AN ACT CONCERNING GREAT SCHOOLS FOR ALL.

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

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) The Commissioner of Education shall, within available appropriations, establish and administer a preschool subsidy program to increase the availability, affordability and quality of preschool services. The Department of Education shall open and maintain enrollment for the preschool program.

(b) The Commissioner of Education shall establish income standards for applicants that allow a family with gross income up to one hundred eighty-five per cent of the federal poverty level to be eligible for the program. The commissioner may establish income criteria and durational requirements for waiver of such income standards in regulations pursuant to subsection (e) of this section.

(c) The Commissioner of Education shall establish additional eligibility and program standards including, but not limited to: (1) Supplemental payment for any special needs of a child and extended nontraditional hours; (2) an annual rate review process that assures reimbursement rates are maintained at levels which permit equal access to a variety of preschool settings; (3) a sliding reimbursement scale for participating families; and (4) a waiting list.

(d) All licensed preschool providers and unlicensed providers that are not included in the description of child day care services under subsection (a) of section 19a-77 of the general statutes shall provide the Department of Education with the following information in order to maintain eligibility for reimbursement: (1) The name, address, appropriate identification, social security number and telephone number of the provider and all adults who work at or reside at the location where care is provided; (2) the name and address of each enrolled child's doctor, primary care provider and health insurance company; (3) whether each enrolled child is immunized and has had health screens pursuant to the federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Services Program under 42 USC 1396d; and (4) the number of children cared for by the provider.

(e) The Commissioner of Education shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement the provisions of this section.

(f) The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Services, shall establish, within available appropriations, a program to provide subsidies to parents to purchase preschool services provided by any elementary or secondary school, nursery school, preschool, child day care center, group day care home or family day care home, as described in section 19a-77 of the general statutes, family resource center, Head Start program, or local or regional board of education.

(g) No funds received by a provider pursuant to this section shall be used to supplant federal funding received for early childhood education on behalf of children in an early childhood education program.

(h) The Commissioners of Social Services and Education shall: (1) Coordinate the development of a range of alternative programs to meet the needs of all children; (2) foster partnerships between school districts and private organizations; (3) provide information and assistance to parents in selecting an appropriate school readiness program; and (4) work to ensure, to the extent possible, that school readiness programs allow open enrollment for all children and allow families receiving benefits for such a program to choose a public or accredited private program.

(i) The per child cost of the Department of Education school readiness component of the program pursuant to this section offered by a school readiness provider shall not exceed eight thousand two hundred sixty-six dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, and eight thousand five hundred fourteen dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.

Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 10-16q of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2007):

(b) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, the per child cost of the Department of Education school readiness component of the program offered by a school readiness provider shall not exceed six thousand six hundred fifty dollars.

(2) For fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, [and each fiscal year thereafter,] the per child cost of the Department of Education school readiness component of the program offered by a school readiness provider shall not exceed six thousand nine hundred twenty-five dollars. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e) of section 10-16p, the Department of Education shall not provide funding to any school readiness provider that (A) on or before January 1, 2004, first entered into a contract with a town to provide school readiness services pursuant to this section and is not accredited on January 1, 2007, or (B) after January 1, 2004, first entered into a contract with a town to provide school readiness services pursuant to this section and does not become accredited by the date three years after the date on which the provider first entered into such a contract.

(3) For fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, the per child cost of the Department of Education school readiness component of the program offered by a school readiness provider shall not exceed eight thousand two hundred sixty-six dollars.

(4) For fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, and each fiscal year thereafter, the per child cost of the Department of Education school readiness component of the program offered by a school readiness provider shall not exceed eight thousand five hundred fourteen dollars.

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e) of section 10-16p and the provisions of this section, the Department of Education shall not provide funding to any school readiness provider that (A) on or before January 1, 2004, first entered into a contract with a town to provide school readiness services pursuant to this section and is not accredited on January 1, 2007, or (B) after January 1, 2004, first entered into a contract with a town to provide school readiness services pursuant to this section and does not become accredited by the date three years after the date on which the provider first entered into such a contract.

[(3)] (6) A school readiness provider may provide child day care services and the cost of such child day care services shall not be subject to such per child cost limitation.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) The Department of Education shall establish a competitive grant pilot schools program, within available appropriations, to assist local and regional school districts in raising student achievement through the creation of pilot schools.

(b) A pilot school funded pursuant to this program shall be a school that (1) is approved by the local or regional board of education and that has autonomy over budget, staffing, governance, curriculum and the school calendar and is exempt from district policies and mandates; and (2) whose teachers participate voluntarily in a bargaining agreement with modified work rules, while still receiving union salary, benefits, and accrual of seniority within the district.

(c) Grant applications shall be submitted annually to the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes. In determining whether to award a grant pursuant to this section and in determining the amount of the grant, the commissioner shall consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to, the following factors: (1) The results of an assessment demonstrating the need for such a school in the school district; (2) the district-wide changes and district investments proposed by the district to make the most of the grant assistance; and (3) the plans for sustainability after grant assistance ends. The commissioner shall give preference to applicants that are priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p of the general statutes, or districts in which seventy-five per cent or more of the enrolled students are members of racial or ethnic minorities.

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

(e) Each grantee shall submit, at such time and in such manner as the Commissioner of Education prescribes, reports and financial statements as are required by the commissioner.

(f) The Commissioner of Education shall have the authority to waive or otherwise modify state and district teacher and principal certification requirements for the selected districts to support pilot schools pursuant to this section.

Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) The Department of Education shall establish a competitive grant small high schools program, within available appropriations, to assist local and regional school districts in raising student achievement through the creation of small high schools and small learning environments within existing high schools.

(b) Grant applications shall be submitted annually to the Commissioner of Education in such time and manner as the commissioner prescribes. In determining whether to award a grant pursuant to this section and in determining the amount of the grant, the commissioner shall consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to, the following factors: (1) The results of an assessment demonstrating the need for such a grant in the school district; (2) the district-wide changes and district investments proposed by the district to make the most of the grant assistance; and (3) the plans for sustainability after grant assistance ends.

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

(d) Each grantee shall submit, in such time and manner as the Commissioner of Education prescribes, reports and financial statements as are required by the commissioner.

Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) The Department of Education shall establish a competitive grant teacher and principal all star program, within available appropriations, to assist local and regional school districts in raising student achievement through teacher and principal recruitment and professional development programs and partnerships with nonprofit recruiting and professional development partners.

(b) Grant applications shall be submitted annually to the Commissioner of Education in such time and manner as the commissioner prescribes. In determining whether to award a grant pursuant to this section and in determining the amount of the grant, the commissioner shall consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to, the following factors: (1) The results of an assessment demonstrating the need for such a grant in the school district; (2) the extent to which the applicant in the development of a plan makes use of an alternate route to certification conducted by an organization approved under the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act, P.L. 107-110; (3) the district-wide changes and district investments proposed by the district to make the most of the grant assistance; and (4) the plans for sustainability after grant assistance has ended. The commissioner shall give preference to applicants that are priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p of the general statutes, or districts in which seventy-five per cent or more of the enrolled students are members of racial or ethnic minorities.

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

(d) Each grantee shall submit, in such time and manner as the Commissioner of Education prescribes, reports and financial statements as are required by the commissioner.

(e) The Commissioner of Education shall have the authority to waive or otherwise modify state and district teacher and principal certification requirements for the selected districts to support recruitment activities.

Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) The Department of Education shall establish a competitive grant district-wide school improvement program, within available appropriations, to assist local and regional school districts in raising student achievement through the creation and implementation of district-wide school improvement plans.

(b) Grant applications shall be submitted annually to the Commissioner of Education in such time and manner as the commissioner prescribes. In determining whether to award a grant pursuant to this section and in determining the amount of the grant, the commissioner shall consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to, the following factors: (1) The results of an assessment demonstrating the need for the grant in the school district; (2) the extent to which the applicant in the development of a plan makes use of comprehensive models, best practices identified by the state education resource center established pursuant to section 10-4q of the general statutes, and formative or interim assessments to track student progress during the school year; (3) the district-wide changes and district investments proposed by the district to make the most of the grant assistance; and (4) the plans for sustainability after grant assistance ends.

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

(d) Each grantee shall submit, in such time and manner as the Commissioner of Education prescribes, such reports and financial statements as are required by the commissioner.

Sec. 7. Section 10-10a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2007):

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

[(b) The system database of student information shall not be considered a public record for the purposes of section 1-210.

(c) The department shall initiate a pilot system project not later than the 2002-2003 school year with full implementation in the school year following successful implementation of the pilot. All school districts shall participate in the system, provided the department provides for technical assistance and training of school staff in the use of the system.]

(b) Not later than November 30, 2007, the system shall be accessible to the public, with the exception of any personally identifiable student information. All files containing such information shall not be considered a public record and shall not be subject to the provisions of section 1-210.

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

(d) The constituent units of the state system of higher education shall participate, in such time and manner as prescribed by the Commissioner of Higher Education, in the state-wide public school information system described in subsection (a) of this section. Participation for purposes of this subsection shall include, but not be limited to, reporting on an annual basis on the progress of students who have graduated from public high schools in this state and who have already been assigned unique student identifiers. The constituent units shall issue the report not later than October 1, 2008, and annually thereafter.

(e) The Commissioner of Education shall provide grants pursuant to this section to support the completion of the state-wide public school information system described in subsection (a) of this section.

Sec. 8. Section 10-223e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2007):

(a) In conformance with the No Child Left Behind Act, P.L. 107-110, the Commissioner of Education shall prepare a state-wide education accountability plan, consistent with federal law and regulation. Such plan shall: [identify] (1) Identify the schools and districts in need of improvement, (2) require the development and implementation of improvement plans, [and] (3) utilize rewards and consequences, and (4) include provisions for the development and implementation of a public school rating system.

(b) Not later than February 1, 2008, the Department of Education, in consultation with representatives of public schools and school districts, shall develop guidelines for a public school accountability system. The accountability system shall include two components, (1) a progress report component, as provided in subsection (c) of this section, and (2) a quality review component, as provided in subsection (c) of this section. The public school accountability guidelines shall be made available to schools and the public not later than April 1, 2008. For the 2008-2009 school year and each school year thereafter, the Department of Education shall apply the accountability system criteria to each public school. The department shall release initial ratings based on the application of the accountability system criteria not later than December 1, 2010, and for each subsequent evaluation period, not later than each December first thereafter. Public school accountability ratings shall be made available by the Department of Education and also by each school to the public upon request. Annually, public schools shall be required to publish the accountability ratings to parents of students attending the schools.

(c) The progress report component of the Department of Education's accountability system shall provide for each public school to be measured on an annual basis by the department based on measurable improvements in individual student's performance on standardized tests in accordance with the provisions of section 10-14n, and by other objective measures as determined appropriate by the State Board of Education. The progress reports for public schools serving students in grades nine to twelve, inclusive, may include analysis of graduation rates and rates of enrollment in post-secondary institutions of higher education. Based on the accountability criteria described in this subsection, the department shall award each public school a specific rating, either an A, B, C, D or F. A rating of "A" shall be considered the highest rating and may only be awarded if the public school meets the requirements provided for in the No Child Left Behind Act, P. L. 107-110, concerning adequate yearly progress, and a rating of "F" shall be considered the lowest rating. In assigning the rating to each public school, the department shall consider a more favorable rating for a school with a demonstrated record of measurable gains for students classified as English language learners, students with disabilities and students who scored below the department's state-wide goal on a prior administration of an examination in accordance with the provisions of section 10-14n. Each public school shall be assessed against the state-wide average on such criteria, against the average scores of the school district in which the school is located, and against scores for schools with similar demographic characteristics, as determined by the department.

(d) The quality review component of the Department of Education's accountability system shall provide for each public school to be measured on an annual basis by the department based on (1) educational practices, (2) teacher and staff morale, (3) parent participation, (4) student motivation, and (5) other measures as determined appropriate by the State Board of Education. The process for quality review shall include a requirement that each public school conduct an in-depth self-evaluation in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Education, addressing the criteria for evaluation provided for in this subsection. As part of the review process, the department shall survey each staff member and student of public schools, and the parent or guardian of each such student. The survey shall include questions based on the criteria set forth in this subsection. The department shall annually publish the results of such survey. Based on the accountability criteria described in this subsection, the department shall award each public school a specific quality review rating, consisting of a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. A rating score of "1" shall be considered the highest rating, and a rating score of "5" the lowest.

(e) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Education shall pay a grant in the amount of five hundred dollars per enrolled student to the local or regional board of education for any public school that is in priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p, or local or regional boards of education of districts in which seventy-five per cent or more of the enrolled students are members of racial or ethnic minorities, that receives a progress report rating of "A" and a quality review rating of "1" in accordance with the provisions of this section. The grant shall be used by the recipient for dissemination of information to other public schools and to the local or regional school district in which the public school is located concerning best practices used by the public school to achieve such ratings, and may be used to enhance instructional practices or encourage parental participation.

[(b)] (f) Public schools identified by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-223b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2001, as schools in need of improvement [shall : (1) Continue to be identified as schools in need of improvement, and continue to operate under school improvement plans developed pursuant to said section 10-223b through June 30, 2004; (2) on or before February 1, 2003, be evaluated by the local board of education and determined to be making sufficient or insufficient progress; (3) if found to be making insufficient progress by a local board of education, be subject to a new remediation and organization plan developed by the local board of education; (4) continue to be eligible for available federal or state aid; (5) beginning in February, 2003, be monitored by the Department of Education for adequate yearly progress, as defined in the state accountability plan prepared in accordance with subsection (a) of this section; and (6) be subject to rewards and consequences as defined in said plan] for less than four years or public schools that have received progress report ratings of "D" or "F" and quality review ratings of "4" or "5" according to the Department of Education's public school rating system for two consecutive years, may request assistance from the Commissioner of Education that includes: (1) A consultant team from the Department of Education, (2) assistance with the development of a plan to address achievement gaps and improve student performance, (3) review of school and district curricula, and (4) professional development opportunities for the schools including workshops for school administrators and teachers.

(g) The Commissioner of Education shall require public schools identified by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-223b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2001, as schools in need of improvement for four years or more, or public schools that have received progress report ratings of "D" or "F" and quality review ratings of "4" or "5" according to the Department of Education's public school rating system for two consecutive years to conduct a performance appraisal, including an assessment of instructional, financial and operational deficiencies. If the commissioner determines it to be necessary, the commissioner shall require the school to purchase and implement new curricula, provide acceptable professional development opportunities and prepare a plan to encourage extensive parent participation. The commissioner may direct how such school expends its funding and require redirection to critical academic areas. The commissioner may require such school to work with the exclusive bargaining representatives of its teachers and administrators and its board of education to provide financial incentives to high performing teachers or reassign teachers and principals to different schools.

(h) (1) Any school district identified as in need of improvement pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and requiring corrective action pursuant to the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, P.L. 107-110, shall be designated and listed as an underperforming school district and shall be subject to intensified supervision and direction by the State Board of Education.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision of title 10 or any regulation adopted pursuant to said statutes, in carrying out the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection the State Board of Education may take the following actions to improve student performance and remove the school district from the list of districts designated and listed as an underperforming school district pursuant to said subdivision (1), and to address other needs of the district: (A) Require an operations audit to identify possible programmatic savings and an instructional audit to identify any achievement and climate deficiencies of the district; (B) require the local or regional board of education for such district to use state and federal funds for critical needs as directed by the State Board of Education; (C) consult with the local bargaining units of the teachers and principals hired by the district to provide incentives to attract highly qualified teachers and principals; (D) consult with the local bargaining units of the teachers and principals hired by the district to direct the transfer and assignment of teachers and principals; (E) require additional training and technical assistance for teachers, principals and central office staff members hired by the district; (F) require the local or regional board of education for the district to implement curriculum approved by the Department of Education; (G) identify schools within the district for reconstitution as state or local charter schools, or for management by an entity other than the local or regional board of education for the district in which the school is located; (H) direct the local or regional board of education for the district to develop and implement a plan addressing deficits in achievement and climate as recommended in the instructional audit; (I) assign a technical assistance team to the district to guide district initiatives and report progress to the Commissioner of Education; (J) develop benchmarks for the district to meet as it progresses toward removal from the list of underperforming school districts; and (K) provide funding to any district that borders a district designated as an underperforming school district so that students in a school in the third year of improvement within the underperforming district may attend public school in a neighboring district.

(i) If after intervention by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to the provisions of this subsection and subsections (g) and (h) of this section a school or district does not improve, the commissioner may: (1) Reconstitute the school, including consideration of private entity, charter school, pilot school or other district management, (2) replace school leadership, including boards of education, superintendents, principals and teachers, (3) redirect funding so students can attend school in another district, and (4) take over the school or district.

(j) Prior to taking over a school or district, the Commissioner of Education shall seek and receive approval from the Governor and the General Assembly for such action.

Sec. 9. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of five hundred thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Education, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, for the development of the program under section 3 of this act.

Sec. 10. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of seven million dollars is appropriated to the Department of Education, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, one million of which shall be for implementation of the program under section 3 of this act and six million of which shall be for grants for no more than three pilot schools under said section 3.

Sec. 11. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of five hundred thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Education, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, for the development of the program under section 4 of this act.

Sec. 12. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of seven million dollars is appropriated to the Department of Education, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, one million of which shall be for implementation of the program under section 4 of this act and six million of which shall be for grants to no more than three school districts under said section 4.

Sec. 13. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of five hundred thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Education, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, for the development of the program under section 5 of this act.

Sec. 14. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of seven million dollars is appropriated to the Department of Education, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, one million of which shall be for implementation of the program under section 5 of this act and six million of which shall be for grants to no more than three school districts under said section 5.

Sec. 15. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of five hundred thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Education, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, for the development of the program under section 6 of this act.

Sec. 16. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of six million dollars is appropriated to the Department of Education, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, two million of which shall be for implementation of the program under section 6 of this act and six million of which shall be for grants to no more than three school districts under said section 6.

Statement of Purpose:

To provide for new competitive grants for preschool subsidies and improvements to schools and school districts, to enhance the public school information system and to provide for a new accountability system for public schools.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]