are necessary to assist school districts to carry out the duties prescribed by law; shall conduct workshops and related activities, including programs of intergroup relations training, to assist teachers in making effective use of such curriculum materials and in improving their proficiency in meeting the diverse needs and interests of pupils; shall keep informed as to the condition, progress and needs of the schools in the state; and shall develop or cause to be developed evaluation and assessment programs designed to measure objectively the adequacy and efficacy of the educational programs offered by public schools and shall selectively conduct such assessment programs annually and report, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, on an annual basis.

      (b) Said board shall submit to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education an account of the condition of the public schools and of the amount and quality of instruction therein and such other information as will assess the true condition, progress and needs of public education.

      (c) Said board shall prepare every five years a five-year comprehensive plan for elementary, secondary, vocational, career and adult education. Said comprehensive plan shall include, but not be limited to, a policy statement of the State Board of Education's long-term goals and short-term objectives, an analysis of cost implications and measurement criteria and how said board's programs and operations relate to such goals and objectives and specific action plans, target dates and strategies and methods of implementation for achieving such goals and objectives. The State Board of Education shall establish every five years an advisory committee to assist the board in the preparation of the comprehensive plan. Members of the advisory committee shall be appointed by the State Board of Education with representation on the committee to include, but not be limited to, representatives of the Connecticut Advisory Council on Vocational and Career Education, education organizations, parent organizations, student organizations, business and industry, organized labor and appropriate state agencies. Notwithstanding any requirement for submission of a plan for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, pursuant to section 10-96a of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 1983, the State Board of Education shall not be required to submit the master plan for vocational and career education but shall submit, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the comprehensive plan for elementary and secondary, vocational, career and adult education to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education on or before September 1, 1996, and every five years thereafter provided, the master plan currently in effect shall remain in effect until the comprehensive plan is submitted. The State Board of Education shall be responsible for annually updating the progress in implementing the goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan and shall report on such progress to the Governor and to said standing committee annually. The State Board of Education shall provide opportunity for public comment prior to its adoption of a plan.

      (d) Not later than December 15, 2004, and annually thereafter, within available appropriations, the board shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that summaries of reports required pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 10-16r are submitted. The board shall summarize the reports and submit such summaries, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1335; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 13; February, 1965, P.A. 330, S. 10; 1969, P.A. 690, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 665, S. 1; P.A. 77-27, S. 1, 2; P.A. 78-218, S. 4, 5; 78-282, S. 1, 3; P.A. 81-74, S. 1, 3; P.A. 82-314, S. 44, 63; P.A. 84-241, S. 1, 5; P.A. 91-30, S. 1, 4; P.A. 92-170, S. 5, 26; P.A. 03-174, S. 12; P.A. 04-215, S. 6.)

      History: 1965 act specified that board's area of control is elementary and secondary education, replacing broad reference to control of educational interests; 1969 act reinstated reference to educational interest and included special mention of preschool, special, vocational and adult education, deleted detailed provisions concerning regulation of textbooks, registers, forms of returns required from board of education and teachers' meetings and replaced them with more general provisions; 1971 act divided section into subsections and added provision for report to general assembly's education committee on assessment of public schools; P.A. 77-27 deleted requirement for report to education committee by February 15, 1972, in Subsec. (b) and added similar provisions concerning assessment of education and schools in Subsec. (a) with requirement for report to education committee; P.A. 78-218 specified that report in Subsec. (a) be made annually; P.A. 78-282 replaced former provisions in Subsec. (c) for recommendations and reports re policies and programs with provisions for five-year comprehensive plan for elementary and secondary education; P.A. 81-74 amended Subsec. (a) to include instructional technology as an educational interest which the state should provide leadership for and otherwise promote for use in local school districts; P.A. 82-314 changed official name of education committee; P.A. 84-241 amended Subsec. (c) creating a five-year comprehensive plan for elementary, secondary, vocational, career and adult education, the plan to be prepared with the assistance of an advisory committee to be established by the state board, exempted the state board from filing the master plan for vocational and career education during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, providing that said plan currently in effect will remain in effect until the comprehensive plan is adopted; P.A. 91-30 in Subsec. (a) changed the terminology from "instructional" to "educational" technology and added reference to telecommunications; P.A. 92-170 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) to specify that the report and plan be submitted pursuant to Subsec. (b) and changed the date for submission of comprehensive plan in Subsec. (c) from February 15, 1986, to September 1, 1996; P.A. 03-174 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to Sec. 4-60 and provision requiring submission of detailed statement of activities of the board, effective June 26, 2003; P.A. 04-215 added Subsec. (d) re summaries of reports, effective July 1, 2004.

      Cited. 147 C. 374. Cited. 152 C. 151. Cited. 179 C. 694. Cited. 198 C. 445. Cited. 210 C. 286. Cited. 226 C. 704.

      Cited. 29 CS 397. Cited. 39 CS 443.

      Subsec. (a):

      Cited. 228 C. 699.

      Sec. 10-4a. Educational interests of state identified. For purposes of sections 10-4, 10-4b and 10-220, the educational interests of the state shall include, but not be limited to, the concern of the state that (1) each child shall have for the period prescribed in the general statutes equal opportunity to receive a suitable program of educational experiences; (2) each school district shall finance at a reasonable level at least equal to the minimum expenditure requirement pursuant to the provisions of section 10-262j an educational program designed to achieve this end; (3) in order to reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation, each school district shall provide educational opportunities for its students to interact with students and teachers from other racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds and may provide such opportunities with students from other communities; and (4) the mandates in the general statutes pertaining to education within the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education be implemented.

      (1969, P.A. 690, S. 1; P.A. 79-128, S. 10, 36; P.A. 89-124, S. 7, 13; P.A. 97-290, S. 1, 29.)

      History: P.A. 79-128 required financing of educational program "at least equal to the minimum expenditure requirement pursuant to the provisions of section 10-262e"; P.A. 89-124 substituted a reference to Sec. 10-262j for a reference to Sec. 10-262e which was repealed by Sec. 12 of the act; P.A. 97-290 added new Subdiv. (3) re reduction in racial, ethnic and economic isolation, redesignated former Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (4) and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1997.

      State's interest in educational equality recognized; present system of school financing, relying principally on local property taxes, violates this principle and is unconstitutional. 172 C. 615. Cited. 179 C. 694. Cited. 187 C. 187. Cited. 195 C. 24. Cited. 226 C. 704. Cited. 228 C. 699. Cited. 238 C. 1.

      Cited. 44 CA 179.

      Cited. 29 CS 397. Cited. 36 CS 293.

      Sec. 10-4b. Complaint alleging failure or inability of board of education to implement educational interests of state. Investigation; inquiry; hearing. Remedial process. Regulations. (a) Any resident of a local or regional school district, or parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the public schools of such school district who has been unable to resolve a complaint with the board of education of such local or regional school district may file with the State Board of Education a complaint in writing, or the state board may initiate a complaint, alleging the failure or inability of the board of education of such local or regional school district to implement the educational interests of the state in accordance with section 10-4a. If the state board, or its designee, finds such complaint to be substantial, it shall notify the local or regional board of such complaint and shall designate an agent who shall conduct a prompt investigation in accordance with procedures established by said state board and report the results of such investigation to the state board. The agent of the State Board of Education, in conducting an investigation, may summon by subpoena any records or documents related to the investigation. If the findings indicate that there is reasonable cause to believe that a local or regional board of education has failed or is unable to make reasonable provision to implement the educational interests of the state as defined in section 10-4a or that a local governmental body or its agent is responsible for such failure or inability, said state board shall conduct an inquiry. The State Board of Education shall give the board of education or a local governmental body or its agent involved the opportunity to be heard in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-176e to 4-184. Said state board may summon by subpoena any person whose testimony may be pertinent to the inquiry and any records or documents related to the provision of public education in the school district.

      (b) If, after conducting an inquiry in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the state board finds that a local or regional board of education has failed or is unable to implement the educational interests of the state in accordance with section 10-4a, the state board shall (1) require the local or regional board of education to engage in a remedial process whereby such local or regional board of education shall develop and implement a plan of action through which compliance may be attained, or (2) order the local or regional board of education to take reasonable steps where such local or regional board has failed to comply with subdivision (3) of section 10-4a. Where a local or regional board of education is required to implement a remedial process pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, upon request of such local or regional board, the state board shall make available to such local or regional board materials and advice to assist in such remedial process. If the state board finds that a local governmental body or its agent is responsible for such failure or inability, the state board may order such governmental body or agent to take reasonable steps to comply with the requirements of section 10-4a. The state board may not order an increase in the regular program expenditures, as defined in section 10-262f, of such local or regional board of education if such expenditures are in an amount at least equal to the minimum expenditure requirement in accordance with section 10-262j, provided that an increase in expenditures may be ordered in accordance with section 10-76d. If the state board finds that the state is responsible for such failure, the state board shall so notify the Governor and the General Assembly.

      (c) Upon the failure of a local or regional board of education to implement a remedial process, or upon the failure of a local or regional board of education or local governmental body or its agent to comply with an order of the state board in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, said state board may seek an order from the Superior Court to compel such board of education to implement a remedial process or to compel a local or regional board of education or local governmental body or its agent to carry out the order of the State Board of Education.

      (d) The state board shall pursuant to the provisions of chapter 54 adopt regulations concerning procedures for purposes of this section.

      (1969, P.A. 690, S. 5; P.A. 78-218, S. 6; P.A. 79-128, S. 14, 36; P.A. 81-432, S. 7, 11; P.A. 82-301, S. 2, 5; P.A. 86-71, S. 3, 11; P.A. 88-317, S. 53, 107; P.A. 89-124, S. 8, 13; P.A. 92-262, S. 2, 42; P.A. 96-244, S. 1, 63; P.A. 08-153, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 78-218 substituted "any local or regional board of education" for "board of education of any school district"; P.A. 79-128 allowed complaints by residents of school district and parents and guardians of students as initiating factor in inquiry procedure made by state board and added Subsecs. (b) to (d) concerning remedial process undertaken upon order of state board; P.A. 81-432 deleted reference to Sec. 10-76p in Subsec. (b); P.A. 82-301 amended Subsec. (b) to eliminate internal reference to Sec. 10-266o, repealed by Sec. 4 of the act; P.A. 86-71 deleted the reference in Subsec. (b) to Sec. 10-266n which was repealed; P.A. 88-317 amended reference to Secs. 4-177 to 4-184 in Subsec. (a) to include new sections added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 89-124 in Subsec. (b) substituted references to Sec. 10-262j for references to Sec. 10-262e which was repealed by Sec. 12 of the act, deleted reference to Sec. 10-262c which was repealed by Sec. 8 of public act 88-358, substituted "regular program expenditures, as defined in section 10-262f" for "net current expenditures, as defined in section 10-261" and made technical changes; P.A. 92-262 added language granting authority to agent of the state board to subpoena records or documents related to an investigation; P.A. 96-244 amended Subsec. (b) to add Sec. 10-203 to the list of sections, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 08-153 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective June 12, 2008.

      Cited. 179 C. 694. Cited. 187 C. 187. Cited. 195 C. 24. Cited. 226 C. 704, 729. Cited. 228 C. 699. P.A. 89-124 cited. Id. Cited. 238 C. 1.

      Cited. 44 CA 179.

      Cited. 29 CS 397.

      Sec. 10-4c. State board to monitor state grants to local and regional boards. Section 10-4c is repealed, effective June 3, 1996.

      (P.A. 78-207; P.A. 82-314, S. 45, 63; P.A. 92-170, S. 6, 26; P.A. 93-353, S. 33, 52; P.A. 96-161, S. 12, 13.)

      Sec. 10-4d. Advisory committee on educational equity. Section 10-4d is repealed.

      (P.A. 80-455, S. 1-3; P.A. 87-4, S. 1, 2; P.A. 91-303, S. 17, 22; P.A. 92-143, S. 3, 4; 92-262, S. 41, 42.)

      Sec. 10-4e. Coordination and planning for educational technology. Section 10-4e is repealed, effective July 1, 2000.

      (P.A. 82-266, S. 1, 2; P.A. 83-587, S. 12, 96; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 91-30, S. 2, 4; P.A. 92-146, S. 3, 5; P.A. 93-353, S. 24, 52; P.A. 94-245, S. 30, 46; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; 96-244, S. 42, 63; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9, S. 21, 50; P.A. 98-252, S. 53, 80; P.A. 00-187, S. 74, 75.)

      Sec. 10-4f. State Board of Education. Copyright authority. The State Board of Education shall have the authority to obtain, in the name of the Secretary of the State for the benefit of the people of the state, patents, trademarks and copyrights for inventions, discoveries and literary, artistic, musical or other products of authorship and to file and prosecute patent, trademark and copyright applications. Any net proceeds that may be derived from the assignment, grant, license or other disposal of said patents, trademarks or copyrights shall be deposited to the resources of the General Fund.

      (P.A. 84-191, S. 1, 2.)

      Cited. 226 C. 704.

      Sec. 10-4g. Parental and community involvement in schools; model program; school-based teams. (a) The State Board of Education shall develop and distribute to all local and regional boards of education a model program to encourage the participation of parents and the community in the local or regional educational system. The model program shall include, but not be limited to, the establishment of school-based teams with representatives of parents, students, teachers, administrators, local or regional boards of education and community groups and organizations assembled to: (1) Foster model agreements between parents and their children with the cooperation of the school, such agreements to cover goals and objectives for the student for the school year; (2) adopt agreements to foster cooperation and improve communication between such representatives regarding matters such as academic rights and responsibilities, codes of social conduct and disciplinary policies; and (3) develop agreements to encourage community residents to take an active role in improving the school and to become school volunteers. The model program developed by the state board shall provide model agreements for the use of school-based teams in the development of their own local or regional agreements.

      (b) The State Board of Education shall develop a program to encourage local and regional boards of education to develop and implement plans to involve parents of students in the educational process in that district and to increase community involvement in the schools. The local programs shall include, but not be limited to, providing regular contact with all parents, including opportunities for parents to meet with their children's instructors for the purpose of reviewing the curriculum of their child's program, and developing strategies for parents to actively assist in the educational process. Such local programs shall also include the development of written materials designed to familiarize parents with their child's curriculum and to detail specific activities parents and students may undertake together to enrich the child's education experience and development. The State Board of Education shall develop such program on or before July 1, 1998, and shall immediately distribute the materials explaining the program to all local and regional boards of education.

      (P.A. 84-209, S. 1, 2; P.A. 97-290, S. 6, 29.)

      History: P.A. 97-290 expanded the model program to include community participation, substituted school-based teams for local or regional panels, added provisions in Subsec. (a) re agreements to improve communication and to encourage community residents to take an active role, amended Subsec. (b) to require local programs to provide regular contact with parents, to require the State Board of Education to develop the model program on or before July 1, 1998, and to delete provisions re submission of plans to the State Board of Education, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1997.

      Cited. 226 C. 704.

      Sec. 10-4h. Grant program for telecommunications projects. (a) The Department of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Educational Technology, shall establish a competitive grant program, within the limit of the bond authorization for purposes of this section, to assist (1) local and regional school districts, (2) regional educational service centers, (3) cooperative arrangements among one or more boards of education, and (4) endowed academies approved pursuant to section 10-34 that are eligible for school building project grants pursuant to chapter 173, to upgrade or install wiring, including electrical wiring, cable or other distribution systems and infrastructure improvements to support telecommunications and other information transmission equipment to be used for educational purposes, provided the department may expend up to two per cent of such bond authorization for such purposes for the regional vocation-technical school system.

      (b) Grant applications shall be submitted annually to the Commissioner of Education at such time and on such forms as the commissioner prescribes. In determining whether to award a grant pursuant to this section and in determining the amount of the grant, the commissioner shall consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to, the following factors: (1) The nature, description and systems design of the project; (2) the results of an assessment demonstrating the need for such a project in the community; (3) the degree of planning to use educational technology equipment and hardware, including the extent to which the school buildings will be capable of being linked to other schools, libraries, institutions of higher education and information networks and provision for the training of staff; (4) the extent to which the applicant in the development of a plan, consulted with individuals or businesses which have expertise in technology and information systems; (5) the relative wealth of the applicant; (6) the number of school districts included in the grant application; (7) the size of the school building; and (8) the grades enrolled in the school building.

      (c) If the commissioner finds that any grant awarded pursuant to this section is being used for purposes which are not in conformity with the purposes of this section, the commissioner may require repayment of the grant to the state.

      (d) Each grantee shall submit, at such time and in such form as the commissioner prescribes, such reports and financial statements as are required by the department.

      (P.A. 86-361, S. 1, 2; P.A. 91-30, S. 3, 4; P.A. 95-272, S. 6, 29; P.A. 98-252, S. 5, 80; P.A. 00-187, S. 50, 75; P.A. 03-76, S. 2; P.A. 06-158, S. 7.)

      History: P.A. 91-30 made technical changes and removed obsolete language; P.A. 95-272 amended Subsec. (a) to add requirement re consultation with committee established in Sec. 10-4e, changed reference to funds appropriated to bond authorization, added cooperative arrangements among boards of education to upgrade or install wiring, cable or other distribution system and other improvements to telecommunications and transmission equipment for educational purposes, added new Subdivs. (3) and (4) to Subsec. (b) re degree of planning and consultation by applicant in plan development, renumbered Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (5), deleted former Subdivs. (4) and (5) re potential for replication of project and evidence that school district or regional educational service will contribute, added new Subdivs. (6), (7) and (8) re number of school districts in grant application, size of building and grades enrolled, respectively, deleted the parts of Subsec. (c) re approval of grant awards by commissioner and contributions by regional and local boards of education and replaced financial statement of expenditures and annual project report requirements with reports and financial statements as required by the department, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-252 amended Subsec. (a) to add endowed academies to the list of eligible grantees and to specify that the wiring could be electrical wiring, effective June 8, 1998; P.A. 00-187 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute consultation with the Commission for Educational Technology for consultation with a committee that was eliminated under the act, effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 03-76 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective June 3, 2003; P.A. 06-158 amended Subsec. (a) by permitting the use of 2% of bond authorization for the regional vocational-technical school system, effective July 1, 2006.

      Cited. 226 C. 704.

      Secs. 10-4i to 10-4k. Transferred to Chapter 318, Secs. 17-625 to 17-627, inclusive.

      Sec. 10-4l. Advisory committee on school district reporting requirements. Section 10-4l is repealed, effective July 1, 1996.

      (P.A. 91-220, S. 4, 8; P.A. 92-170, S. 1, 26; P.A. 96-244, S. 62, 63.)

      Sec. 10-4m. Commission on Educational Excellence. Section 10-4m is repealed, effective July 1, 1998.

      (P.A. 92-143, S. 1, 4, P.A. 98-252, S. 79, 80; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 105, 121.)

      Sec. 10-4n. Committee on Educational Equity and Excellence. Section 10-4n is repealed, effective June 12, 2008.

      (P.A. 92-143, S. 2, 4; P.A. 93-353, S. 1, 52; P.A. 94-245, S. 37, 46; P.A. 08-153, S. 9.)

      Sec. 10-4o. (Formerly Sec. 17-605). Family resource center program. Guidelines for programs. Study. Grants. (a) The Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Social Services, shall coordinate a family resource center program to provide comprehensive child care services, remedial educational and literacy services, families-in-training programs and supportive services to parents who are recipients of temporary family assistance and other parents in need of such services. The family resource centers shall be located in or associated with public schools, and any family resource center established on or after July 1, 2000, shall be located in a public elementary school unless the Commissioner of Education waives such requirement. The commissioner shall determine the manner in which the grant recipients of such program, such as municipalities, boards of education and child care providers shall be selected. The family resource center shall provide: (1) Quality full-day child care and school readiness programs for children age three and older who are not enrolled in school and child care for children enrolled in school up to the age of twelve for before and after regular school hours and on a full-day basis during school holidays and school vacation, in compliance with all state statutes and regulations governing child day care and, in the case of the school readiness programs, in compliance with the standards set for such programs pursuant to section 10-16p; (2) support services to parents of newborn infants to ascertain their needs and provide them with referrals to other services and organizations and, if necessary, education in parenting skills; (3) support and educational services to parents whose children are participants of the child care services of the program and who are interested in obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent. Parents and their preschool age children may attend classes in parenting and child learning skills together so as to promote the mutual pursuit of education and enhance parent-child interaction; (4) training, technical assistance and other support by the staff of the center to family day care providers in the community and serve as an information and referral system for other child care needs in the community or coordinate with such systems as may already exist in the community; (5) a families-in-training program to provide, within available appropriations, community support services to expectant parents and parents of children under the age of three. Such services shall include, but not be limited to, providing information and advice to parents on their children's language, cognitive, social and motor development, visiting a participant's home on a regular basis, organizing group meetings at the center for neighborhood parents of young children and providing a reference center for parents who need special assistance or services. The program shall provide for the recruitment of parents to participate in such program; and (6) a sliding scale of payment, as developed in consultation with the Department of Social Services, for child care services at the center. The center shall also provide a teen pregnancy prevention program for adolescents emphasizing responsible decision-making and communication skills.

      (b) The Department of Education, in consultation with representatives from family resource centers, within available appropriations, shall develop guidelines for family resource center programs. The guidelines shall include standards for program quality and design and identify short and long-term outcomes for families participating in such programs. The Department of Education, within available appropriations, shall provide a copy of such guidelines to each family resource center. Each family resource center shall use the guidelines to develop a program improvement plan for the next twelve-month period and shall submit the plan to the department. The plan shall include goals to be used for measuring such improvement. The department shall use the plan to monitor the progress of the center. Family resource centers in existence on July 1, 1997, shall be given a preference for grants for school readiness awarded by the Department of Education or the Department of Social Services and for financing pursuant to sections 10a-194c, 17b-749g and 17b-749h.

      (c) The Department of Education, within available appropriations, shall provide for a longitudinal study of family resource centers every three years.

      (d) The Commissioner of Education may provide grants to municipalities, boards of education and child care providers to carry out the purposes of subsection (a) of this section. Each family resource center shall have a program administrator who has at least two years of experience in child care, public administration or early childhood education and a master's degree in child development, early childhood education or a related field.

      (e) The Commissioner of Education may accept and receive on behalf of the department or any family resource center, subject to section 4b-22, any bequest, devise or grant made to the department or any family resource center for the purpose of establishing a new family resource center or expanding an existing center, and may hold and use such property for the purpose specified in such bequest, devise or gift.

      (P.A. 88-331, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-55; P.A. 90-128, S. 1; P.A. 92-49; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-353, S. 45, 52; 93-435, S. 59, 95; P.A. 97-259, S. 21, 41; P.A. 00-220, S. 2, 43; P.A. 01-173, S. 6, 67; P.A. 03-76, S. 38.)

      History: P.A. 89-55 required that family resource center provide a families-in-training program and added new Subsec. (a)(5) re components of such a program, renumbering former Subdiv. (5) as (6); P.A. 90-128 added Subsec. (c) authorizing the commissioner to accept grants or gifts made for the purpose of establishing or expanding a family resource center; Sec. 17-31tt transferred to Sec. 17-605 in 1991; P.A. 92-49 amended Subsec. (a) to remove the requirement that there be at least three centers and that they be located in particular areas, to provide that the centers shall be associated with public schools rather than in public schools, and to remove the requirement that only first-time parents be served by the program and amended Subsec. (b) to modify the qualifications required for a program administrator; P.A. 93-262 and P.A. 93-435 authorized substitution of department of social services for department of human resources in new language added by P.A. 93-353, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-353 transferred the authority for the program from the department of human resources to the department of education, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-605 transferred to Sec. 10-4o in 1995; P.A. 97-259 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute temporary family assistance for aid to families with dependent children, amended Subdiv. (1) to add school readiness programs and Subdiv. (6) to add consultation with the Department of Social Services, added new Subsecs. (b) and (c) re program guidelines and longitudinal study, and redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) and (c) as Subsecs. (d) and (e), effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 00-220 amended Subsec. (a) to add requirement for location in a public elementary school and for school readiness programs to be in compliance with the standards set pursuant to Sec. 10-16p, effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 01-173 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 03-76 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective June 3, 2003.

      See Sec. 4b-31a re plan for colocation of family resource centers and school-based health clinics.

      Sec. 10-4p. Implementation plan to achieve resource equity and equality of opportunity. Assessment. Reports. (a) The State Board of Education shall develop a five-year implementation plan with appropriate goals and strategies to achieve resource equity and equality of opportunity, increase student achievement, reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation, improve effective instruction and encourage greater parental and community involvement in all public schools of the state. The implementation plan shall: (1) Include methods for significantly reducing over a five-year period any disparities among school districts in terms of resources, staff, programs and curriculum, student achievement and community involvement that negatively impact student learning, (2) provide for monitoring by the Department of Education of the progress made in reducing such disparities, and (3) include proposals for minority staff recruitment, including but not limited to, alternative certification, mentoring programs, involvement of the community-technical colleges and efforts by regional educational service centers.

      (b) Prior to developing the plan, the State Board of Education shall conduct a state-wide assessment of the disparities among local and regional school districts and make comparisons to relevant national standards or regional accreditation standards, in the areas of: (1) Resources, including educational materials, supplies, equipment, textbooks, library materials, facilities and expenditures by category and in total; (2) staff, including the education and experience of teachers, staff-student ratios, the racial and ethnic characteristics of staff, minority staff recruitment and a comparison of the racial diversity of school staffs to the racial diversity of the region where the school is located; (3) program and curriculum, including course offerings, requirements, enrollments in advanced, special and compensatory education, programs and services to students with limited English proficiency and an analysis of such programs and services in terms of the recommendations of the bilingual education task force, policies on student assignment and promotion, extracurricular activities and student participation, goals and objectives and content and performance standards, opportunities for summer school, school-to-career transition, alternative programs, and parent-student choice of school or program; (4) student achievement, including the effect of social promotional policies on student achievement, state and national assessments, dropout rates, attendance, graduation follow-up data, artistic, athletic and community service accomplishments, other documentation of student success, and success in reducing the racial, ethnic and economic isolation of students; and (5) community involvement, including parent and family contact with the school and teachers, business partnerships, joint programs with community agencies, town-wide preschool coordination, opportunities for adult basic education and parenting education.

      (c) (1) The State Board of Education shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a, on the plan developed pursuant to this section to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education by February 1, 1998. The report shall: (A) Include the results of the assessment conducted pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of this section, (B) include recommendations for changes in state law, budget proposals and administrative actions, where appropriate, that would assist in reducing the disparities among school districts and increasing the accountability of school districts, and (C) identify the responsibility of individual boards of education to achieve the goals as specified in subsection (a) of this section in their school districts. (2) On or before January 1, 1999, the State Board of Education shall so report, to the Governor and said committee on (A) the assessment conducted pursuant to subdivisions (3) to (5), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section, (B) include recommendations described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection and (C) identify the responsibility of individual boards of education to take specific action to improve conditions in their school districts. (3) On or before January 1, 2001, and biennially thereafter, the State Board of Education shall so report to the Governor and said committee on the progress made in reducing the disparities among school districts and the remaining barriers to and recommendations for achieving the goals specified in subsection (a) of this section.

      (P.A. 97-290, S. 4, 29.)

      History: P.A. 97-290 effective July 1, 1997.

      Sec. 10-4q. State Education Resource Center to promote equity and excellence. (a) The State Board of Education shall establish a State Education Resource Center to assist the board in the provision of programs and activities that will promote educational equity and excellence. Such activities, to be provided by the State Education Resource Center or a regional educational service center, may include training and continuing education seminars, publication of technical materials, research and evaluation, and other related activities. The center may support programs and activities concerning early childhood education, the federal No Child Left Behind Act, P.L. 107-110, and closing the academic achievement gap between socio-economic subgroups, and other related programs.

      (b) The Commissioner of Education, with the assistance of the State Education Resource Center, may provide grants to local and regional boards of education for districts identified as in need of improvement under the provisions of section 10-223e. The grants shall be for the creation and acquisition of new curricula, training in the use of the curricula and related supporting textbooks and other materials. Local and regional boards of education may use such grants only for curricula, training and related textbooks and materials that have been authorized by the commissioner. Local and regional boards of education shall apply for grants pursuant to this subsection at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, and the commissioner shall determine the amount of the grant awards.

      (c) Within available appropriations, the Department of Education shall establish a Connecticut School Reform Resource Center within the State Education Resource Center established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or by contract through a regional educational service center. The center shall operate year-round and focus on serving the needs of all public schools. The center shall (1) publish and distribute reports on the most effective practices for improving student achievement by successful schools, (2) provide a program of professional development activities for school leaders, including curriculum coordinators, principals, superintendents and board of education members, (3) provide information on successful models for evaluating student performance and managing student data, and (4) provide other programs and materials to assist in the improvement of public schools.

      (P.A. 05-245, S. 24.)

      History: P.A. 05-245 effective July 1, 2005.

      Sec. 10-4r. Recommendations re definition of attendance region for regional vocational-technical school system. On or before July 1, 2011, the State Board of Education shall develop recommendations regarding the definition of region for purposes of attendance in the regional vocational-technical school system. The board shall submit such recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education.

      (P.A. 10-76, S. 9.)

      History: P.A. 10-76 effective July 1, 2010.

      Sec. 10-4s. Monitoring and reporting on reconstituted schools by Department of Education. (a) The Department of Education shall monitor, within available appropriations, those schools that have reconstituted pursuant to subsection (g) of section 10-223e to determine whether such schools have demonstrated progress with regard to the following indicators: (1) The reconstitution model adopted by the school; (2) the length of the school day and school year; (3) the number and type of disciplinary incidents; (4) the number of truants; (5) the dropout rate; (6) the student attendance rate; (7) the average scale scores on the state-wide mastery examination pursuant to section 10-14n; (8) for high schools, the number and percentage of students completing advanced placement coursework; (9) the teacher attendance rate; and (10) the existence and size of the parent-teacher organization for the school. Such monitoring shall be conducted over the two-year period following such reconstitution.

      (b) On or before January 1, 2012, the department shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education on (1) the number of school governance councils established pursuant to subsection (g) of section 10-223e, and (2) the number of schools that have been reconstituted and the models, as described in said subsection (g), that have been adopted as part of such reconstitution.

      (c) On or before January 1, 2013, the department shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education on (1) the monitoring conducted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, (2) recommendations relating to changes in the reconstitution options available to schools, including whether school governance councils may continue to recommend reconstitution pursuant to subsection (g) of section 10-223e, (3) comparison of the models adopted, and (4) the level of progress of schools adopting each model in relation to the indicators described in subsection (a) of this section.

      (P.A. 10-111, S. 22.)

      History: P.A. 10-111 effective July 1, 2010.

      Sec. 10-4t. Reports and evaluations re school governance councils. (a) On or before July 1, 2011, and biennially thereafter, the Department of Education shall report, within available appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education on (1) the number of such school governance councils that have initiated reconstitution pursuant to subsection (g) of section 10-223, (2) a comparison of those school governance councils that have initiated such reconstitution and those that have not, and (3) whether parental involvement has increased at those schools with school governance councils.

      (b) On or before July 1, 2011, and annually thereafter, the department shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education on the evaluations conducted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

      (P.A. 10-111, S. 23.)

      History: P.A. 10-111 effective July 1, 2010.

      Sec. 10-4u. Parent Trust Fund. There is established a Parent Trust Fund, the resources of which shall be used by the Commissioner of Education to fund programs aimed at improving the health, safety and education of children by training parents in civic leadership skills and supporting increased, sustained, quality parental engagement in community affairs. The commissioner may accept on behalf of the fund any federal funds or private grants or gifts made for purposes of this section. The fund may receive state funds. The commissioner shall use such funds to make grants to programs for purposes described in this section.

      (P.A. 10-111, S. 26.)

      History: P.A. 10-111 effective May 26, 2010.

      Sec. 10-5. State high school diploma; "honors diploma". Payment of fees; exceptions. (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 sixteen or 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.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1336; 1951, S. 880d; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 17; February, 1965, P.A. 330, S. 11; P.A. 73-79; P.A. 77-614, S. 302, 587, 610; P.A. 78-218, S. 7; 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 83-146, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-325, S. 6; P.A. 86-333, S. 1, 32; P.A. 89-251, S. 65, 203; P.A. 91-295, S. 1, 7; P.A. 95-259, S. 2, 32; P.A. 00-157, S. 2, 8.)

      History: 1965 act substituted "state high school diploma" for "qualifying academic certificate" and deleted definition of certificate; P.A. 73-79 allowed payment of testing fee to local boards of education providing testing services as well as to state board and required that fees paid to local boards be deposited in school activity fund to cover testing costs; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner of education for secretary of state board of education, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-218 allowed payment of testing fees to regional boards of education; P.A. 83-146 increased fee for examination from $3 to $10, required payment of all fees to be by money order or certified check unless made in person for subsequent examinations, and exempted persons under age 21 from paying fees required under the section; P.A. 84-325 stipulated that any sums paid under the provisions of the section were nonrefundable, added provision permitting commissioner to waive payment of any fee and established criteria for the earning of an "honors diploma"; P.A. 86-333 deleted the provision that the examination be in one or more subjects; P.A. 89-251 increased fee for a state high school diploma from $2 to $3, increased fee for a first examination from $10 to $13 and increased fee for subsequent examinations from $2 to $3; P.A. 91-295 added provision requiring that person be at least 17 years of age and withdrawn from school for at least six months, and that applicant be advised of options and available programs and provision re use of funds to defray the costs of related administration and information; P.A. 95-259 rewrote the section, added the provision for 16-year-olds to apply to take the examination and changed the provision concerning an honors diploma, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 00-157 amended Subsec. (a) to only allow 16 or 17-year-olds to receive the diploma if they have officially withdrawn from school, effective July 1, 2001.

      See Sec. 10a-43 re postsecondary education certificates.

      Sec. 10-5a. Educational technology and high school graduation requirements. The Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, assist and encourage local and regional boards of education to use and integrate educational technology in the courses required for high school graduation pursuant to section 10-221a in order to promote proficiency in the use of educational technology by each student who graduates from high school.

      (P.A. 96-244, S. 51, 63; P.A. 03-76, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 96-244, S. 51 effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 03-76 made a technical change, effective June 3, 2003.

      Sec. 10-5b. Department of Education web site. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the Department of Education may develop and maintain a web site without the aid of the Department of Information Technology.

      (P.A. 06-192, S. 7.)

      History: P.A. 06-192 effective June 7, 2006.

      Sec. 10-5c. Board examination series pilot program. Issuance of certificate. (a) The Department of Education may establish a board examination series pilot program to allow local and regional boards of education to permit students in grades nine to twelve, inclusive, to substitute achievement of a passing score on a series of examinations approved by the State Board of Education for the high school graduation requirements pursuant to section 10-221a. The State Board of Education shall issue a board examination certificate to any student who has successfully completed such program. Such board examination certificate shall be considered in the same manner as a high school diploma for purposes of determining eligibility of a student for enrollment at a public institution of higher education in this state.

      (b) Notwithstanding the high school graduation requirements pursuant to section 10-221a, for the school year commencing July 1, 2011, and each school year thereafter, a local or regional board of education shall permit a student to graduate from high school upon the successful completion of the board examination series program described in subsection (a) of this section.

      (P.A. 10-111, S. 17.)

      History: P.A. 10-111 effective July 1, 2010.

      Sec. 10-5d. Implementation of high school graduation requirements. Grants. Reports. (a) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2018, inclusive, the Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, provide grants to local and regional school districts to begin implementation of the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of section 10-221a.

      (b) On or before November 1, 2012, and biennially thereafter, each local or regional board of education seeking grant assistance from the department pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall report to the department on the status of the school district's implementation of the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of section 10-221a and an explanation for the reasons why funds are necessary for the next biennium to implement the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of said section 10-221a.

      (c) On or before February 1, 2013, and biennially thereafter, the department shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education on the status of implementation of the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of section 10-221a by local and regional boards of education in the state. Such report shall include, (1) an explanation of any existing state and federal funds currently available to assist in such implementation, (2) recommendations regarding the appropriation of additional state funds to support local and regional boards of education in the implementation of subsections (c) and (d) of said section 10-221a, and (3) recommendations for any statutory changes that would facilitate implementation of subsections (c) and (d) of said section 10-221a by local and regional boards of education.

      (P.A. 10-111, S. 18.)

      History: P.A. 10-111 effective July 1, 2010.

      Sec. 10-5e. Development or approval of end of the school year examinations. On and after July 1, 2012, the Department of Education shall commence development or approval of the end of the school year examinations to be administered pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of section 10-221a. Such examinations shall be developed or approved on or before July 1, 2014.

      (P.A. 10-111, S. 19.)

      History: P.A. 10-111 effective July 1, 2010.

      Secs. 10-6 and 10-7. Transferred to Chapter 185, Part III, Secs. 10a-34 and 10a-35, respectively.

      Secs. 10-7a to 10-7d. Transferred to Chapter 185, Part I, Secs. 10a-22a to 10a-22d, inclusive.

      Sec. 10-7e. Occupational schools in existence on October 1, 1979. Section 10-7e is repealed.

      (P.A. 79-380, S. 5; P.A. 83-501, S. 11, 12.)

      Secs. 10-7f to 10-7l. Transferred to Chapter 185, Part I, Secs. 10a-22e to 10a-22k, inclusive.

      Secs. 10-7m to 10-7q. Reserved for future use.

      Secs. 10-7r to 10-7u. Transferred to Chapter 185, Part I, Secs. 10a-22q to 10a-22t, inclusive.

      Sec. 10-8. Licensing of private schools for trade instruction and special occupational training. Section 10-8 is repealed.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1343; February, 1965, P.A. 475, S. 1; P.A. 79-380, S. 16.)

      Sec. 10-8a. Adoption of regulations to exempt educational institutions from licensing requirements by Department of Children and Families. The State Board of Education shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 in order to determine which educational institutions shall be exempt from the requirements of sections 17a-146 and 17a-152.

      (P.A. 78-108, S. 3, 4.)

      Sec. 10-8b. Teacher shortages. The Commissioner of Education shall annually, by December first, determine subject and geographic areas in which a teacher shortage exists and shall certify such shortages to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority for purposes of section 8-265pp. In determining teacher shortages, the commissioner shall consider the following: (1) The number of teacher vacancies in a particular subject or geographic area; (2) the number of new certificates in such areas issued by the Department of Education during the preceding year; and (3) the number and types of classes being taught by persons whose training is not specific to the field in which they are teaching.

      (P.A. 00-187, S. 25, 75.)

      History: P.A. 00-187 effective July 1, 2000.

      Sec. 10-8c. Accelerated cross endorsement. Former teacher certification. The Department of Education, in cooperation with the Department of Higher Education, shall, within available appropriations, (1) establish an accelerated cross endorsement process for each subject shortage area pursuant to section 10-8b to allow certified teachers to add a new endorsement to their certificates, and (2) establish a program for formerly certified teachers to regain certification.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1, S. 7, 54.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1 effective July 1, 2001.

      Sec. 10-9. Bequests for educational purposes. (a) The State Treasurer may receive in the name of the state any money or property given or bequeathed to the state, to the Board of Governors of Higher Education or to any of its constituent units for educational purposes, and may expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gift or bequest. Such money or property shall be invested by the Treasurer in accordance with the provisions of section 3-31a.

      (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the State Board of Education may receive in the name of the state any money or property given or bequeathed to the State Board of Education or to any of the regional vocational-technical schools. Said board shall transfer any such money to the State Treasurer who shall invest the money in accordance with the provisions of section 3-31a. Said board may use any such property for educational purposes.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1344; February, 1965, P.A. 330, S. 15; P.A. 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 78-236, S. 4, 20; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 86-333, S. 2, 32.)

      History: 1965 act included reference to money or property given or bequeathed to commission for higher education or its constituent units; P.A. 77-573 substituted board of higher education for commission for higher education; P.A. 78-236 substituted Sec. 3-31a for reference to repealed Sec. 3-27; P.A. 82-218 replaced board of higher education with board of governors pursuant to reorganization of higher education system, effective March 1, 1983; P.A. 84-241 added "of higher education" to board of governors' title; P.A. 86-333 added the designation Subsec. (a), deleted the provision that the state treasurer may receive money or property given or bequeathed to the state board of education and added Subsec. (b) providing for the receipt and transfer of money and receipt and use of property.

      No authority under this section to authorize the turning over of funds of The Wheeler School and Library to the state board of education. 15 CS 427.

      Sec. 10-10. Acquisition of federal surplus property. Section 10-10 is repealed.

      (1957, P.A. 20, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 136, S. 2.)

      Sec. 10-10a. Public school information system. Definitions. Development and implementation. Types of data collected. Access to data maintained under system. (a) As used in this section:

      (1) "Teacher" means any certified professional employee below the rank of superintendent employed by a board of education for at least ninety days in a position requiring a certificate issued by the State Board of Education;

      (2) "Teacher 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 approved by the Department of Education, including, but not limited to, an alternate route to certification program.

      (b) The Department of Education shall develop and implement a state-wide public school information system. The system shall be designed for the purpose of establishing a standardized electronic data collection and reporting protocol that will facilitate compliance with state and federal reporting requirements, improve school-to-school and district-to-district information exchanges, and maintain the confidentiality of individual student and staff data. The initial design shall focus on student information, provided the system shall be created to allow for future compatibility with financial, facility and staff data. The system shall provide for the tracking of the performance of individual students on each of the state-wide mastery examinations under section 10-14n in order to allow the department to compare the progress of the same cohort of students who take each examination and to better analyze school performance. The department shall assign a unique student identifier to each student prior to tracking the performance of a student in the public school information system.

      (c) On or before July 1, 2013, the department shall expand the state-wide public school information system as follows:

      (1) Track and report data relating to student, teacher and school and district performance growth and make such information available to local and regional boards of education for use in evaluating educational performance and growth of teachers and students enrolled in public schools in the state. Such information shall be collected or calculated based on information received from local and regional boards of education and other relevant sources. Such information shall include, but not be limited to:

      (A) In addition to performance on state-wide mastery examinations pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, data relating to students shall include, but not be limited to, (i) the primary language spoken at the home of a student, (ii) student transcripts, (iii) student attendance and student mobility, and (iv) reliable, valid assessments of a student's readiness to enter public school at the kindergarten level;

      (B) Data relating to teachers shall include, but not be limited to, (i) teacher credentials, such as master's degrees, teacher preparation programs completed and certification levels and endorsement areas, (ii) teacher assessments, such as whether a teacher is deemed highly qualified pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act, P.L. 107-110, or deemed to meet such other designations as may be established by federal law or regulations for the purposes of tracking the equitable distribution of instructional staff, (iii) the presence of substitute teachers in a teacher's classroom, (iv) class size, (v) numbers relating to absenteeism in a teacher's classroom, and (vi) the presence of a teacher's aide. The department shall assign a unique teacher identifier to each teacher prior to collecting such data in the public school information system;

      (C) Data relating to schools and districts shall include, but not be limited to, (i) school population, (ii) annual student graduation rates, (iii) annual teacher retention rates, (iv) school disciplinary records, such as data relating to suspensions, expulsions and other disciplinary actions, (v) the percentage of students whose primary language is not English, (vi) the number of and professional credentials of support personnel, and (vii) information relating to instructional technology, such as access to computers.

      (2) Collect data relating to student enrollment in and graduation from institutions of higher education for any student who had been assigned a unique student identifier pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, provided such data is available.

      (3) Develop means for access to and data sharing with the data systems of public institutions of higher education in the state.

      (d) On or before July 1, 2011, and each year thereafter until July 1, 2013, the Commissioner of Education shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education on the progress of the department's efforts to expand the state-wide public school information system pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. The report shall include a full statement of those data elements that are currently included in the system and those data elements that will be added on or before July 1, 2013.

      (e) The system database of student information shall not be considered a public record for the purposes of section 1-210. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of a full-time permanent employee of a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, and that is organized and operated for educational purposes, to obtain information in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of this section.

      (f) All school districts shall participate in the system, and report all necessary information required by this section, provided the department provides for technical assistance and training of school staff in the use of the system.

      (g) Local and regional boards of education and preschool programs which receive state or federal funding shall participate, in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Education, in the state-wide public school information system described in subsection (b) of this section. Participation for purposes of this subsection shall include, but not be limited to, reporting on (1) student experiences in preschool by program type and by numbers of months in each such program, and (2) the readiness of students entering kindergarten and student progress in kindergarten. Such reporting shall be done by October 1, 2007, and annually thereafter.

      (h) On and after August 1, 2009, upon receipt of a written request to access data maintained under this section by a full-time permanent employee of a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, and that is organized and operated for educational purposes, the Department of Education shall provide such data to such requesting party not later than sixty days after such request, provided such requesting party shall be responsible for the reasonable cost of such request. The Department of Information Technology shall monitor the calculation of such fees charged for access to or copies of such records to ensure that such fees are reasonable and consistent with those charged by other state agencies. The Department of Education shall respond to written requests under this section in the order in which they are received.

      (P.A. 00-187, S. 8, 75; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 7; P.A. 06-135, S. 22; P.A. 09-241, S. 1; P.A. 10-111, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 00-187 effective July 1, 2000; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting reference to Sec. 10-223b, effective August 15, 2002; P.A. 06-135 added Subsec. (d) re preschool programs, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 09-241 added provision in Subsec. (a) re assignment of unique student identifier, added provision in Subsec. (b) re access to data by employee of nonprofit organization, deleted provision in Subsec. (c) re pilot system project, and added Subsec. (e) re requests for and access to data, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 10-111 redesignated existing Subsec. (a) as new Subsec. (b), added new Subsec. (a) re definitions, added new Subsec. (c) re tracking and collection of student, teacher and school and district performance data, added new Subsec. (d) re report of commissioner, redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) to (e) as Subsecs. (e) to (h), amended redesignated Subsec. (f) by adding "and report all necessary information required by this section," and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2010.

      Sec. 10-11. Receipt and expenditure of federal funds and funds from private or municipal sources. The State Board of Education is empowered, subject to the provisions of the general statutes, to receive any federal funds or funds from private or municipal sources made available to this state for purposes described in section 10-4 relating to preschool, elementary and secondary education, special education, vocational education, adult education, and the provision and use of educational technology for such educational purposes, and to expend such funds for the purpose or purposes for which they are made available. The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of such funds.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1345; February, 1965, P.A. 330, S. 16; 1971, P.A. 382; 1972, P.A. 173; P.A. 73-313; P.A. 78-218, S. 8; P.A. 81-74, S. 2, 3; P.A. 82-314, S. 46, 63; P.A. 92-170, S. 7, 26; P.A. 95-272, S. 7, 29.)

      History: 1965 act replaced general reference to "educational purposes" with specific reference to "elementary, secondary or vocational education" purposes and deleted exception for funds designated for The University of Connecticut; 1971 act added Subsec. (b) re report of disbursement of federal funds for education; 1972 act included in report requirements an accounting of federal funds available for distribution to town and regional districts during preceding and current fiscal years; P.A. 73-313 changed report deadline from February fifteenth to February first of each year; P.A. 78-218 changed report deadline to February fifteenth, required report to education committee as well as governor and substituted "local" for "town" school districts in Subsec. (b); P.A. 81-74 authorized the state board of education to receive funds from private or municipal sources to help promote the educational interests of the state including preschool, special and adult education and the provision and use of instructional technology for educational purposes; P.A. 82-314 changed official name of education committee; P.A. 92-170 deleted former Subsec. (b) concerning a report on the funds available from federal government and on disbursement of funds actually received from federal, private or municipal sources; P.A. 95-272 replaced "instructional" with "educational" in reference to technology, effective July 1, 1995.

      Sec. 10-11a. Allocation to meet matching requirements of federal acts. The State Board of Education may, within the provisions of section 4-87, allocate and use any appropriation or special fund to meet the matching requirements of the federal acts making funds available to the state for purposes of elementary, secondary or vocational education.

      (1959, P.A. 483, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 330, S. 17.)

      History: 1965 act replaced general reference to "educational purposes" with specific reference to "elementary, secondary or vocational education" purposes.

      Sec. 10-12. State Board of Vocational Education. The State Board of Education is designated as the State Board of Vocational Education for the purpose of cooperating with the federal government in the promotion and administration of vocational education.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1346.)

      Sec. 10-13. Appointment of physicians for vocational schools. The State Board of Education may appoint one or more school physicians for the state vocational schools and shall provide such physicians with suitable facilities for the performance of such duties as it prescribes.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1347; 1959, P.A. 411, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 330, S. 19.)

      History: 1959 act changed reference to state teachers colleges to state colleges; 1965 act deleted provision for appointment of state college school physicians.

      Sec. 10-13a. Fees at technical institutes. Section 10-13a is repealed.

      (1963, P.A. 496, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 530, S. 12.)

      Sec. 10-14. Expenses of the board. The expenses of the State Board of Education shall be paid by the state upon vouchers certified by the Commissioner of Education or other person designated by said board.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1348; P.A. 77-614, S. 302, 610.)

      History: P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of education for secretary of state board of education, effective January 1, 1979.

      Sec. 10-14a. Transferred to Chapter 178, Part V, Sec. 10-333.

      Secs. 10-14b to 10-14d. State Commission on Youth Services. Coordinator. Duties. Part of Education Department. Sections 10-14b to 10-14d, inclusive, are repealed.

      (1963, P.A. 521, S. 1-4; 1969, P.A. 664, S. 18.)