Substitute Senate Bill No. 1041
Substitute Senate Bill No. 1041
PUBLIC ACT NO. 97-318
AN ACT CONCERNING EDUCATION GRANTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 10-262f of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:
Whenever used in this section and sections
10-262g to 10-262j, inclusive, AS AMENDED BY THIS
ACT:
(1) "Adjusted equalized net grand list" means
the equalized net grand list of a town multiplied
by its income adjustment factor.
(2) "Base aid ratio" means one minus the ratio
of a town's wealth to the state guaranteed wealth
level, provided no town's aid ratio shall be less
than zero.
(3) "Income adjustment factor" means the
average of a town's per capita income divided by
the per capita income of the town with the highest
per capita income in the state and a town's median
household income divided by the median household
income of the town with the highest median
household income in the state.
(4) "Median household income" for each town
means that enumerated in the most recent federal
decennial census of population or that enumerated
in the current population report series issued by
the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau
of the Census, whichever is more recent and
available on January first of the fiscal year two
years prior to the fiscal year in which payment is
to be made pursuant to section 10-262i.
(5) "Supplemental aid factor" means for each
town the average of its percentage of children
eligible under the aid to families with dependent
children program and its grant mastery percentage.
(6) "Percentage of children eligible under the
aid to families with dependent children program"
means the town's number of children under the aid
to families with dependent children program
divided by the number of children age five to
seventeen, inclusive, in the town.
(7) "Average mastery percentage" means for
each school year the average of the three most
recent mastery percentages available on December
first of the school year.
(8) "Equalized net grand list", for purposes
of calculating the amount of grant to which any
town is entitled in accordance with section
10-262h, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 2 OF THIS ACT,
means the average of the net grand lists of the
town upon which taxes were levied for the general
expenses of the town two, three and four years
prior to the fiscal year in which such grant is to
be paid, provided such net grand lists are
equalized in accordance with section 10-261a.
(9) "Foundation" means (A) for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1990, three thousand nine hundred
eighteen dollars, (B) for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1991, four thousand one hundred
ninety-two dollars, (C) for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1992, four thousand four hundred
eighty-six dollars, (D) for the fiscal years
ending June 30, 1993, June 30, 1994, and June 30,
1995, four thousand eight hundred dollars and (E)
for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, [and]
June 30, 1997, JUNE 30, 1998, AND JUNE 30, 1999,
five thousand seven hundred eleven dollars.
(10) "Number of children age five to
seventeen, inclusive" means that enumerated in the
most recent federal decennial census of population
or enumerated in the current population report
series issued by the United States Department of
Commerce, Bureau of the Census, whichever is more
recent and available on January first of the
fiscal year two years prior to the fiscal year in
which payment is to be made pursuant to section
10-262i.
(11) "Supplemental aid ratio" means .04 times
the supplemental aid factor of a town divided by
the highest supplemental aid factor when all towns
are ranked from low to high, provided any town
whose percentage of children eligible under the
aid to families with dependent children program
exceeds twenty-five shall have a supplemental aid
ratio of .04.
(12) "Grant mastery percentage" means (A) for
the school year ending June 30, 1989, average
mastery percentage and (B) for the school years
ending June 30, 1990, through the school year
ending June 30, 1995, the average mastery
percentage plus the mastery improvement bonus, and
(C) for each school year thereafter, the average
mastery percentage.
(13) "Mastery count" of a town means for each
school year the grant mastery percentage of the
town multiplied by the number of resident
students. [in regular programs in the town for the
school year.]
(14) "Mastery improvement bonus" means for
each school year through the school year ending
June 30, 1995, seventy-five per cent of the
difference between (A) the grant mastery
percentage for the previous school year and (B)
the average mastery percentage for the school
year, but not less than zero.
(15) "Mastery percentage" of a town for any
examination year means, using the mastery test
data of record for the examination year, the
number obtained by dividing (A) the total number
of valid tests with scores below the state-wide
standard for remedial assistance as determined by
the Department of Education in each subject of the
examinations pursuant to subsections (a) and (b)
of section 10-14n taken by resident students, by
(B) the total number of such valid tests taken by
such students.
(16) "Mastery test data of record" for any
examination year means the data of record on the
April thirtieth subsequent to the administration
of the examinations pursuant to subsections (a)
and (b) of section 10-14n, except that for the
examination years prior to July 1, 1988, the date
of the data of record shall be April 30, 1988, and
provided beginning with the administration of such
examinations during the 1988-1989 school year, and
for each such administration thereafter, school
districts may, not later than the March first
following the administration of an examination,
file a request with the state Department of
Education for an adjustment of the mastery test
data from such examination.
(17) "Number of children under the aid to
families with dependent children program" means
the number obtained by adding together the
unduplicated aggregate number of children five to
eighteen years of age eligible to receive benefits
under the aid to families with dependent children
program pursuant to sections 17b-22, 17b-180 to
17b-183, inclusive, 17b-807 and 17b-808 in October
and May of each fiscal year, and dividing by two,
such number to be certified and submitted
annually, no later than the first day of July of
the succeeding fiscal year, to the Commissioner of
Education by the Commissioner of Social Services.
(18) "Per capita income" for each town means
that enumerated in the most recent federal
decennial census of population or that enumerated
in the current population report series issued by
the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau
of the Census, whichever is more recent and
available on January first of the fiscal year two
years prior to the fiscal year in which payment is
to be made pursuant to section 10-262i.
(19) "Regional bonus" means, for any town
which is a member of a regional school district
and has students who attend such regional school
district, an amount equal to twenty-five dollars
for each such student enrolled in the regional
school district on October first or the full
school day immediately preceding such date for the
school year prior to the fiscal year in which the
grant is to be paid multiplied by the ratio of the
number of grades, kindergarten to grade twelve,
inclusive, in the regional school district to
thirteen.
(20) "Regular program expenditures" means (A)
total current educational expenditures less (B)
expenditures for (i) special education programs
pursuant to subsection (h) of section 10-76f, (ii)
pupil transportation eligible for reimbursement
pursuant to section 10-266m, (iii) land and
capital building expenditures, and equipment
otherwise supported by a state grant pursuant to
chapter 173, including debt service, provided,
with respect to debt service, the principal amount
of any debt incurred to pay an expense otherwise
includable in regular program expenditures may be
included as part of regular program expenditures
in annual instalments in accordance with a
schedule approved by the state Department of
Education based upon substantially equal principal
payments over the life of the debt, (iv) health
services for nonpublic school children, (v) adult
education, (C) expenditures directly attributable
to (i) state grants received by or on behalf of
school districts except grants for the categories
of expenditures listed in subparagraphs (B) (i) to
(B) (v), inclusive, of this subdivision and except
grants received pursuant to section 10-262i and
section 10-262c of the general statutes, revision
of 1958, revised to January 1, 1987, and except
grants received pursuant to chapter 173, (ii)
federal grants received by or on behalf of school
districts except for adult education and federal
impact aid and (iii) receipts from the operation
of child nutrition services and student activities
services, (D) expenditures of funds from private
and other sources and (E) tuition received on
account of nonresident students. The town of
Woodstock may include as part of the current
expenses of its public schools for each school
year the amount expended for current expenses in
that year by Woodstock Academy from income from
its endowment funds upon receipt from said academy
of a certified statement of such current expenses.
The town of Winchester may include as part of the
current expenses of its public school for each
school year the amount expended for current
expenses in that year by the Gilbert School from
income from its endowment funds upon receipt from
said school of a certified statement of such
current expenses.
(21) "Regular program expenditures per need
student" means, in any year, the regular program
expenditures of a town for such year divided by
the number of total need students in the town for
such school year, provided for towns which are
members of a kindergarten to grade twelve,
inclusive, regional school district and for such
regional school district, "regular program
expenditures per need student" means, in any year,
the regular program expenditures of such regional
school district divided by the sum of the number
of total need students in all such member towns.
(22) "Resident students" means the number of
pupils of the town enrolled in public schools at
the expense of the town on October first or the
full school day immediately preceding such date,
provided the number shall be decreased by the
Department of Education for failure to comply with
the provisions of section 10-16 and shall be
increased by one-one-hundred-eightieth for each
full-time equivalent school day in the school year
immediately preceding such date of at least five
hours of actual school work in excess of one
hundred eighty days and nine hundred hours of
actual school work and be increased by the
full-time equivalent number of such pupils
attending the summer sessions immediately
preceding such date at the expense of the town;
"enrolled" shall include pupils who are scheduled
for vacation on the above date and who are
expected to return to school as scheduled.
Students enrolled in an approved program described
in section 10-266j shall be counted in accordance
with the provisions of subdivision (3) of
subsection (c) of said section.
[(23) "Resident students in regular programs"
means for each school year the number of resident
students for the school year less the number of
resident students for the school year
participating in special education programs and
services pursuant to section 10-76d for fifty per
cent or more of their instructional time.
(24)] (23) "Schools" means nursery schools,
kindergarten and grades one to twelve, inclusive.
[(25)] (24) "State guaranteed wealth level"
means (A) for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1990, 1.8335 times the town wealth of the town
with the median wealth as calculated using the
data of record on December first of the fiscal
year prior to the year in which the grant is to be
paid pursuant to section 10-262i, and (B) for the
fiscal years ending June 30, 1991, and 1992,
1.6651 times the town wealth of the town with such
median wealth, and (C) for the fiscal years ending
June 30, 1993, June 30, 1994, and June 30, 1995,
1.5361 times the town wealth of the town with the
median wealth, and (D) for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1996, and each fiscal year thereafter,
1.55 times the town wealth of the town with the
median wealth.
[(26)] (25) "Total need students" means the
sum of (A) the number of resident students of the
town for the school year, (B) one-quarter the
number of children under the aid to families with
dependent children program for the prior fiscal
year, (C) one-quarter of the mastery count for the
school year and (D) ten per cent of the number of
eligible children, as defined in subdivision (1)
of section 10-17e, for whom the board of education
is not required to provide a program pursuant to
section 10-17f.
[(27)] (26) "Town wealth" means the average of
a town's adjusted equalized net grand list divided
by its total need students for the fiscal year
prior to the year in which the grant is to be paid
and its adjusted equalized net grand list divided
by its population.
[(28)] (27) "Population" of a town means that
enumerated in the most recent federal decennial
census of population or that enumerated in the
current population report series issued by the
United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of
the Census available on January first of the
fiscal year two years prior to the fiscal year in
which a grant is to be paid, whichever is most
recent; except that any town whose enumerated
population residing in state and federal
institutions within such town and attributed to
such town by the census exceeds forty per cent of
such "population" shall have its population
adjusted as follows: Persons who are incarcerated
or in custodial situations, including, but not
limited to jails, prisons, hospitals or training
schools or persons who reside in dormitory
facilities in schools, colleges, universities or
on military bases shall not be counted in the
"population" of a town.
[(29)] (28) "Base revenue" for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1995, means the sum of the grant
entitlements for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1995, of a town pursuant to section 10-262h, AS
AMENDED BY SECTION 2 OF THIS ACT, and subsection
(a) of section 10-76g, including its proportional
share, based on enrolment, of the revenue paid
pursuant to section 10-76g, to the regional
district of which the town is a member, and for
each fiscal year thereafter means the amount of
each town's entitlement pursuant to section
10-262h minus its density supplement, as
determined pursuant to subdivision (6) of
subsection (a) of section 10-262h.
[(30)] (29) "Density" means the population of
a town divided by the square miles of a town.
[(31)] (30) "Density aid ratio" means the
product of (A) the density of a town divided by
the density of the town in the state with the
highest density and (B) .006273.
[(32)] (31) "Mastery goal improvement count"
means the product of (A) the difference between
the percentage of state-wide mastery examination
scores, pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of
section 10-14n, at or above the mastery goal level
for the most recently completed school year and
the percentage of such scores for the prior school
year and (B) the resident students of the town, or
zero, whichever is greater.
Sec. 2. Subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of
section 10-262h of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof:
(6) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996,
[and] June 30, 1997, JUNE 30, 1998, AND JUNE 30,
1999, a grant in an amount equal to the sum of (A)
the product of a town's base aid ratio, the
foundation level and the town's total need
students for the fiscal year prior to the year in
which the grant is to be paid, (B) the product of
a town's supplemental aid ratio, the foundation
level and the sum of the portion of its total need
students count described in subparagraphs (B) and
(C) of subdivision [(26)] (25) of section 10-262f,
AS AMENDED BY SECTION 1 OF THIS ACT, for the
fiscal year prior to the fiscal year in which the
grant is to be paid, and the adjustments to its
resident student count described in subdivision
(22) of section 10-262f, relative to length of
school year and summer school sessions and (C) the
town's regional bonus, except that the amount so
determined shall be adjusted in accordance with
the following: For the fiscal years ending June
30, 1996, [and] June 30, 1997, JUNE 30, 1998, AND
JUNE 30, 1999, for each town, the maximum
percentage increase over its previous year's base
revenue shall be the product of two per cent and
the ratio of the wealth of the town ranked one
hundred fifty-third when all towns are ranked in
descending order to each town's wealth, provided
no town shall receive an increase greater than two
per cent. For the fiscal year ending June 30,
1996, for each town, the maximum percentage
reduction from its previous year's base revenue
shall be equal to the product of three per cent
and the ratio of each town's wealth to the wealth
of the town ranked seventeenth when all towns are
ranked in descending order, provided no town's
grant shall be reduced by more than three per
cent. For the fiscal [year] YEARS ending June 30,
1997, JUNE 30, 1998, AND JUNE 30, 1999, for each
town, the maximum percentage reduction from its
previous year's base revenue shall be equal to the
product of nine per cent and the ratio of each
town's wealth to the wealth of the town ranked
seventeenth when all towns are ranked in
descending order, provided no town's grant shall
be reduced by more than nine per cent. In addition
to the amount determined pursuant to this
subdivision, a town shall be eligible for a
density supplement if the density of the town is
greater than the average density of all towns in
the state. The density supplement shall be
determined by multiplying the density aid ratio of
the town by the foundation level and the town's
total needs students for the prior fiscal year.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, the
grant determined in accordance with this
subdivision for a town ranked one to forty-two
when all towns are ranked in descending order
according to town wealth shall be further reduced
by one and two-hundredths of a per cent and such
grant for all other towns shall be further reduced
by fifty-six-hundredths of a per cent. FOR THE
FISCAL YEARS ENDING JUNE 30, 1998, AND JUNE 30,
1999, NO TOWN WHOSE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A PRIORITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL RECEIVE A GRANT PURSUANT TO
THIS SUBDIVISION IN AN AMOUNT THAT IS LESS THAN
THE AMOUNT RECEIVED UNDER SUCH GRANT FOR THE PRIOR
FISCAL YEAR. FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDING JUNE 30,
1998, AND JUNE 30, 1999, NO TOWN WHOSE SCHOOL
DISTRICT IS A PRIORITY SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL
RECEIVE A GRANT PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION IN AN
AMOUNT THAT IS LESS THAN SEVENTY PER CENT OF THE
SUM OF (i) THE PRODUCT OF A TOWN'S BASE AID RATIO,
THE FOUNDATION LEVEL AND THE TOWN'S TOTAL NEED
STUDENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR PRIOR TO THE YEAR IN
WHICH THE GRANT IS TO BE PAID, (ii) THE PRODUCT OF
A TOWN'S SUPPLEMENTAL AID RATIO, THE FOUNDATION
LEVEL AND THE SUM OF THE PORTION OF ITS TOTAL NEED
STUDENTS COUNT DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPHS (B) AND
(C) OF SUBDIVISION (25) OF SECTION 10-262f, AS
AMENDED BY SECTION 1 OF THIS ACT, FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR PRIOR TO THE FISCAL YEAR IN WHICH THE GRANT
IS TO BE PAID, AND THE ADJUSTMENTS TO ITS RESIDENT
STUDENT COUNT DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION (22) OF
SAID SECTION 10-262f RELATIVE TO LENGTH OF SCHOOL
YEAR AND SUMMER SCHOOL SESSIONS AND (iii) THE
TOWN'S REGIONAL BONUS.
Sec. 3. Section 10-262k of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:
Notwithstanding any provision of the general
statutes to the contrary, the board of education
which has jurisdiction over the schools in any
town (1) with a total population, as defined in
subdivision (7) of subsection (a) of section
10-261, greater than twenty thousand and (2) in
which the grant mastery percentage, as defined in
subdivision (8) of section 10-262f, AS AMENDED BY
SECTION 1 OF THIS ACT, is greater than twenty per
cent may [, not later than January 15, 1997, and
annually thereafter,] ANNUALLY apply to the
Commissioner of Education, on such forms as the
commissioner may prescribe, to receive not more
than two per cent of the town's grant entitlement
pursuant to section 10-262h, AS AMENDED BY SECTION
2 OF THIS ACT, for the subsequent fiscal year for
compensatory education programs. At the time of
application, the board of education shall notify
the board of finance in each town or city having a
board of finance, the board of selectmen in each
town having no board of finance or otherwise the
authority making appropriations for the school
district of the application. Upon submission of a
timely application to the commissioner, the
commissioner shall deduct such amount from the
payment made to the town in October of such
subsequent fiscal year pursuant to section
10-262i, and the board of education shall receive
a grant in such amount.
Sec. 4. Section 10-262j of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:
(a) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 1990,
June 30, 1991, June 30, 1992, and June 30, 1993,
the regular program expenditures of a town shall
be not less than the greater of (1) the product of
(A) the target foundation multiplied by the number
of total need students of the town for the prior
school year and (B) the ratio of the town's grant
entitlement for such year pursuant to section
10-262h, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 2 OF THIS ACT,
divided by the town's target grant or (2) an
amount equal to the sum of (A) the regular program
expenditures for the town for the prior fiscal
year and (B) the amount of the aid increase paid
to the town as calculated pursuant to subsection
(b) of this section.
(b) For the purposes of subsection (a) of this
section, the amount of the aid increase paid to a
town shall be (1) for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1990, the amount of aid to be paid to the town
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1990, pursuant
to section 10-262i, less the base aid for the
town, (2) for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1991, the amount of aid paid to the town for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1991, pursuant to said
section, less the amount of aid paid to the town
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1990, pursuant
to said section, (3) for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1992, the amount of aid paid to the town
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, pursuant
to said section, less the amount of aid paid to
the town for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1991,
pursuant to said section, (4) for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1993, the amount of aid paid to
the town for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993,
less the amount of aid paid to the town for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, pursuant to said
section, (5) for the fiscal years ending June 30,
1994, and June 30, 1995, the amount of aid paid to
the town for the fiscal year pursuant to said
section, less the amount of aid paid to the town
for the prior fiscal year pursuant to said
section, (6) for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1996, the amount paid to the town for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1996, pursuant to said
section less base revenue for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1995, [and] (7) for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1997, the amount paid to the
town for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997,
less the amount paid to the town for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1996, pursuant to said
section, (8) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30,
1998, THE AMOUNT PAID TO THE TOWN FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1998, LESS THE AMOUNT PAID TO
THE TOWN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1997,
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION AND (9) FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1999, THE AMOUNT PAID TO THE
TOWN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1999,
LESS THE AMOUNT PAID TO THE TOWN FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1998, PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of
subsection (a) of this section, for the years
ending June 30, 1990, June 30, 1991, June 30,
1992, and June 30, 1993, no town shall be required
to spend more on regular program expenditures than
an amount equal to the product of the foundation
for such year and the total need students of the
town for the prior school year.
(d) (1) For the year ending June 30, 1994, the
regular program expenditures of a town shall be
not less than the greater of the foundation for
such year multiplied by the total need students of
the town for the prior school year or an amount
equal to the sum of (A) the regular program
expenditures for the town for the prior fiscal
year and (B) the amount of the aid increase paid
to the town as calculated pursuant to subsection
(b) of this section, except that no town shall be
required to spend more on regular program
expenditures than one hundred five per cent of the
product of the foundation for such year and the
total need students of the town for the prior
school year.
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995,
the regular program expenditures of a town shall
be not less than the greater of the foundation for
such year multiplied by the total need students of
the town for the prior school year or an amount
equal to the sum of (A) the regular program
expenditures for the town for the prior fiscal
year and (B) the amount of the aid increase paid
to the town as calculated pursuant to subsection
(b) of this section, except that no town shall be
required to spend more on regular program
expenditures than one hundred ten per cent of the
product of the foundation for such year and the
total need students of the town for the prior
school year.
(3) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996,
and June 30, 1997, the regular program
expenditures of a town shall not be less than the
lesser of (A) the sum of the regular program
expenditures for the town for the prior fiscal
year, and the amount of the aid increase paid to a
town pursuant to subsection (b) of this section or
(B) the sum of the town's minimum expenditure
requirement cap as determined by the Department of
Education for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1995, and the sum of any aid increases paid to a
town pursuant to subsection (b) of this section
after the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995.
(4) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1998,
THE REGULAR PROGRAM EXPENDITURES OF A TOWN SHALL
BE THE LESSER OF THE SUM OF (A) ITS MINIMUM
EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
JUNE 30, 1997, (B) ITS AID INCREASE PURSUANT TO
SUBSECTION (b) OF THIS SECTION AND (C) THE RESULT
OBTAINED BY MULTIPLYING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
TOWN'S RESIDENT STUDENT COUNT FOR OCTOBER 1996,
USING THE DATA OF RECORD AS OF DECEMBER 1, 1996,
AND ITS FINAL AUDITED RESIDENT STUDENT COUNT FOR
OCTOBER 1993, BY ONE-HALF OF THE FOUNDATION, OR
THE SUM OF (i) ITS MINIMUM EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1997, AND (ii)
ITS AID INCREASE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (b) OF
THIS SECTION.
(5) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1999,
THE REGULAR PROGRAM EXPENDITURES OF A TOWN SHALL
BE THE LESSER OF THE SUM OF (A) ITS MINIMUM
EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
JUNE 30, 1998, (B) ITS AID INCREASE PURSUANT TO
SUBSECTION (b) OF THIS SECTION AND (C) THE RESULT
OBTAINED BY MULTIPLYING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
TOWN'S RESIDENT STUDENT COUNT FOR OCTOBER 1997,
USING THE DATA OF RECORD AS OF DECEMBER 1, 1997,
AND THE TOWN'S RESIDENT STUDENT COUNT FOR OCTOBER
1996, USING THE DATA OF RECORD AS OF DECEMBER 1,
1996, BY ONE-HALF OF THE FOUNDATION, OR THE SUM OF
(i) ITS MINIMUM EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENT FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1998, AND (ii) ITS AID
INCREASE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (b) OF THIS
SECTION.
(e) Upon a determination by the State Board of
Education that a town or kindergarten to grade
twelve, inclusive, regional school district failed
in any fiscal year to meet its minimum expenditure
requirement pursuant to subsection (a), (c), (d)
or (f), as appropriate, of this section, the town
or kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive,
regional school district shall forfeit an amount
equal to two times the difference between said
minimum expenditure requirement and the town's or
kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, regional
school district's actual regular program
expenditures. The amount so forfeited shall be
withheld by the state Department of Education from
the grant payable to the town in the second fiscal
year immediately following such failure by
deducting such amount from the town's equalization
aid grant payment pursuant to section 10-262i,
except that in the case of a kindergarten to grade
twelve, inclusive, regional school district, the
amount so forfeited shall be withheld by the state
Department of Education from the grants payable
pursuant to said section 10-262i to the towns
which are members of such regional school
district. The amounts deducted from such grants to
each member town shall be proportional to the
number of resident students [in regular programs]
in each member town. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this subsection, the State Board of
Education may waive such forfeiture upon agreement
with the town or kindergarten to grade twelve,
inclusive, regional school district that the town
or kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive,
regional school district shall exceed its minimum
expenditure requirement during the fiscal year in
which the forfeiture would occur by an amount not
less than the amount of said forfeiture. Any
additional funds expended pursuant to such an
agreement shall not be included in a district's
expenditures for the purpose of establishing any
future minimum expenditure requirement.
(f) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of
subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section: (A)
For the fiscal years ending June 30, 1990, June
30, 1991, June 30, 1992, and June 30, 1993, the
regular program expenditures of a kindergarten to
grade twelve, inclusive, regional school district
shall not be less than the greater of (i) the
product of (I) the target foundation multiplied by
the sum of the number of total need students in
the member towns in the regional school district
for the prior school year and (II) the ratio of
the sum of the member towns' grant entitlements
for such year pursuant to section 10-262h, AS
AMENDED BY SECTION 2 OF THIS ACT, divided by the
sum of the member towns' target grants or (ii) an
amount equal to the sum of (I) the regular program
expenditures for the regional school district for
the prior fiscal year and (II) the amount of the
sum of the aid increases paid to the member towns
as calculated pursuant to subsection (b) of this
section, provided no kindergarten to grade twelve,
inclusive, regional school district shall be
required to spend more on regular program
expenditures than an amount equal to the product
of the foundation for such year and the sum of the
total need students in the member towns of the
regional school district for the prior school
year; and (B) for the year ending June 30, 1993,
and for each fiscal year thereafter, the regular
program expenditures of a kindergarten to grade
twelve, inclusive, regional school district shall
be not less than the foundation for such year
multiplied by the sum of the total need students
of all member towns for the prior school year.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of
subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section,
for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, and
June 30, 1997, the regular program expenditures of
a kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, regional
school district shall not be less than the lesser
of (A) the sum of the regular program expenditures
for the regional school district for the prior
fiscal year, and the sum of the member towns' aid
increases pursuant to subsection (b) of this
section or (B) the sum of the member towns'
minimum expenditure requirement caps as determined
by the Department of Education for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1995, and the sum of the member
towns' aid increases paid pursuant to subsection
(b) of this section after the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1995.
(g) For the purposes of this section "total
need students" means total need students as
calculated using the data of record as of December
first of such data year.
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 10-262l of
the general statutes is repealed and the following
is substituted in lieu thereof:
(a) Each local and regional board of
education, within available appropriations, shall
be eligible to receive a state grant of funds as a
reward for demonstrating improvement in
district-wide student achievement on the
state-wide mastery examinations under subsections
(a) and (b) of section 10-14n. Each local and
regional board of education shall receive a
proportional share of the amount appropriated for
purposes of this section based upon the
improvement in its mastery goal improvement count,
as defined in subdivision [(32)] (31) of section
10-262f, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 1 OF THIS ACT. The
minimum grant for each eligible town shall be five
hundred dollars. Each local and regional board of
education shall expend grant funds pursuant to
this section on behalf of its schools in a manner
consistent with each school's relative
contribution to the level of mastery goal
achievement within the district.
Sec. 6. Section 10-266p of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:
(a) The State Board of Education shall
administer a priority school district grant
program to assist certain school districts to
improve student achievement and enhance
educational opportunities. The grant program shall
be for school districts in (1) the eight towns in
the state with the largest population, based on
the most recent federal decennial census, (2)
towns which rank for the first fiscal year of each
biennium from one to eleven when all towns are
ranked in descending order from one to one hundred
sixty-nine based on the number of children under
the aid to families with dependent children
program as defined in subdivision (14) of section
10-262f, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 1 OF THIS ACT, plus
the mastery count of the town as defined in
subdivision (9) of said section and (3) towns
which rank for the first fiscal year of each
biennium one to eleven when all towns are ranked
in descending order from one to one hundred
sixty-nine based on the ratio of the number of
children under the aid to families with dependent
children program as so defined to the resident
students of such town as defined in subdivision
(19) of said section plus the grant mastery
percentage of the town as defined in subdivision
(8) of said section. The State Board of Education
shall utilize the categorical grant program
established under this section and sections
10-266q, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 7 OF THIS ACT, and
10-266r and other educational resources of the
state to work cooperatively with such school
districts during any school year to improve their
educational programs or to provide early childhood
education or early reading intervention programs.
The State Board of Education shall allocate one
million dollars to each of the eight towns
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection
and five hundred thousand dollars to each of the
towns described in subdivisions (2) and (3) of
this subsection, except the towns described in
subdivision (1) shall not receive any additional
allocation if they are also described in
subdivision (2) or (3).
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of
subsection (a) of this section, any town which
received a grant pursuant to this section (1) for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994, shall
receive a grant in the same amount for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1995, and (2) for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1995, which does not qualify
for a grant pursuant to subsection (a) for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, shall receive a
grant (A) for fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, in
an amount equal to one-half the amount of the
grant such town received for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1995, and (B) for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1997, in an amount equal to
one-quarter of the amount of the grant such town
received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995.
(c) In addition to the amount allocated
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, and each
fiscal year thereafter, the State Board of
Education shall allocate (1) seven hundred fifty
thousand dollars to each town which ranks from one
to three, inclusive, in population pursuant to
subdivision (1) of said subsection (a) and three
hundred thirty-four thousand dollars to each town
which ranks from four to eight, inclusive, in
population pursuant to said subdivision and (2)
one hundred eighty thousand dollars to each of the
towns described in subdivisions (2) and (3) of
said subsection (a), except that the towns
described in subdivision (1) of said subsection
(a) shall not receive any additional allocation
pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection if
they are also described in subdivision (2) or (3)
of said subsection (a). [Towns which receive funds
pursuant to this subsection shall use an amount
equal to at least twenty-five per cent of such
funds for early childhood education or reading
intervention programs and such towns shall not use
such amount to supplant the local share of support
for early childhood education and reading
intervention programs.]
(d) IN ADDITION TO THE AMOUNTS ALLOCATED
PURSUANT TO SUBSECTIONS (a) AND (c) OF THIS
SECTION, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL
ALLOCATE A SHARE, IN THE SAME PROPORTION AS THE
TOTAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED PURSUANT TO SAID
SUBSECTIONS, OF TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1998,
AND THREE MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 1999, TO EACH OF THE TOWNS
RECEIVING A GRANT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
Sec. 7. Section 10-266q of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:
(a) On or before September fifteenth of each
fiscal year in which payment is to be made, the
State Board of Education shall authorize grant
awards. Grant awards shall be authorized only
after proposals for such grants have been
submitted to the commissioner by the school
districts described in section 10-266p, AS AMENDED
BY SECTION 6 OF THIS ACT, at such time and in such
manner as the commissioner shall prescribe, and
after the commissioner and each such school
district have reached agreement regarding how such
grant shall be utilized. Each proposal shall be
based on a three-year project plan and include,
but not be limited to, an explanation of project
goals, objectives, evaluation strategies and
budget which shall identify local funding and
other resource contributions for the three-year
period provided proposals shall give priority to
the development or expansion of extended-day
kindergarten programs.
(b) A priority school district grant shall be
payable to the local board of education for the
school districts described in section 10-266p, AS
AMENDED BY SECTION 6 OF THIS ACT, which shall use
the funds for any of the following: (1) The
creation or expansion of [training, evaluation,
research, development, innovative] programs or
activities related to dropout prevention,
[developed pursuant to the policy adopted by the
State Board of Education in accordance with
section 10-202e,] (2) ALTERNATIVE AND TRANSITIONAL
PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS HAVING DIFFICULTY SUCCEEDING
IN TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, [(2)] (3)
academic enrichment, tutorial and recreation
programs or activities in school buildings during
nonschool hours [, (3)] AND DURING THE SUMMER, (4)
development or expansion of extended-day
kindergarten programs, [(4)] (5) development or
expansion of [early childhood education or] early
reading intervention programs, [or (5)] INCLUDING
SUMMER AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, (6) ENHANCEMENT
OF THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT INSTRUCTION OR
IMPROVE PARENT AND TEACHER COMMUNICATION, (7)
initiatives to strengthen parent involvement in
the education of children, and parent and other
community involvement in school and school
district programs, activities and educational
policies, which may be in accordance with the
provisions of section 10-4g, OR (8) FOR PURPOSES
OF OBTAINING ACCREDITATION FOR ELEMENTARY AND
MIDDLE SCHOOLS FROM THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. EACH SUCH BOARD OF EDUCATION
SHALL USE AT LEAST TWENTY PER CENT OF ITS GRANT
FOR EARLY READING INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. Each such
board of education shall use its grant to
supplement existing programs or create new
programs. If the State Board of Education finds
that any such grant is being used for other
purposes or is being used to decrease the local
share of support for schools, it may require
repayment of such grant to the state.
(c) Each priority school district grant shall
be awarded by the State Board of Education on an
annual basis. Funding in subsequent years shall be
based on funds available, annual application and
program evaluation.
Sec. 8. (a) The State Board of Education shall
establish a standard of reading competency for use
by local and regional boards of education to
measure reading competency for students in grades
one to three, inclusive. The standard may be a
requirement for a certain score on a standardized
test.
(b) The Commissioner of Education shall
report, in accordance with section 11-4a of the
general statutes, on such standard to the joint
standing committee of the General Assembly having
cognizance of matters relating to education, by
February 1, 1998.
Sec. 9. Subsection (c) of section 10-266j of
the general statutes is repealed and the following
is substituted in lieu thereof:
(c) (1) Each sending district shall receive,
from the amount appropriated for interdistrict
cooperative program grants pursuant to section
10-74d, for each child participating in an
intercommunity program under this section which
has been approved by the State Board of Education,
an amount equal to [seven] THREE hundred FIFTY
dollars for each such pupil. (2) Each school
district which transports such children under an
agreement made pursuant to this section shall be
eligible to receive for each such pupil
transported from one school district to another
school district, from the amount so appropriated
for interdistrict cooperative program grants
pursuant to section 10-74d, an amount equal to the
reasonable cost of transporting each such child.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter
to the contrary, each sending district shall
divide the number of children participating in the
program by two for purposes of the counts for
subdivision (22) of section 10-262f and
subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section
10-261. Each receiving district shall divide the
number of children participating in the program by
two for purposes of the counts pursuant to said
subdivisions. (4) The total amount of the grants
pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this
subsection shall not exceed [nine] SEVEN hundred
thousand dollars.
Sec. 10. Two hundred thousand dollars of the
amount appropriated to the Office of Policy and
Management in section 1 of special act 97-21 for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, for the
contingency reserve account shall be transferred
to the appropriation to the Department of
Education in said section of said act for said
fiscal year for the special education over-burden
account.
Sec. 11. For the fiscal year ending June 30,
1998, the Department of Education shall provide,
from the special education over-burden account,
grants in the amount of one hundred thousand
dollars each to the towns of Colchester and
Stratford due to the large increase in resident
students, as defined in subdivision (22) of
section 10-262f of the general statutes, as
amended by section 1 of this act, in said towns.
Sec. 12. This act shall take effect July 1,
1997.
Approved July 10, 1997