Table of Contents Sec. 10-218. Officers. Meetings. Each board of education shall, not later than one
month after the date on which the newly elected members take office, elect from its
number a chairperson and elect a secretary of such board and may prescribe their duties.
The votes of each member of such board cast in such election shall be reduced to writing
and made available for public inspection within forty-eight hours, excluding Saturday,
Sunday or legal holidays, and shall also be recorded in the minutes of the meeting at
which taken, which minutes shall be available for public inspection at all reasonable
times. If such officers are not chosen after one month because of a tie vote of the members, the town council or, if there is no town council, the selectmen of the town shall
choose such officers from the membership of the board. The chairperson of the board
of education or, in case of such chairperson's absence or inability to act, the secretary
shall call a meeting of the board at least once in six months and whenever such chairperson deems it necessary or is requested in writing so to do by three of its members. If no
meeting is called within fourteen days after such a request has been made, one may be
called by any three members by giving the usual written notice to the other members. Sec. 10-218a. Oath of office. Members of boards of education shall, before entering upon their official duties, take the oath of office provided in section 1-25. Sec. 10-219. Procedure for filling vacancy on local board of education. If a
vacancy occurs in the office of any member of the local board of education, unless
otherwise provided by charter or special act, such vacancy shall be filled by the remaining members of said board until the next regular town election, at which election
a successor shall be elected for the unexpired portion of the term, the official ballot
specifying the vacancy to be filled. Sec. 10-220. *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (a) and
effective date.) Duties of boards of education. *(a) Each local or regional board of
education shall maintain good public elementary and secondary schools, implement the
educational interests of the state as defined in section 10-4a and provide such other
educational activities as in its judgment will best serve the interests of the school district;
provided any board of education may secure such opportunities in another school district
in accordance with provisions of the general statutes and shall give all the children of
the school district as nearly equal advantages as may be practicable; shall provide an
appropriate learning environment for its students which includes (1) adequate instructional books, supplies, materials, equipment, staffing, facilities and technology, (2) equitable allocation of resources among its schools, and (3) a safe school setting; shall have
charge of the schools of its respective school district; shall make a continuing study of
the need for school facilities and of a long-term school building program and from time
to time make recommendations based on such study to the town; shall report annually
to the Commissioner of Education on the condition of its facilities and the action taken
to implement its long-term school building program, which report the commissioner
shall use to prepare an annual report that he shall submit in accordance with section 11-
4a to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
relating to education; shall advise the Commissioner of Education of the relationship
between any individual school building project pursuant to chapter 173 and such long-
term school building program; shall have the care, maintenance and operation of buildings, lands, apparatus and other property used for school purposes and at all times shall
insure all such buildings and all capital equipment contained therein against loss in an
amount not less than eighty per cent of replacement cost; shall determine the number,
age and qualifications of the pupils to be admitted into each school; shall develop and
implement a written plan for minority staff recruitment for purposes of subdivision (3)
of section 10-4a; shall employ and dismiss the teachers of the schools of such district
subject to the provisions of sections 10-151 and 10-158a; shall designate the schools
which shall be attended by the various children within the school district; shall make
such provisions as will enable each child of school age, residing in the district to attend
some public day school for the period required by law and provide for the transportation
of children wherever transportation is reasonable and desirable, and for such purpose
may make contracts covering periods of not more than five years; may place in an
alternative school program or other suitable educational program a pupil enrolling in
school who is nineteen years of age or older and cannot acquire a sufficient number of
credits for graduation by age twenty-one; may arrange with the board of education of
an adjacent town for the instruction therein of such children as can attend school in such
adjacent town more conveniently; shall cause each child five years of age and over and
under sixteen years of age living in the school district to attend school in accordance
with the provisions of section 10-184, and shall perform all acts required of it by the
town or necessary to carry into effect the powers and duties imposed by law. *Note: On and after July 1, 2001, subsection (a) of this section, as amended by section
3 of public act 00-157, is to read as follows: Sec. 10-220a. In-service training. Professional development. Institutes for educators. Cooperating and beginning teacher programs, regulations. (a) Each local
or regional board of education shall provide an in-service training program for its teachers, administrators and pupil personnel who hold the initial educator, provisional educator or professional educator certificate. Such program shall provide such teachers, administrators and pupil personnel with information on (1) the nature and the relationship
of drugs, as defined in subdivision (17) of section 21a-240, and alcohol to health and
personality development, and procedures for discouraging their abuse, (2) health and
mental health risk reduction education which includes, but need not be limited to, the
prevention of risk-taking behavior by children and the relationship of such behavior to
substance abuse, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-infection and
AIDS, as defined in section 19a-581, violence, child abuse and youth suicide, (3) the
growth and development of exceptional children, including handicapped and gifted and
talented children and children who may require special education, and methods for
identifying, planning for and working effectively with special needs children in a regular
classroom, (4) school violence prevention and conflict resolution, (5) cardiopulmonary
resuscitation and other emergency life saving procedures, (6) computer and other information technology as applied to student learning and classroom instruction, communications and data management, and (7) the teaching of the language arts, reading and reading
readiness for teachers in grades kindergarten to three, inclusive. The State Board of
Education, within available appropriations and utilizing available materials, shall assist
and encourage local and regional boards of education to include: (A) Holocaust education and awareness; (B) the historical events surrounding the Great Famine in Ireland;
(C) African-American history; (D) Puerto Rican history; (E) Native American history;
(F) personal financial management; and (G) topics approved by the state board upon
the request of local or regional boards of education as part of in-service training programs
pursuant to this subsection. Sec. 10-220b. Policy statement on drugs. Section 10-220b is repealed. Sec. 10-220c. Transportation of children over private roads. Immunity from
liability. (a) Each town, or local or regional board of education may when providing
for the transportation of children to and from school or school activities, in accordance
with the provisions of sections 10-47 or 10-220, authorize the operator of any vehicle
owned, leased or hired by or operated under contract with such town, local or regional
board of education to travel on any private road, provided the owner or owners thereof
consent to such travel and such roads have been constructed and are maintained in
accordance with the standards for the construction and maintenance of similar roads of
the municipality wherein such private road lies, as determined by the chief executive
officer of such municipality or his designee. Sec. 10-220d. Student recruitment by regional and interdistrict specialized
schools and programs. Recruitment of athletes prohibited. Each local and regional
board of education shall provide full access to regional vocational-technical schools,
regional vocational agricultural centers, interdistrict magnet schools, charter schools
and interdistrict student attendance programs for the recruitment of students attending
the schools under the board's jurisdiction, provided such recruitment is not for the purpose of interscholastic athletic competition. Sec. 10-220e. Foster children count. Section 10-220e is repealed, effective July
1, 2000. Sec. 10-220f. Safety committee. Each local and regional board of education may
establish a school district safety committee to increase staff and student awareness of
safety and health issues and to review the adequacy of emergency response procedures
at each school. Parents and high school students shall be included in the membership
of such committees. Sec. 10-220g. Policy on weighted grading for honors and advanced placement
classes. Each local and regional board of education shall establish a written policy concerning weighted grading for honors and advanced placement classes. The policy shall
provide that parents and students are advised whether a grade in an honors class or an
advanced placement class is or is not given added weight for purposes of calculating
grade point average and determining class rank. Sec. 10-220h. Transfer of student records. When a student enrolls in a school in
a new school district, the new school district shall provide written notification of such
enrollment to the school district in which the student previously attended school. The
school district in which the student previously attended school (1) shall transfer the
student's education records to the new school district no later than ten days after receipt
of such notification, and (2) if the student's parent or guardian did not give written
authorization for the transfer of such records, shall send notification of the transfer to
the parent or guardian at the same time that it transfers the records. Sec. 10-221. Boards of education to prescribe rules, policies and procedures.
(a) Boards of education shall prescribe rules for the management, studies, classification
and discipline of the public schools and, subject to the control of the State Board of
Education, the textbooks to be used; shall make rules for the control, within their respective jurisdictions, of school library media centers and approve the selection of books
and other educational media therefor, and shall approve plans for public school buildings
and superintend any high or graded school in the manner specified in this title. Sec. 10-221a. High school graduation requirements. Diplomas for veterans of
World War II. (a) For classes graduating from 1988 to 2003, inclusive, no local or
regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from high school or
grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily completed a minimum of
twenty credits, not fewer than four of which shall be in English, not fewer than three in
mathematics, not fewer than three in social studies, not fewer than two in science, not
fewer than one in the arts or vocational education and not fewer than one in physical
education. Sec. 10-221b. Boards of education to establish written uniform policy re treatment of recruiters. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all
public high schools and any private high school which receives state funds shall, subject
to the provisions of subdivision (11) of subsection (b) of section 1-210, provide the
same directory information and on-campus recruiting opportunities to representatives
of the armed forces of the United States of America and state armed services as are
offered to nonmilitary recruiters or commercial concerns. Local and regional boards of
education and the governing board of any such private high school shall establish a
written uniform policy for the treatment of all recruiters, including commercial, nonmilitary and military concerns and recruiters representing institutions of higher education. Sec. 10-221c. Development of policy for reporting complaints re school transportation safety. Reporting of accidents at school bus stops. (a) The superintendent
of schools of each local or regional school district and the supervisory agent of each
nonpublic school shall develop and implement a policy for the reporting of all complaints
relative to school transportation safety, and shall cause to be maintained a written record
of all such complaints received. Each such superintendent of schools and each such
supervisory agent shall, annually, within thirty days after the end of the school year,
provide the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles with a copy of the written record of complaints received for the previous twelve-month period. Sec. 10-221d. Criminal history records checks of school personnel. Fingerprinting. Termination or dismissal. (a) On and after July 1, 1994, each local and
regional board of education shall (1) require each applicant for a position in a public
school to state whether such person has ever been convicted of a crime or whether
criminal charges are pending against such person at the time of his application, and (2)
require, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, each person hired by
the board after July 1, 1994, to submit to state and national criminal history records
checks within ninety days from the date of employment. Any local or regional board
of education may require, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, any
person hired prior to said date to submit to state and national criminal history records
checks. The board or a regional educational service center pursuant to subsection (b)
of this section shall request the state criminal history records check for each such person
from the State Police Bureau of Identification. The board or such regional educational
service center shall arrange for the fingerprinting of each such person and forward the
fingerprints to said bureau which shall submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation for a national criminal history records check. The board or the regional
educational service center may charge each such person a fee for the national criminal
history records check which shall not exceed the fee charged by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation for performing the check. If the local or regional board of education receives notice of a conviction of a crime which has not previously been disclosed by such
person to the board, the board may (A) terminate the contract of a certified employee, in
accordance with the provisions of section 10-151, and (B) dismiss a noncertified employee provided such employee is notified of the reason for such dismissal, is provided
the opportunity to file with the board, in writing, any proper answer to such criminal
conviction and a copy of the notice of such criminal conviction, the answer and the
dismissal order are made a part of the records of the board. The supervisory agent of a
private school may require any applicant for a position in such school or any employee
of such school to submit to state and national criminal history records checks in accordance with the procedures described in this subsection. Sec. 10-221e. Intradistrict student assignment programs. Local and regional
boards of education may develop intradistrict student assignment programs. Under such
programs parents may select the public school which their child will attend provided
the school is in the school district in which the child resides. Boards of education may
provide transportation services to students participating in the program. Sec. 10-221f. School uniforms. A local or regional board of education may specify
a school uniform for students in schools under its jurisdiction. Sec. 10-221g. Instructional time and facility usage assessment. Each local and
regional board of education shall conduct an instructional time and facility usage assessment in order to maximize student learning and community use of facilities. For purposes
of such audit, the superintendent of schools of each school district shall meet regularly
with representatives from the public library and the recreation department in the town
or towns that comprise the school district to coordinate the availability of facilities. Sec. 10-221h. Plan to improve reading skills. On or before September 1, 1999,
each local and regional board of education shall develop and implement a three-year
plan to improve the reading skills of students in grades kindergarten to three, inclusive.
The plan shall be designed to allow all students to attain reading competency. The plan
shall include: (1) The specific instructional methods, strategies and activities that will
be used to teach reading; (2) a process for assessing and assisting students who are at
risk of failing to learn to read by the end of first grade; (3) periodic evaluations of the
reading level of students; (4) additional time for remedial instruction for students who
fail to make progress in their reading development or are reading below grade level; (5)
in-service training programs on the teaching of reading for elementary school teachers;
(6) a process for involving parents in addressing the reading problems of their children,
including a requirement to provide information to parents on strategies that can be used
at home to improve the child's language development prereading or reading skills and
referrals to family literacy programs, as appropriate, that incorporate adult basic education and provide for the promotion of literacy through access to public library services;
(7) ongoing data collection and monitoring of program effectiveness; and (8) the establishment of school and public library partnerships to improve prereading and reading
skills. Sec. 10-221i. Technical assistance. Standard of reading competency. (a) The
Department of Education shall provide technical assistance to local and regional boards
of education on the development of the plans required pursuant to section 10-221h. The
department shall advise local and regional boards of education on: (1) Methods and
strategies for assessing students who are at risk of failing to learn to read by the end of
first grade; and (2) the development of in-service training programs on the teaching of
reading and assessment of reading competency for teachers in grades kindergarten to
three, inclusive. Sec. 10-221j. Early Reading Success Panel. The Department of Education shall
convene an Early Reading Success Panel composed of elementary school teachers,
school administrators, national experts in the field of reading research and early childhood and higher education experts knowledgeable in the field of reading research. The
panel shall review research on how reading is learned and on the knowledge and skills
necessary for teachers to deliver effective reading instruction by July 1, 2000. Sec. 10-221k. Assessments by priority school districts of need related to goal
of reading success. Each local or regional board of education for a priority school
district pursuant to section 10-266p shall conduct an assessment of its institutional and
teacher need related to the attainment of the goal of reading success for children in its
schools. The assessment shall include need in the areas of teacher training, assessment
tools, curriculum, library books and other forms of technical assistance. The local or
regional board of education shall report on the results of such assessment to the Department of Education, in such form as the Commissioner of Education prescribes, by July
1, 2000. Sec. 10-221l. State-Wide Early Reading Success Institute. The Department of
Education shall develop, within available appropriations, a State-Wide Early Reading
Success Institute for educators based on the review completed by the Early Reading
Success Panel pursuant to section 10-221j and the assessments conducted pursuant to
section 10-221k. The institute shall commence operation in the 2000-2001 school year. Sec. 10-221m. Development and implementation of in-service reading instruction training program by priority school districts. On or before July 1, 2001,
each local or regional board of education for a priority school district pursuant to section
10-266p shall develop and implement a three-year in-service reading instruction training
plan for the professional development of the district's school librarians, elementary
school principals and not less than seventy per cent of its teachers in grades kindergarten
to three, inclusive, provided spaces are available at the State-Wide Early Reading Success Institute for such training. The plan shall be consistent with the model for instruction
developed by the State-Wide Early Reading Success Institute pursuant to section 10-
221l. The local or regional board of education may use funds received by the school
district pursuant to section 10-265f for teacher training based on the plan. Sec. 10-222. Appropriations and budget. Financial information system. (a)
Each local board of education shall prepare an itemized estimate of the cost of maintenance of public schools for the ensuing year and shall submit such estimate to the board
of finance in each town or city having a board of finance, to the board of selectmen in each
town having no board of finance or otherwise to the authority making appropriations for
the school district, not later than two months preceding the annual meeting at which
appropriations are to be made. The money appropriated by any municipality for the
maintenance of public schools shall be expended by and in the discretion of the board
of education. Except as provided in this subsection, any such board may transfer any
unexpended or uncontracted-for portion of any appropriation for school purposes to any
other item of such itemized estimate. Boards may, by adopting policies and procedures,
authorize designated personnel to make limited transfers under emergency circumstances if the urgent need for the transfer prevents the board from meeting in a timely
fashion to consider such transfer. All transfers made in such instances shall be announced
at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board. Expenditures by the board of
education shall not exceed the appropriation made by the municipality, with such money
as may be received from other sources for school purposes. If any occasion arises
whereby additional funds are needed by such board, the chairman of such board shall
notify the board of finance, board of selectmen or appropriating authority, as the case
may be, and shall submit a request for additional funds in the same manner as is provided
for departments, boards or agencies of the municipality and no additional funds shall be
expended unless such supplemental appropriation shall be granted and no supplemental
expenditures shall be made in excess of those granted through the appropriating authority. The annual report of the board of education shall, in accordance with section 10-
224, include a summary showing (1) the total cost of the maintenance of schools, (2)
the amount received from the state and other sources for the maintenance of schools,
and (3) the net cost to the municipality of the maintenance of schools. For purposes of
this subsection, "meeting" means a meeting, as defined in section 1-200. Sec. 10-222a. Boards to have use of funds from repayment and insurance proceeds for school materials and from payment for custodial services for use of school
facilities. Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 106, or any municipal charter or
special act to the contrary, whenever any student, or the parent or guardian of any student,
pays for lost, damaged or stolen textbooks, library materials, other materials or equipment, or whenever insurance proceeds are received for lost, damaged or stolen textbooks,
library materials, other materials or equipment, an amount equal to the amount so paid
or received, net of any costs the fiscal authority having budgetary responsibility or
charged with making appropriations for the school district has incurred for the purpose
of replacing or repairing such lost, damaged or stolen textbooks, library materials, other
materials or equipment, shall be deemed to be appropriated to the board of education
in addition to the funds appropriated by the town to such board for the fiscal year in which
such payment is made or insurance proceeds received. Notwithstanding the provisions of
chapter 106, or any municipal charter or special act to the contrary, whenever any outside
group or individual makes payment for custodial costs for use of school facilities or
otherwise for the use of school facilities an amount equal to the amount so paid or
received, net of any costs the fiscal authority having budgetary responsibility or charged
with making appropriations for the school district has incurred for the purpose of providing custodial services shall be deemed to be appropriated to the board of education in
addition to the funds appropriated by the town to such board for the current fiscal year. Sec. 10-222b. Board to have use of funds from the Manville property damage
settlement trust. Section 10-222b is repealed, effective July 1, 2000. Sec. 10-223. Separate high school accounts. Section 10-223 is repealed, effective
June 3, 1996. Sec. 10-223a. Promotion and graduation policies. On or before July 1, 2000,
each local and regional board of education shall review and revise its policies for promotion from grade to grade and for graduation in order to ensure that such policies foster
student achievement, reduce the incidence of social promotion and meet the requirements of this section. On and after said date, such policies shall: (1) Include objective
criteria for the promotion and graduation of students, (2) provide for the measuring of
the progress of students against such criteria and the reporting of such information to
parents and students, (3) include alternatives to promotion such as transition programs,
and (4) provide for supplemental services, and such policies may require students who
have substantial academic deficiencies that jeopardize their eligibility for promotion or
graduation to attend after school programs, summer school or other programs offered
by the school district that are designed to assist students in remedying such deficiencies.
Sec. 10-218. Officers. Meetings.
Sec. 10-218a. Oath of office.
Sec. 10-219. Procedure for filling vacancy on local board of education.
Sec. 10-220. *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (a) and effective
date.) Duties of boards of education.
Sec. 10-220a. In-service training. Professional development. Institutes for educators.
Cooperating and beginning teacher programs, regulations.
Sec. 10-220b. Policy statement on drugs.
Sec. 10-220c. Transportation of children over private roads. Immunity from liability.
Sec. 10-220d. Student recruitment by regional and interdistrict specialized schools and
programs. Recruitment of athletes prohibited.
Sec. 10-220e. Foster children count.
Sec. 10-220f. Safety committee.
Sec. 10-220g. Policy on weighted grading for honors and advanced placement classes.
Sec. 10-220h. Transfer of student records.
Sec. 10-221. Boards of education to prescribe rules, policies and procedures.
Sec. 10-221a. High school graduation requirements. Diplomas for veterans of World War II.
Sec. 10-221b. Boards of education to establish written uniform policy re treatment of recruiters.
Sec. 10-221c. Development of policy for reporting complaints re school transportation
safety. Reporting of accidents at school bus stops.
Sec. 10-221d. Criminal history records checks of school personnel. Fingerprinting. Termination or dismissal.
Sec. 10-221e. Intradistrict student assignment programs.
Sec. 10-221f. School uniforms.
Sec. 10-221g. Instructional time and facility usage assessment.
Sec. 10-221h. Plan to improve reading skills.
Sec. 10-221i. Technical assistance. Standard of reading competency.
Sec. 10-221j. Early Reading Success Panel.
Sec. 10-221k. Assessments by priority school districts of need related to goal of reading
success.
Sec. 10-221l. State-Wide Early Reading Success Institute.
Sec. 10-221m. Development and implementation of in-service reading instruction training
program by priority school districts.
Sec. 10-222. Appropriations and budget. Financial information system.
Sec. 10-222a. Boards to have use of funds from repayment and insurance proceeds for
school materials and from payment for custodial services for use of school facilities.
Sec. 10-222b. Board to have use of funds from the Manville property damage settlement
trust.
Sec. 10-223. Separate high school accounts.
Sec. 10-223a. Promotion and graduation policies.
Sec. 10-223b. List of schools in need of improvement. Process for improving school performance.
Sec. 10-223c. Grants for schools in need of improvement.
Sec. 10-223d. Identification of successful programs and methods.
Sec. 10-224. Duties of the secretary.
Sec. 10-225. Salaries of secretary and attendance officers.
Sec. 10-226. Reports to Commissioner of Education.
Sec. 10-226a. Documentation of pupils and teachers of racial minorities and of pupils eligible for free or reduced-rate lunches.
Sec. 10-226b. Existence of racial imbalance.
Sec. 10-226c. Plan to correct imbalance.
Sec. 10-226d. Approval of plan by state board.
Sec. 10-226e. Regulations.
Sec. 10-226f. Coordinator of intergroup relations.
Sec. 10-226g. Intergroup relations training for teachers.
Sec. 10-226h. Programs and methods to reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation.
Sec. 10-227. Returns of receipts, expenditures and statistics to Commissioner of Education. Verification mandated. Penalty.
Sec. 10-228. Free textbooks, supplies, material and equipment.
Sec. 10-228a. Free textbook loans to pupils attending nonpublic schools.
Sec. 10-228b. Tax credits for donation of computers to schools.
Sec. 10-229. Change of textbooks.
Sec. 10-230. Flags for schoolrooms and school.
Sec. 10-231. Fire drills. Crisis response drills.
Sec. 10-231a. Pesticide applications at schools: Definitions.
Sec. 10-231b. Pesticide applications at schools: Authorized applicators. Exception.
Sec. 10-231c. Pesticide applications at schools without an integrated pest management
plan.
Sec. 10-231d. Pesticide applications at schools with an integrated pest management plan.
Sec. 10-232. Restrictions on employment of members of board of education.
Sec. 10-233. Suspension of pupils.
Sec. 10-233a. Definitions.
Sec. 10-233b. Removal of pupils from class.
Sec. 10-233c. Suspension of pupils.
Sec. 10-233d. *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (d) and effective
date.) Expulsion of pupils.
Sec. 10-233e. Notice as to disciplinary policies and action.
Sec. 10-233f. In-school suspension of pupils. Reassignment.
Sec. 10-233g. Reports of principals to police authority concerning physical assaults upon
school employees by students.
Sec. 10-233h. Arrested students. Reports by police, disclosure, confidentiality. Police
testimony at expulsion hearings.
Sec. 10-233i. Students placed on probation by a court.
Sec. 10-233j. Student possession and use of telecommunication devices.
Sec. 10-233k. Notification of school officials of potentially dangerous students.
Sec. 10-234. Expulsion of pupils.
Sec. 10-235. Indemnification of teachers, board members, employees and certain volunteers
and students in damage suits; expenses of litigation.
Sec. 10-236. Liability insurance.
Sec. 10-236a. Indemnification of educational personnel assaulted in the line of duty.
Sec. 10-237. School activity funds.
Sec. 10-238. Petition for hearing by board of education.
Sec. 10-239. Use of school facilities for other purposes.
Sec. 10-239a. Demonstration scholarship program. Short title. Legislative intent.
Sec. 10-239b. Definitions.
Sec. 10-239c. Contract with federal agency for funds.
Sec. 10-239d. Demonstration board and staff. Scholarships.
Sec. 10-239e. Use of scholarships. Eligibility of schools.
Sec. 10-239f. Collective bargaining by teachers.
Sec. 10-239g. Evaluation of quality of education and satisfaction with schools under
program.
Sec. 10-239h. Liberal construction.
Sec. 10-239i. Participation in the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Sec. 10-239j. Disclosure of accreditation reports. Notification requirements.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 1478; 1957, P.A. 165, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 202, S. 1; P.A. 78-136; 78-218, S. 142.)
History: 1965 act required election of board officers not later than one month after "date on which the newly elected
members take office" rather than one month after the "annual or biennial election, as the case may be"; P.A. 78-136 deleted
requirement that election of officers be "by ballot" but required that vote tally be put in writing, be made available for
public inspection and be recorded in minutes; P.A. 78-218 substituted "chairperson" for "chairman" and also for masculine
personal pronouns formerly used in section.
See Sec. 10-225 re salary of board secretary.
Town's power under former statute to pay school committeemen, not acting as school visitors, is limited to the secretary
and treasurer of the school committee. 103 C. 424. Cited. 182 C. 93, 98.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1959, P.A. 76.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 1500, 1502; 1953, S. 950d; 1967, P.A. 173; P.A. 81-257, S. 2, 10.)
History: 1967 act added qualifying phrase "unless otherwise provided by charter or special act"; P.A. 81-257 made
filling of vacancy mandatory rather than optional unless otherwise provided by charter or special act by substituting "shall"
for "may".
See Sec. 9-1 for applicable definitions.
Court interpreted term "appointment" in Sec. 1-18a(e)(1) to include filling a vacancy as used in this section. 213 C.
216−219.
"Filling a vacancy" as used in this section is an "appointment" within meaning of Sec. 1-18a(e)(1). 41 CS 267−270.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) The board of education of each local or regional school district shall, with the
participation of parents, students, school administrators, teachers, citizens, local elected
officials and any other individuals or groups such board shall deem appropriate, prepare
a statement of educational goals for such local or regional school district. The statement
of goals shall be consistent with state-wide goals pursuant to subsection (c) of section
10-4. Each local or regional board of education shall develop student objectives which
relate directly to the statement of educational goals prepared pursuant to this subsection
and which identify specific expectations for students in terms of skills, knowledge and
competence.
(c) Annually, each local and regional board of education shall submit to the Commissioner of Education a strategic school profile report for each school under its jurisdiction and for the school district as a whole. The superintendent of each local and regional
school district shall present the profile report at the next regularly scheduled public
meeting of the board of education after each November first. The profile report shall
provide information on measures of (1) student needs, (2) school resources, including
technological resources and utilization of such resources and infrastructure, (3) student
and school performance, (4) equitable allocation of resources among its schools, (5)
reduction of racial, ethnic and economic isolation, and (6) special education. For purposes of this subsection, measures of special education include (A) special education
identification rates by disability, (B) rates at which special education students are exempted from mastery testing pursuant to section 10-14q, (C) expenditures for special
education, including such expenditures as a percentage of total expenditures, (D)
achievement data for special education students, (E) rates at which students identified
as requiring special education are no longer identified as requiring special education,
(F) the availability of supplemental educational services for students lacking basic educational skills, (G) the amount of special education student instructional time with nondisabled peers, (H) the number of students placed out-of-district, and (I) the actions
taken by the school district to improve special education programs, as indicated by
analyses of the local data provided in subparagraphs (A) to (H), inclusive, of this subdivision.
(1949 Rev., S. 1501; 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 957d; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 11; 1969, P.A. 690, S. 4; P.A. 78-218,
S. 143; P.A. 79-128, S. 11, 36; P.A. 80-166, S. 1; P.A. 84-460, S. 3, 16; P.A. 85-377, S. 5, 13; P.A. 86-333, S. 11, 32; P.A.
90-324, S. 4, 13; P.A. 93-353, S. 28, 31, 52; P.A. 94-245, S. 9, 46; P.A. 95-182, S. 6, 11; P.A. 96-26, S. 2, 4; 96-244, S.
17, 63; 96-270, S. 1, 11; P.A. 97-290, S. 21, 29; P.A. 98-168, S. 8, 26; 98-243, S. 19, 25; 98-252, S. 13, 38, 80; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 115, 121.)
"(a) Each local or regional board of education shall maintain good public elementary
and secondary schools, implement the educational interests of the state as defined in
section 10-4a and provide such other educational activities as in its judgment will best
serve the interests of the school district; provided any board of education may secure
such opportunities in another school district in accordance with provisions of the general
statutes and shall give all the children of the school district as nearly equal advantages
as may be practicable; shall provide an appropriate learning environment for its students
which includes (1) adequate instructional books, supplies, materials, equipment,
staffing, facilities and technology, (2) equitable allocation of resources among its
schools, and (3) a safe school setting; shall have charge of the schools of its respective
school district; shall make a continuing study of the need for school facilities and of a
long-term school building program and from time to time make recommendations based
on such study to the town; shall report annually to the Commissioner of Education on
the condition of its facilities and the action taken to implement its long-term school
building program, which report the commissioner shall use to prepare an annual report
that he shall submit in accordance with section 11-4a to the joint standing committee
of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education; shall advise
the Commissioner of Education of the relationship between any individual school building project pursuant to chapter 173 and such long-term school building program; shall
have the care, maintenance and operation of buildings, lands, apparatus and other property used for school purposes and at all times shall insure all such buildings and all
capital equipment contained therein against loss in an amount not less than eighty per
cent of replacement cost; shall determine the number, age and qualifications of the pupils
to be admitted into each school; shall develop and implement a written plan for minority
staff recruitment for purposes of subdivision (3) of section 10-4a; shall employ and
dismiss the teachers of the schools of such district subject to the provisions of sections
10-151 and 10-158a; shall designate the schools which shall be attended by the various
children within the school district; shall make such provisions as will enable each child
of school age, residing in the district to attend some public day school for the period
required by law and provide for the transportation of children wherever transportation
is reasonable and desirable, and for such purpose may make contracts covering periods
of not more than five years; may place in an alternative school program or other suitable
educational program a pupil enrolling in school who is nineteen years of age or older
and cannot acquire a sufficient number of credits for graduation by age twenty-one;
may arrange with the board of education of an adjacent town for the instruction therein
of such children as can attend school in such adjacent town more conveniently; shall
cause each child five years of age and over and under eighteen years of age who is not
a high school graduate and is living in the school district to attend school in accordance
with the provisions of section 10-184, and shall perform all acts required of it by the
town or necessary to carry into effect the powers and duties imposed by law."
(1949 Rev., S. 1501; 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 957d; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 11; 1969, P.A. 690, S. 4; P.A. 78-218,
S. 143; P.A. 79-128, S. 11, 36; P.A. 80-166, S. 1; P.A. 84-460, S. 3, 16; P.A. 85-377, S. 5, 13; P.A. 86-333, S. 11, 32; P.A.
90-324, S. 4, 13; P.A. 93-353, S. 28, 31, 52; P.A. 94-245, S. 9, 46; P.A. 95-182, S. 6, 11; P.A. 96-26, S. 2, 4; 96-244, S.
17, 63; 96-270, S. 1, 11; P.A. 97-290, S. 21, 29; P.A. 98-168, S. 8, 26; 98-243, S. 19, 25; 98-252, S. 13, 38, 80; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 115, 121; P.A. 00-157, S. 3, 8.)
History: 1965 act substituted Sec. 10-158a for repealed Sec. 10-158; 1969 act added requirement that boards of education
"implement the educational interests of the state as defined in section 10-4a"; P.A. 78-218 substituted "school district"
for "town" throughout, specified applicability of provisions to local and regional, rather than town, boards and required
attendance of children "seven years of age and over and under sixteen" rather than "between the ages of seven and sixteen";
P.A. 79-128 added Subsec. (b) re statement of goals by local and regional boards; P.A. 80-166 amended Subsec. (b) to
require first attestation that programs are based on state goals "on September 1, 1982" rather than "in 1981"; P.A. 84-460
amended Subsec. (a) requiring that boards insure all buildings and all capital equipment against loss in an amount not less
than eighty per cent of replacement cost; P.A. 85-377 substituted commissioner of education for state board; P.A. 86-333
amended Subsec. (b) to extend from July 1, 1986, to July 1, 1987, the date when boards of education are to begin reviewing
and updating the statement of goals; P.A. 90-324 added Subsec. (c) re strategic school profile reports; P.A. 93-353 deleted
requirements for (1) the local or regional board to submit the statement of goals to the state board of education, (2) the
state board to review the statement and approve the statement as it pertains to the state-wide goals, (3) the local or regional
board to review and if necessary update the statement of goals every five years and submit such statement to the state board
and (4) the state board to review and approve the statement as it pertains to the state-wide goals, and removed obsolete
language and added Subsec. (d) concerning a report to the state board of education on educational goals and student
objectives and the development of a comprehensive professional development plan, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-245
amended Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (c) to change the dates from May first to November first, effective June 2, 1994; P.A. 95-
182 amended Subsec. (a) to remove a requirement that local and regional boards of education attest to the Commissioner
of Education that program offerings and instruction are based on educational goals and student objectives and deleted
Subsec. (d) re reports concerning the statement of educational goals and student objectives and the development and
implementation of professional development plans, effective June 28, 1995; P.A. 96-26 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize
placement of certain older pupils in alternative school programs or other suitable educational programs, effective July 1,
1996; P.A. 96-244 amended Subsec. (c) to delete obsolete language of Subdiv. (2), deleted Subdiv. (1) designation and
replaced Subparas. with Subdivs., effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 96-270 amended Subsec. (a) to add the requirement to advise
the Commissioner of Education of the relationship between any individual school building project and the long-term school
building program, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 97-290 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re an appropriate learning
environment, report on the condition of facilities and action taken to implement the long-term building program and the
annual report by the commissioner to the General Assembly, and amended Subsec. (c) to add Subdiv. (4) re equitable
allocation of resources and Subdiv. (5) re reduction of racial, ethnic and economic isolation, effective July 1, 1997; P.A.
98-168 amended Subsec. (c) to add provisions re special education, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 98-243 amended Subsec.
(a) to lower the age requirement for school attendance from seven to five, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 98-252 amended
Subsec. (a) to add requirement for a written plan for minority staff recruitment and to make a technical change and amended
Subsec. (c) to remove November date for report and in Subdiv. (2) specified technological resources and utilization of
such resources and infrastructure, effective July 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (a),
effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-157 amended Subsec. (a) to change the reference to the school attendance age from "sixteen
years of age" to "eighteen years of age who is not a high school graduate", effective July 1, 2001.
See Sec. 10-4b re complaint procedure where failure or inability of board of education to implement educational interests
of state is alleged.
See Sec. 10-220a re in-service training and professional development.
See Sec. 10-220c re transportation of students over private roads.
Powers conferred and duties imposed by former statute construed. 65 C. 183. Former statute cited. 77 C. 195. Town
may defend action brought against committee for official acts under former statute; duties as to moral fitness of teachers.
79 C. 240. Control of town over committee under former statute. 82 C. 566. Former statute held not to repeal provision in
city charter. 82 C. 124. Former "school committee" was agent of law and not of the town. 99 C. 695. Cited. 129 C. 191;
134 C. 616; 143 C. 488. Actions of board, within confines of its powers, not subject to control of city common council or
officers. 147 C. 478. If land devoted to school purposes, held city could not condemn it for a highway without approval
of school committee. Id. This section must be read with section 10-186 re furnishing of transportation for school children,
and it comprehends not only distance but safety factors. 148 C. 238 (one judge dissenting). Number of teaching positions,
need of curriculum coordinator and maintenance of school properties were matters within discretion of school board. 151
C. 1. Cited. 152 C. 148-150. Ability of board to perform its statutory duties not destroyed by requirement of town charter
that it select nonprofessional employees under civil service requirements. Id., 568. Cited. 153 C. 283. Cited. 162 C. 568.
Town boards of education, in matters not involving strictly budgetary concerns, act as agents of the state. Under powers
to "employ and dismiss" teachers town boards of education can determine contested cases. 167 C. 368. Town, by referendum
could delegate its power of eminent domain to board of education which had authority to exercise it. 168 C. 135. Cited.
170 C. 38. Cited. Id., 318, 320, 324, 326. Cited. 174 C. 522, 523, 528. Cited. 180 C. 96, 98. Cited. 182 C. 93, 100, 110;
Id., 253, 259. Cited. 187 C. 187, 190. Cited. 193 C. 93, 97, 98, 100. Cited. 195 C. 24, 26, 27, 29, 31, 34, 35, 38. Cited. 205
C. 116, 120. Cited. 217 C. 110, 126, 127, 130. Cited. 228 C. 640, 648, 649. Cited. Id., 699, 703, 704, 715. Cited. 237 C.
169, 175, 177, 180, 182. Cited. 238 C. 1.
Cited. 6 CA 212, 218. Cited. 44 CA 179.
Elements justifying indemnification of a board member. 9 CS 442. Board as agent of the state. 19 CS 158. Cited. 15
CS 370. Boards of education may discontinue or unite schools; history of section reviewed. 16 CS 339. Boards of education
may accord problem of racial imbalance relevance in making decisions. 26 CS 124. Cited. 27 CS 339. Extension of a
"project concern" contract made by board of education of Milford with board of New Haven is an administrative decision
to be made by board as agency of the state under its authority set out in sections 10-220 through 10-239 and board of
aldermen was enjoined from holding an advisory referendum of voters as this would be an unlawful expenditure of city
funds. 28 CS 207. School boards are agents of the state...not subject to recall under a municipal charter. 29 CS 201.
Cited. 30 CS 63. The Connecticut education system violates Article I, Sec. 20 and Article VIII, Sec. 1 of the Connecticut
Constitution. 31 CS 379. Relationship between boards of education and municipal budget authorities. Extent of municipal
obligation to finance education. 32 CS 132. Cited. 34 CS 115, 126. Cited. 35 CS 55, 58. Cited. 36 CS 293−295. Local
board of education is not acting as agent of the state and not entitled to sovereign immunity when acting to recover damages
arising from construction of school building. 40 CS 141, 142. Cited. 44 CS 527.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 228 C. 699, 703. Cited. 237 C. 169, 175, 176, 180.
Context of community orientation of family discussed in determining place of residence for purposes of school attendance. 34 CA 567, 571, 572, 574.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 238 C. 1.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Not later than a date prescribed by the commissioner, each local and regional
board of education shall develop, with the advice and assistance of the teachers and
administrators employed by such boards, including representatives of the exclusive bargaining representative of such teachers and administrators chosen pursuant to section
10-153b, and such other resources as the board deems appropriate, a comprehensive
professional development plan, to be implemented not later than the school year 1994-
1995. Such plan shall be directly related to the educational goals prepared by the local
or regional board of education pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-220, and shall
provide for the ongoing and systematic assessment and improvement of both teacher
evaluation and professional development of the professional staff members of each
such board, including personnel management and evaluation training or experience for
administrators, shall be related to regular and special student needs and may include
provisions concerning career incentives and parent involvement. The State Board of
Education shall develop guidelines to assist local and regional boards of education in
determining the objectives of the plans and in coordinating staff development activities
with student needs and school programs.
(c) The state Department of Education, in cooperation with one or more regional
educational service centers, is authorized to provide institutes annually for Connecticut
educators. Such institutes shall serve as model programs of professional development
and shall be taught by exemplary Connecticut teachers and administrators and by other
qualified individuals as selected by the state Department of Education. The Department
of Education shall charge fees for attending such institutes provided such fees shall be
based on the actual cost of such institutes.
(d) The state Department of Education may fund, within available appropriations,
in cooperation with one or more regional educational service centers: (1) A cooperating
teacher program to train Connecticut public school teachers and certified teachers at
private special education facilities approved by the Commissioner of Education and at
other facilities designated by the commissioner, who participate in the supervision,
training and evaluation of student teachers; (2) institutes to provide continuing education
for Connecticut public school educators, assessors and cooperating teachers and teacher
mentors, including institutes to provide continuing education for Connecticut public
school educators offered in cooperation with the Connecticut Humanities Council; and
(3) a beginning teacher support and assessment program to train Connecticut public
school teachers and other qualified persons approved by the Commissioner of Education
and certified teachers at such private special education and other designated facilities
who serve as mentors or assessors for beginning teachers and who supervise, train and
assist or assess beginning teachers in their initial years in teaching and to pay stipends
to assessors. Funds available under this subsection shall be paid directly to school districts for the provision of substitute teachers when cooperating teachers, teacher mentors,
beginning teachers and assessors are released from regular classroom responsibilities
and for the provision of professional development activities for cooperating and student
teachers, teacher mentors, assessors and beginning teachers. The cooperating teacher
and beginning teacher support and assessment programs shall operate in accordance
with regulations which shall be adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to
chapter 54. Student teachers shall be placed with trained cooperating teachers. Beginning teachers shall participate in a beginning teacher support and assessment program
as made available by the board. School districts shall be responsible for providing support to beginning teachers which shall include, but not be limited to, the placement of
beginning teachers with trained teacher mentors who may be full or part-time teachers
in the same or a different building than the beginning teacher and provision of trained
assessors to conduct assessments of beginning teachers. Cooperating teachers, teacher
mentors and assessors may serve concurrently in more than one capacity and may be
assigned more than one student teacher or beginning teacher in each such capacity.
The assessment of each beginning teacher shall be based upon, but not limited to, data
obtained from observations conducted by assessors using an assessment instrument.
Notwithstanding any regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education may require less than six observations as part of such assessment for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1992, and may establish different assessment standards for use during such
fiscal year. Notwithstanding any regulation to the contrary, a beginning teacher need
not be assessed by a certified teacher who holds a certification endorsement in the same
general subject area as such beginning teacher. Cooperating teachers and teacher mentors who are Connecticut public school teachers and assessors who are employed by
school districts shall be selected by local and regional boards of education. Cooperating
teachers and teacher mentors and assessors at such private special education and other
designated facilities shall be selected by the authority responsible for the operation of
such facilities. If a board of education is unable to identify a sufficient number of individuals to serve in such positions, the commissioner may select qualified persons who are
not employed by the board of education to serve in such positions. Such regulations
shall require primary consideration of teachers' classroom experience and recognized
success as educators. The provisions of sections 10-153a to 10-153n, inclusive, shall
not be applicable to the selection, placement and compensation of persons participating
in the cooperating teacher and beginning teacher support and assessment programs pursuant to the provisions of this section and to the hours and duties of such persons. The
State Board of Education shall protect and save harmless, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-235, any cooperating teacher, teacher mentor or assessor while serving in such capacity.
(P.A. 73-632, S. 4, 5; P.A. 75-211, S. 2; P.A. 78-218, S. 144; P.A. 82-75, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-314, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-377, S.
6, 13; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-1, S. 10, 58; P.A. 87-352, S. 1, 2; 87-499, S. 13, 29, 34; P.A. 88-96, S. 1, 2; 88-273, S. 5, 6,
9; 88-360, S. 24, 63; P.A. 89-137, S. 10, 14; 89-168, S. 4; P.A. 90-324, S. 10, 11, 13; 90-325, S. 7, 32; P.A. 91-220, S. 7,
8; 91-264, S. 1, 2; 91-303, S. 19, 22; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-7, S. 9, 22; P.A. 93-23; 93-353, S. 29, 52; P.A. 94-221, S. 5;
P.A. 95-101, S. 2; 95-182, S. 7, 11; 95-259, S. 21, 32; P.A. 96-244, S. 53, 63; P.A. 97-45, S. 2; 97-61, S. 2; P.A. 98-243,
S. 20, 25; P.A. 00-220, S. 10, 43.)
History: P.A. 75-211 included instruction re alcohol and its effects in in-service training programs and health education
programs; P.A. 78-218 specified applicability of provisions to local and regional boards in Subsecs. (a) and (b), deleted
phrase "of every school district" and deleted September 1, 1974, deadline for establishment of programs in said Subsecs.
and deleted Subsec. (c) re policy statements on procedures to deal with drug sales or use; P.A. 82-75 deleted Subsec. (b)
which had required development of an ongoing program on drug and alcohol abuse repealed, but see sections 10-16b and
10-19; P.A. 84-314 added new Subsecs. (b) and (c) re development of plans to provide for the ongoing and systematic
professional development of the professional staff members of boards of education and annual institutes to be held by the
state department of education; P.A. 85-377 substituted commissioner of education for state board; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-
1 added Subsec. (d) re cooperating teacher program and institutes and beginning teacher program; P.A. 87-352 included
certified teachers at approved private special education facilities in the cooperating teacher and teacher mentor programs
and made a technical change in Subsec. (d); P.A. 87-499 in Subsec. (c) provided that the institutes be provided in cooperation
with one or more regional educational service centers and amended Subsec. (d) to provide that funding be in cooperation
with one or more regional educational service centers and that the programs pay stipends that institutes be for teacher
mentors in Subdiv. (2) and made technical changes; P.A. 88-96 added a reference to the Connecticut Humanities Council
in Subsec. (d); P.A. 88-273 in Subsec. (d) added "who are Connecticut public school teachers" and provided that after July
1, 1989, the cooperating teacher and beginning teacher programs operate in accordance with regulations, that for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1989, selection of teachers be made pursuant to Subsec. (e) added by the same act rather than based
on state guidelines, that all provisions concerning teacher negotiation law, Secs. 10-153a to 10-153n, inclusive, not apply
to certain aspects of participation in the program and that the state board of education protect and save harmless certain
persons and added Subsec. (e) re cooperating teacher and teacher mentor selection, placement and compensation for the
fiscal years up to and including the fiscal year ending June 30, 1989; P.A. 88-360 in Subdiv. (2) of Subsec. (d) added that
the institutes be for Connecticut public school teachers, in Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (d) added that the beginning teacher
program be for "other qualified persons approved by the commissioner of education" and that it be for persons who serve
as assessors for beginning teachers and provided for the selection of qualified persons by the commissioner of education
and made a technical change; P.A. 89-137 in Subsec. (d) provided that the Connecticut Humanities Council cooperate in
offering continuing education institutes and not in offering the cooperating teacher program and the beginning teacher
support and assessment program, substituted "educators" for "teachers" as persons for whom continuing education institutes
are to be provided and provided that funds available under the subsection be paid directly to school districts for specified
purposes; P.A. 89-168 changed the name from "standard" certificate to "professional educator" certificate and added a
new Subdiv. (2) which includes information on health and mental issues affecting children, including child abuse and
youth suicide as component of in-service training program; P.A. 90-324 in Subsec. (a) substituted "pupil personnel" for
"guidance personnel", added "educator" after "initial" and "provisional" and required the commissioner of education rather
than the state board of education to approve the program and in Subsec. (b) added administrators and their bargaining
representatives as persons who may advise boards of education on the development of five-year plans and added that such
plans may include provisions concerning career incentives and parent involvement in Subdiv. (1) and added new Subdiv.
(2) re comprehensive professional development plans; P.A. 90-325 in Subsec. (a) added Subdiv. (3) re the providing of
information as to the growth and development of exceptional children, in Subsec. (d) provided that certain private special
education facilities be approved by the commissioner of education, rather than the state board of education, that teachers
at facilities designated by the commissioner be able to participate in the cooperating teacher and beginning teacher support
and assessment programs and added that the institutes in Subdiv. (2) be for assessors and that funds available under the
subsection are for professional development activities for assessors, deleted Subsec. (e) re cooperating teachers and teacher
mentors and made technical changes; P.A. 91-220 replaced requirement that program be approved by the commissioner
with requirement that it be submitted to the commissioner in Subsec. (a); P.A. 91-264 in Subsec. (c) added language
concerning the charging of fees; P.A. 91-303 in Subsec. (b)(2) added provision for submission of a plan on and after April
1, 1994, and provided for revision of plans every five years rather than every three years; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-7 amended
Subsec. (d) to remove provision for stipends for teachers who train student teachers and for mentors, added specific
requirements pertaining to beginning teacher support and assessment programs and added provision regarding different
requirements than those specified in regulations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992; P.A. 93-23 amended Subsec. (a)
to add risk reduction education language; P.A. 93-353 amended Subdiv. (2) of Subsec. (b) to delete requirement that the
plan be developed by April 1, 1991, and substituted "a date prescribed by the commissioner" and that the plan be a three-
year plan and that it be submitted to the commissioner of education, changed the date for implementation of the plan and
removed language on the development and submission of another plan by April 1, 1994, added requirement that the plan
be directly related to the educational goals prepared by the local or regional board and removed requirement that the local
or regional board review and revise its plan every five years and submit it to the commissioner, effective July 1, 1993;
P.A. 94-221 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (4) re school violence prevention and conflict resolution; P.A. 95-101
amended Subsec. (a) to add provision concerning Holocaust education and awareness; P.A. 95-182 amended Subsec. (b)
to remove former Subdiv. (1) re development of five-year professional development plans, deleting Subdiv. (2) designator,
effective June 28, 1995; P.A. 95-259 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (5) re cardiopulmonary resuscitation, effective
July 6, 1995; P.A. 96-244 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (6) re computer and other information technology, effective
June 6, 1996; P.A. 97-45 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision concerning the Great Famine in Ireland; P.A. 97-61 amended
Subsec. (a) to expand the list of topics for in-service training programs by adding African-American history, Puerto Rican
history, Native American history, personal financial management and topics approved by the State Board of Education at
the request of local or regional boards of education; P.A. 98-243 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (7) re teaching of
language arts, reading and reading readiness, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-220 amended Subsec. (a) to remove a requirement to submit the program to the Commissioner of Education, effective July 1, 2000.
See Sec. 10-373aa re Connecticut Humanities Council.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 78-218, S. 145; P.A. 87-499, S. 33, 34.)
See Sec. 10-221(d) re policies and procedures re alcohol and controlled drugs.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) No town, or local or regional board of education or member thereof nor the
school bus owner or operator authorized thereby shall be liable to any person for personal
injuries received while being transported to or from school or school activities on a
private road in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, provided
the proximate cause of such injuries was the negligent construction or maintenance of
such private road.
(P.A. 78-201.)
Cited. 239 C. 769.
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(P.A. 97-39, S. 1; P.A. 98-252, S. 70, 80.)
History: P.A. 98-252 substituted requirement for full access for requirement to provide an opportunity for recruitment,
effective July 1, 1998.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 98-252, S. 66, 80; P.A. 00-220, S. 42, 43.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 98-252, S. 67, 80.)
History: P.A. 98-252 effective July 1, 1998.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 99-81.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 00-220, S. 1, 43.)
History: P.A. 00-220 effective July 1, 2000.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Not later than July 1, 1985, each local and regional board of education shall
develop, adopt and implement written policies concerning homework, attendance, promotion and retention. The state Department of Education shall make available model
policies and guidelines to assist local and regional boards of education in meeting the
responsibilities enumerated in this subsection.
(c) Boards of education may prescribe rules to impose sanctions against pupils who
damage or fail to return textbooks, library materials or other educational materials. Said
boards may charge pupils for such damaged or lost textbooks, library materials or other
educational materials and may withhold grades, transcripts or report cards until the pupil
pays for or returns the textbook, library book or other educational material.
(d) Not later than July 1, 1991, each local and regional board of education shall
develop, adopt and implement policies and procedures in conformity with section 10-
154a for (1) dealing with the use, sale or possession of alcohol or controlled drugs, as
defined in subsection (8) of section 21a-240, by public school students on school property, including a process for coordination with, and referral of such students to, appropriate agencies and (2) cooperating with law enforcement officials.
(e) Not later than July 1, 1990, each local and regional board of education shall
adopt a written policy and procedures for dealing with youth suicide prevention and
youth suicide attempts. Each such board of education may establish a student assistance
program to identify risk factors for youth suicide, procedures to intervene with such
youth, referral services and training for teachers and other school professionals and
students who provide assistance in the program.
(f) Not later than September 1, 1998, each local and regional board of education
shall develop, adopt and implement written policies and procedures to encourage parent-
teacher communication. These policies and procedures may include monthly newsletters, required regular contact with all parents, flexible parent-teacher conferences, drop-
in hours for parents, home visits and the use of technology such as homework hot lines
to allow parents to check on their children's assignments and students to get assistance
if needed.
(1949 Rev., S. 1479; P.A. 78-218, S. 146; P.A. 80-32, S. 2, 3; P.A. 81-257, S. 3, 10; P.A. 82-137, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-275,
S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-499, S. 14, 34; P.A. 89-168, S. 2; P.A. 90-133, S. 2; P.A. 97-290, S. 14, 29.)
History: P.A. 78-218 substituted "public school buildings" for "schoolhouses"; P.A. 80-32 substituted "library media
centers" for "libraries" and included reference to "other educational media" to reflect increased scope of libraries; P.A.
81-257 added Subsec. (b) authorizing boards to prescribe rules to impose sanctions against pupils who damage or fail to
return textbooks and library and other educational materials; P.A. 82-137 made permissive rather than mandatory the
adoption of rules to impose sanctions against pupils who fail to return or damage textbooks; P.A. 84-275 added new Subsec.
(b) re written policies concerning homework, attendance, promotion and retention, relettering former Subsec. (b) as Subsec.
(c); P.A. 87-499 added new Subsec. (d) concerning policies and procedures re alcohol and controlled drugs; P.A. 89-168
added Subsec. (e) requiring each local and regional board of education to adopt a written policy and procedures for dealing
with youth suicide prevention and youth suicide attempts; P.A. 90-133 in Subsec. (d) extended the deadline for the implementation of policies and procedures from July 1, 1988, to July 1, 1991, and added that the procedures include a process
for coordination with appropriate agencies; P.A. 97-290 added Subsec. (f) re parent-teacher communication, effective July
1, 1997.
Cited. 152 C. 148−150. Effect of teacher negotiation act on educational policy. 162 C. 577. Cited. 193 C. 93, 97, 98.
Cited. 218 C. 1, 6.
Board of education is agent of the state and not of the town in maintenance and management of public schools. 19 CS
158. Cited. 29 CS 397. Cited. 30 CS 63. Cited. 35 CS 55, 58.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 218 C. 1, 6.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 218 C. 1, 6.
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(b) Commencing with classes graduating in 2004, and for each graduating class
thereafter, no local or regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate
from high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily completed
a minimum of twenty credits, not fewer than four of which shall be in English, not fewer
than three in mathematics, not fewer than three in social studies, including at least a one-
half credit course on civics and American government, not fewer than two in science, not
fewer than one in the arts or vocational education and not fewer than one in physical
education.
(c) Any student who presents a certificate from a physician stating that, in the opinion of the physician, participation in physical education is medically contraindicated
because of the physical condition of such student, shall be excused from the physical
education requirement, provided the credit for physical education may be fulfilled by
an elective.
(d) Determination of eligible credits shall be at the discretion of the local or regional
board of education, provided the primary focus of the curriculum of eligible credits
corresponds directly to the subject matter of the specified course requirements. The
local or regional board of education may permit a student to graduate during a period
of expulsion pursuant to section 10-233d, if the board determines the student has satisfactorily completed the necessary credits pursuant to this section. The requirements of this
section shall apply to any student requiring special education pursuant to section 10-
76a, except when the planning and placement team for such student determines the
requirement not to be appropriate. For purposes of this section, a credit shall consist of
not less than the equivalent of a forty-minute class period for each school day of a school
year except for a credit or part of a credit toward high school graduation earned at an
institution accredited by the Department of Higher Education or regionally accredited.
(e) Only courses taken in grades nine through twelve, inclusive, shall satisfy this
graduation requirement, except that a local or regional board of education may grant a
student credit (1) toward meeting a specified course requirement upon the successful
completion in grade seven or eight of any course, the primary focus of which corresponds
directly to the subject matter of a specified course requirement in grades nine to twelve,
inclusive; or (2) toward meeting the high school graduation requirement upon the successful completion of coursework at an institution accredited by the Department of
Higher Education or regionally accredited. One three-credit semester course, or its
equivalent, at such an institution shall equal one-half credit for purposes of this section.
(f) A local or regional board of education may offer one-half credit in community
service which, if satisfactorily completed, shall qualify for high school graduation credit
pursuant to this section, provided such community service is supervised by a certified
school administrator or teacher and consists of not less than fifty hours of actual service
that may be performed at times when school is not regularly in session and not less than
ten hours of related classroom instruction. For purposes of this section, community
service does not include partisan political activities. The State Board of Education shall
assist local and regional boards of education in meeting the requirements of this section.
(g) A local or regional board of education may award a diploma to a veteran of
World War II, pursuant to section 27-103, who left high school prior to graduation in
order to serve in the armed forces of the United States and did not receive a diploma as
a consequence of such service.
(P.A. 83-282; P.A. 84-297, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-96, S. 1, 2; 85-613, S. 120, 154; P.A. 86-333, S. 12, 32; P.A. 88-136, S. 11,
37; P.A. 93-111, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-182, S. 8, 11; P.A. 96-26, S. 3, 4; P.A. 00-124, S. 1, 2; 00-156; 00-187, S. 69, 75.)
History: P.A. 84-297 amended Subsec. (a) to establish a state-wide twenty credit requirement for graduation effective
for classes graduating in 1988 and thereafter; to state the minimum number of credits to be earned in English, mathematics,
social studies, science, the arts or vocational education and physical education and to allow the local or regional board of
education to determine what is an eligible credit for purposes of fulfilling the requirement; P.A. 85-96 amended Subsec.
(a) to permit an exception to the course requirement for graduation, allowing local or regional boards to grant a student
credit toward a specified course requirement upon the successful completion in grade seven or eight of any course, the
primary focus of which corresponds directly to the subject matter of a specified course requirement in grades nine to twelve,
but specifying that students must complete at least twenty credits in grades nine to twelve, notwithstanding the grant of
such credit; P.A. 85-613 made technical change; P.A. 86-333 made provision in Subsec. (a) for credit for coursework
earned at institutions of higher education to satisfy high school graduation requirements; P.A. 88-136 deleted obsolete
provisions in Subsec. (a) re students graduating in 1987; P.A. 93-111 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions on community
service, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-182 deleted former Subsec. (b) concerning report to the General Assembly on
graduation requirements, effective June 28, 1995; P.A. 96-26 added provision allowing expelled students to graduate if they
have completed the necessary credits and deleted provision requiring that twenty credits toward graduation be completed in
grades nine through twelve, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 00-124 added new provision, designated as Subsec. (g), re diplomas
for veterans of World War II, effective May 29, 2000; P.A. 00-156, effective October 1, 2000, and 00-187, effective July
1, 2000, both divided the existing section into Subsecs., adding new provisions as Subsec. (b) to require that classes
graduating in 2004 and thereafter have at least one-half credit in civics and American government.
See 10-16b re prescribed courses of study.
Cited. 195 C. 24, 42. Cited. 238 C. 1.
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(P.A. 84-87, S. 1, 7.)
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(b) The superintendent of schools of each local or regional school district and the
supervisory agent of each nonpublic school shall make a written report of the circumstances of any accident within his jurisdiction and knowledge, involving a motor vehicle
and any pedestrian who is a student, which occurs at a designated school bus stop or in
the immediate vicinity thereof, to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles within ten days
thereafter on a form prescribed by the commissioner.
(P.A. 89-320, S. 9, 12; P.A. 90-112, S. 8, 14.)
History: P.A. 90-112 added Subsec. (b), requiring superintendent and supervisory agent to make written report of
circumstances of accidents involving motor vehicles and student pedestrians at or near bus stops to motor vehicles commissioner.
See Sec. 14-275 et seq. re Motor Vehicles Commissioner's powers and duties re school buses.
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(b) If a local or regional board of education requests, a regional educational service
center shall arrange for fingerprinting pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and
forward such fingerprints for state and national criminal history records checks. Such
regional educational service centers shall provide the results of such checks to such
local or regional board of education. Such regional educational service centers shall
provide such results to any other local or regional board of education or regional educational service center upon the request of the person fingerprinted.
(c) State and national criminal history records checks for substitute teachers completed within one year prior to the date of employment with a local or regional board
of education and submitted to the employing board of education shall meet the requirements of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section. A local or regional board of
education shall not require substitute teachers to submit to state and national criminal
history records checks pursuant to subdivision (2) if they are continuously employed
by such local or regional board of education. For purposes of this section, substitute
teachers shall be deemed to be continuously employed by a local or regional board of
education if they are employed at least one day of each school year by such local or
regional board of education.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person required to submit to
a criminal history records check pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d) of section
14-44. The provisions of subsection (a) of this section requiring state and national criminal history records checks shall, at the discretion of a local or regional board of education,
apply to a person employed by a local or regional board of education as a teacher for a
noncredit adult class or adult education activity, as defined in section 10-67, who is not
required to hold a teaching certificate pursuant to section 10-145b for his position.
(P.A. 93-328; P.A. 94-221, S. 7; P.A. 95-259, S. 16, 32; P.A. 98-252, S. 15, 80.)
History: P.A. 94-221 amended Subsec. (a) to allow local and regional boards of education to require criminal history
records checks of persons hired prior to July 1, 1994, and to allow private schools to require such checks of applicants for
positions in such schools and employees of such schools; P.A. 95-259 amended Subsec. (a) to add references to Subsec.
(d) and to regional educational service centers, designated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (d), inserting new Subsec. (b)
re regional educational service centers and Subsec. (c) re substitute teachers and amended Subsec. (d), formerly Subsec.
(b), to add provision concerning teachers of adult classes or activities, effective July 6, 1995; P.A. 98-252 amended Subsec.
(b) to allow the service center to provide the results to other boards of education upon the request of the person fingerprinted,
effective July 1, 1998.
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(P.A. 96-213, S. 1, 5.)
History: P.A. 96-213 effective July 1, 1996.
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(P.A. 96-101, S. 1, 2.)
History: P.A. 96-101 effective May 8, 1996.
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(P.A. 97-290, S. 11, 29.)
History: P.A. 97-290 effective July 1, 1997.
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(P.A. 98-243, S. 1, 25.)
History: P.A. 98-243 effective July 1, 1998.
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(b) 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.
(P.A. 97-290, S. 23, 29; P.A. 98-243, S. 2, 25.)
History: P.A. 97-290 effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-243 added new Subsec. (a) re technical assistance, redesignating
the existing Subsec. (a) as Subsec. (b), and deleted former Subsec. (b) re report to the General Assembly, effective July
1, 1998 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a)(1) the phrase "... the teaching of the reading and ..." was changed editorially by the
Revisors to "... the teaching of reading and ...").
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(P.A. 99-227, S. 1, 6.)
History: P.A. 99-227 effective July 1, 1999.
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(P.A. 99-227, S. 2, 6.)
History: P.A. 99-227 effective July 1, 1999.
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(P.A. 99-227, S. 3, 6.)
History: P.A. 99-227 effective July 1, 1999.
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(P.A. 99-227, S. 4, 6.)
History: P.A. 99-227 effective July 1, 1999.
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(b) The Commissioner of Education shall develop a financial information system to
assist local and regional boards of education in providing to the State Board of Education
budget and year-end expenditure data in conformance with the provisions of section 10-
227. The financial information system shall be consistent with regulations concerning
guidelines for municipal financial reports adopted by the Secretary of the Office of
Policy and Management pursuant to the provisions of section 7-394a.
(1949 Rev., S. 1480; P.A. 78-218, S. 147; P.A. 82-217; P.A. 84-484, S. 1, 2; P.A. 98-141, S. 1, 2.)
History: P.A. 78-218 simplified phraseology by specifying applicability of provisions to local boards, substituting
"municipality" for "city, town or school district" and making other technical changes; P.A. 82-217 inserted provisions
relating to supplemental appropriations; P.A. 84-484 inserted Subsec. indicator and added new Subsec. (b) re development
of a financial information system to assist boards of education in reporting budget data; in 1995 the Revisors editorially
substituted the numeric indicators (1), (2) and (3) for (a), (b) and (c) at the end of Subsec. (a) for consistency with statutory
usage; P.A. 98-141 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re limited transfers in emergency circumstances and to define
"meeting", effective July 1, 1998.
Cited. 115 C. 158; see note to chapter 106. Estimates should be itemized so as to indicate whether or not proposed
expenditures are for purposes as to which board of education has duty or independent discretion. 127 C. 351. Under this
section and provisions of charter Bridgeport board of education has full discretion as to expenditures of money appropriated
for school purposes. 133 C. 415. If board of finance properly exercises its discretion and budget is approved by town,
board of education has no power to exceed appropriations made. 138 C. 521. Board of finance cannot place funds for
school purposes in general government budget to be paid to school board on happening of certain contingencies. 151 C.
1. Cited. 152 C. 568. Cited. 162 C. 393. Cited. 163 C. 537. Cited. 174 C. 522, 528. Cited. 182 C. 253, 259. Cited. 217 C.
110, 126, 130. Cited. 228 C. 699, 715, 716.
Cited. 14 CS 280; 15 CS 370. Board of finance may reduce the estimate submitted by the board of education; authority
of board to refuse to honor vouchers up to the amount of money appropriated for maintenance of schools during the fiscal
year discussed. 20 CS 224. Phrase in third sentence "with such money as may be received from other sources for school
purposes" does not apply to state and federal grants. 25 CS 9. Appropriation request may be reduced by amount board of
aldermen, in its discretion, considers is larger than is reasonably necessary. Id. Provision in Trumbull charter re failure of
board of finance to adopt budget for submission to town council upheld. 32 CS 132. Relationship between boards of
education and municipal budget authorities. Extent of municipal obligation to finance education. 32 CS 132.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 237 C. 169, 178, 179.
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(P.A. 84-183, S. 1, 2; P.A. 90-122, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-14, S. 1, 2; P.A. 94-245, S. 21, 46.)
History: P.A. 90-122 added repayment by parents or guardians of students and that the educational materials for which
payment is received may be stolen and provided that insurance proceeds received for certain lost, damaged or stolen
educational materials be deemed appropriated to the board of education; P.A. 93-14 added "equipment", removed specification that the material be "educational" and replaced "current" fiscal year with fiscal year "in which such payment is made
or insurance proceeds received", effective April 21, 1993; P.A. 94-245 added provision for the use of funds received for
payment for custodial services for the use of school facilities by outside groups and individuals, effective June 2, 1994.
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(P.A. 90-122, S. 2, 3; P.A. 00-220, S. 42, 43.)
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(1949 Rev., S. 1481; P.A. 78-218, S. 148; P.A. 96-161, S. 12, 13.)
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(P.A. 99-288, S. 1, 6.)
History: P.A. 99-288 effective July 1, 1999.
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