House Bill No. 6989

Public Act No. 05-245

AN ACT CONCERNING EDUCATION IMPLEMENTER PROVISIONS.

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

Section 1. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 10-16p of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(a) As used in sections 10-16o to [10-16r] 10-16s, inclusive, as amended by this act, 10-16u, 17b-749a, as amended by this act, and 17b-749c, as amended by this act:

(1) "School readiness program" means a nonsectarian program that (A) meets the standards set by the department pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and the requirements of section 10-16q, as amended by this act, and (B) provides a developmentally appropriate learning experience of not less than four hundred fifty hours and one hundred eighty days for eligible children, except as provided in subsection (d) of [said] section 10-16q;

(2) "Eligible children" means children three and four years of age and children five years of age who are not eligible to enroll in school pursuant to section 10-15c, or who are eligible to enroll in school and will attend a school readiness program pursuant to section 10-16t;

(3) "Priority school" means a school in which forty per cent or more of the lunches served are served to students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches pursuant to federal law and regulations, excluding such a school located in a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p or in a former priority school district receiving a grant pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and, on and after July 1, 2001, excluding such a school in a transitional school district receiving a grant pursuant to section 10-16u;

(4) "Severe need school" means a school in a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p or in a former priority school district in which forty per cent or more of the lunches served are served to students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches;

(5) "Accredited" means accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a Head Start on-site program review instrument or a successor instrument pursuant to federal regulations, or otherwise meeting such criteria as may be established by the commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Services;

(6) "Year-round" means fifty weeks per year, except as provided in subsection (d) of section 10-16q;

(7) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Education; and

(8) "Department" means the Department of Education.

(b) The Department of Education shall be the lead agency for school readiness. For purposes of this section and section 10-16u, school readiness program providers eligible for funding from the Department of Education shall include local and regional boards of education, regional educational service centers, family resource centers and providers of child day care centers, as defined in section 19a-77, Head Start programs, preschool programs and other programs that meet such standards established by the Commissioner of Education. The department shall establish standards for school readiness programs. The standards may include, but need not be limited to, guidelines for staff-child interactions, curriculum content, including preliteracy development, lesson plans, parent involvement, staff qualifications and training, transition to school and administration. The department shall develop age-appropriate developmental skills and goals for children attending such programs. The commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioners of Higher Education and Social Services and other appropriate entities, shall develop a continuing education training program for the staff of school readiness programs. For purposes of this section, [on and after July 1, 2004] prior to July 1, 2015, "staff qualifications" means there is in each classroom an individual who has at least the following: (1) A credential issued by an organization approved by the Commissioner of Education and nine credits or more, and on and after July 1, 2005, twelve credits or more, in early childhood education or child development from an institution of higher education accredited by the Board of Governors of Higher Education or regionally accredited; (2) an associate's degree with nine credits or more, and on and after July 1, 2005, twelve credits or more, in early childhood education or child development from such an institution; (3) a four-year degree with nine credits or more, and on and after July 1, 2005, twelve credits or more, in early childhood education or child development from such an institution; or (4) certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an endorsement in early childhood education or special education, and on and after July 1, 2015, "staff qualifications" means there is in each classroom an individual who has at least the following: (A) A bachelor's degree in early childhood education or childhood development, or in a related field approved by the Commissioner of Education from an institution of higher education accredited by the Board of Governors of Higher Education or regionally accredited; or (B) certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an endorsement in early childhood education or special education.

Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 10-16r of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(a) A town seeking to apply for a grant pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-16p or section 10-16u shall convene a local school readiness council or shall establish a regional school readiness council pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Any other town may convene such a council. The chief elected official of the town or, in the case of a regional school district, the chief elected officials of the towns in the school district and the superintendent of schools for the school district shall jointly appoint and convene such council. Each school readiness council shall be composed of: (1) The chief elected official, or the official's designee; (2) the superintendent of schools, or a management level staff person as the superintendent's designee; (3) parents; (4) representatives from local programs such as Head Start, family resource centers, nonprofit and for-profit child day care centers, group day care homes, prekindergarten and nursery schools, and family day care home providers; [and] (5) a representative from a health care provider in the community; and (6) other representatives from the community who provide services to children. The chief elected official shall designate the chairperson of the school readiness council.

Sec. 3. Section 10-16s of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(a) The Commissioners of Education and Social Services shall develop an agreement to define the duties and responsibilities of their departments concerning school readiness programs. The commissioners shall consult with other affected state agencies and with the Early Childhood Education Cabinet. The agreement shall include, but not be limited to, a multiyear interagency agreement to establish and implement an integrated school readiness plan. Functions to be described and responsibilities to be undertaken by the two departments shall be delineated in the agreement.

(b) (1) There shall be an Early Childhood Education Cabinet. The cochairpersons of the cabinet shall be the Governor, or the Governor's designee, and the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee. The cabinet shall consist of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management or the secretary's designee, the Commissioners of Social Services, Higher Education, Public Health, Children and Families and Mental Retardation or the commissioners' designees, the cochairpersons of each of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and human services or the cochairpersons' designees, the executive director of the Commission on Children, or the director's designee, and one person representing a local or regional school readiness council appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, and a representative of the Connecticut Head Start Association appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) Within available appropriations, the Early Childhood Education Cabinet shall (A) advise the Commissioner of Education on policies and initiatives to meet the goals established in section 10-16o, (B) conduct a state-wide longitudinal evaluation of the school readiness program in consultation with the Department of Social Services and the Department of Education, (C) develop budget requests for the early childhood program, and (D) promote consistency of quality and comprehensiveness of early childhood services.

[(b)] (c) On or before January 1, 2000, the commissioners shall adopt assessment measures for use by school readiness programs in conducting their annual evaluations pursuant to section 10-16q, as amended by this act. The commissioners may adopt the assessment measures used for Head Start programs.

Sec. 4. Subsection (c) of section 17b-749c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(c) The grants shall be used to:

(1) Help providers who are not accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children to obtain such accreditation;

(2) Help directors and administrators to obtain training;

(3) Provide comprehensive services, such as enhanced access to health care, a health consultant, a mental health consultant, nutrition, family support services, parent education, literacy and parental involvement, and community and home outreach programs; and provide information concerning access when needed to a speech and language therapist;

(4) Purchase educational equipment;

(5) Provide scholarships for training to obtain [a child development associate certificate] a credential in early childhood education or child development;

(6) Provide training for persons who are mentor teachers, as defined in federal regulations for the Head Start program, and provide a family service coordinator or a family service worker as such positions are defined in such federal regulations;

(7) Repair fire, health and safety problems in existing facilities and conduct minor remodeling to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act; train child care providers on injury and illness prevention; and achieve compliance with national safety standards;

(8) Create a supportive network with family day care homes and other providers of care for children;

(9) Provide for educational consultation and staff development;

(10) Provide for program quality assurance personnel;

(11) Provide technical assistance services to enable providers to develop child care facilities pursuant to sections 17b-749g, 17b-749h and 17b-749i, as amended by this act; [or]

(12) Establish a single point of entry system;

(13) Provide services that enhance the quality of programs to maximize the health, safety and learning of children from birth to three years of age, inclusive, including, but not limited to, those children served by informal child care arrangements. Such grants may be used for the improvement of staff to child ratios and interaction, initiatives to promote staff retention, preliteracy development, parent involvement, curriculum content and lesson plans.

Sec. 5. Subsection (c) of section 10a-194h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(c) Participating qualified nonprofit organizations may borrow money from the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority for any preschool project for which the authority is authorized to make loans pursuant to this section. In connection with such borrowing, participating qualified nonprofit organizations may enter into any loan or other agreement and make such covenants, representations and indemnities as such participating qualified nonprofit organization deems necessary or desirable to obtain such loans from the authority or to facilitate the issue of bonds by the authority to finance such loans, including agreements with providers of letters of credit, insurance or other credit facilities for such financings. The Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Social Services and the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, shall establish priorities for financing facilities based on need and quality determinants.

Sec. 6. Subsection (e) of section 10-285a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(e) If an elementary school building project for a new building or for the expansion of an existing building includes space for a school readiness program, the percentage determined pursuant to this section shall be increased by five percentage points, but shall not exceed one hundred per cent, for the portion of the building used primarily for such purpose. Recipient districts shall maintain full-day preschool enrollment for at least ten years.

Sec. 7. Subsection (h) of section 10-285a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(h) Subject to the provisions of section 10-285d, if an elementary school building project for a school in a priority school district or for a priority school is necessary in order to offer a full-day kindergarten program or a full-day preschool program or to reduce class size pursuant to section 10-265f, the percentage determined pursuant to this section shall be increased by ten percentage points for the portion of the building used primarily for such full-day kindergarten program, full-day preschool program or such reduced size classes. Recipient districts that receive an increase pursuant to this subsection in support of a full-day preschool program, shall maintain full-day preschool enrollment for at least ten years.

Sec. 8. Subsection (b) of section 10-16q of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(b) [The] (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 [four hundred] 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.

(3) 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. 9. Section 10-14n of the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (h) as follows (Effective July 1, 2005):

(NEW) (h) Within available appropriations, the Commissioner of Education shall, not later than October 1, 2009, develop and implement a state-wide developmentally appropriate kindergarten assessment tool that measures a child's level of preparedness for kindergarten.

Sec. 10. Subsection (d) of section 10-16p of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(d) (1) The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Services, shall establish a competitive grant program to provide spaces in accredited school readiness programs for eligible children who reside in an area served by a priority school or a former priority school as provided for in subdivision (2) of this subsection or in a town ranked one to [twenty-eight] fifty when all towns are ranked in ascending order according to town wealth, as defined in subdivision (26) of section 10-262f, whose school district is not a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p. A town in which such a school is located or a regional school readiness council, pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-16r, for a region in which such a school is located may apply for such a grant in an amount not to exceed one hundred seven thousand dollars per priority school. Eligibility shall be determined for a five-year period based on an applicant's designation as having a priority school for the initial year of application. Grant awards shall be made annually contingent upon available funding and a satisfactory annual evaluation. The chief elected official of such town and the superintendent of schools of the school district or the regional school readiness council shall submit a plan, as described in subsection (c) of this section, for the expenditure of such grant funds to the Department of Education. In awarding grants pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner shall give preference to applications submitted by regional school readiness councils and may, within available appropriations, provide a grant in excess of one hundred seven thousand dollars to towns with two or more priority schools in such district. A town or regional school readiness council awarded a grant pursuant to this subsection shall use the funds to purchase spaces for such children from providers of accredited school readiness programs.

(2) (A) Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, if a town received a grant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection for a priority school and is no longer eligible to receive such a grant for such school, the town may receive a phase-out grant for each of the three fiscal years following the fiscal year such town received its final grant for such school pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(B) The amount of such phase-out grants shall be determined as follows: (i) For the first fiscal year following the fiscal year such town received its final priority school grant for such school pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, in an amount that does not exceed seventy-five per cent of the grant amount such town received for such school for the school's final year of eligibility pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection; (ii) for the second fiscal year following the fiscal year such town received its final priority school grant for such school pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, in an amount that does not exceed fifty per cent of the grant amount such town received for such school for the school's final year of eligibility pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection; (iii) for the third fiscal year following the fiscal year such town received its final priority school grant for such school pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, in an amount that does not exceed twenty-five per cent of the grant amount such town received for such school for the school's final year of eligibility pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection.

Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2005) Within available appropriations, the Commissioner of Education shall provide technical assistance and training to school readiness programs to assist in the application of preschool curriculum guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education.

Sec. 12. (Effective from passage) The early childhood education center at Eastern Connecticut State University shall work with local and regional school readiness councils to address their childcare and early education needs. The university shall report to the Department of Education on the results of such work.

Sec. 13. Subsection (d) of section 10-76g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, [and June 30, 2005] to June 30, 2007, inclusive, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this section, except grants paid in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section, as amended by this act, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2006, and June 30, 2007, shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this section for such year.

Sec. 14. Section 10-217a of the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (h) as follows (Effective July 1, 2005):

(NEW) (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2006, and June 30, 2007, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this section shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for purposes of this section.

Sec. 15. Subsection (b) of section 10-281 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, [and June 30, 2005] to June 30, 2007, inclusive, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this section shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for purposes of this section.

Sec. 16. Subsection (d) of section 10-71 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, [and June 30, 2005] to June 30, 2007, inclusive, the amount of the grants payable to towns, regional boards of education or regional educational service centers in accordance with this section shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this section for such year.

Sec. 17. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 10-266m of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, [and June 30, 2005] to June 30, 2007, inclusive, the amount of transportation grants payable to local or regional boards of education shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for such grants for such year.

Sec. 18. Subsection (e) of section 10-76d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(e) (1) Any local or regional board of education which provides special education pursuant to any mandates in this section shall provide transportation, to and from, but not beyond the curb of, the residence of the child, unless otherwise agreed upon by the board and the parent or guardian of the child, tuition, room and board and other items as are necessary to the provision of such special education except for children who are placed in a residential facility because of the need for services other than educational services, in which case the financial responsibility of the school district and payment to such district shall be limited to the reasonable costs of special education instruction as defined in the regulations of the State Board of Education. If a hearing board, pursuant to subsection (d) of section 10-76h, rejects the educational program prescribed by the local or regional board of education and determines that a placement by a parent or guardian was appropriate, the local or regional board of education shall reimburse the parent or guardian for the reasonable costs incurred for the provision of special education pursuant to this section from the initiation of review procedures as provided by said section 10-76h.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, "public agency" includes the offices of a government of a federally recognized Native American tribe. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the general statutes, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1987, and each fiscal year thereafter, whenever a public agency, other than a local or regional board of education, the State Board of Education or the Superior Court acting pursuant to section 10-76h, places a child in a foster home, group home, hospital, state institution, receiving home, custodial institution or any other residential or day treatment facility, and such child requires special education, the local or regional board of education under whose jurisdiction the child would otherwise be attending school or, if no such board can be identified, the local or regional board of education of the town where the child is placed, shall provide the requisite special education and related services to such child in accordance with the provisions of this section. Within one business day of such a placement by the Department of Children and Families or offices of a government of a federally recognized Native American tribe, said department or offices shall orally notify the local or regional board of education responsible for providing special education and related services to such child of such placement. The department or offices shall provide written notification to such board of such placement within two business days of the placement. Such local or regional board of education shall convene a planning and placement team meeting for such child within thirty days of the placement and shall invite a representative of the Department of Children and Families or offices of a government of a federally recognized Native American tribe to participate in such meeting. (A) The local or regional board of education under whose jurisdiction such child would otherwise be attending school shall be financially responsible for the reasonable costs of such special education and related services in an amount equal to the lesser of one hundred per cent of the costs of such education or the average per pupil educational costs of such board of education for the prior fiscal year, determined in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 10-76f. The State Board of Education shall pay on a current basis, except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, any costs in excess of such local or regional board's basic contributions paid by such board of education in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision. (B) Whenever a child is placed pursuant to this subdivision, on or after July 1, 1995, by the Department of Children and Families and the local or regional board of education under whose jurisdiction such child would otherwise be attending school cannot be identified, the local or regional board of education under whose jurisdiction the child attended school or in whose district the child resided at the time of removal from the home by said department shall be responsible for the reasonable costs of special education and related services provided to such child, for one calendar year or until the child is committed to the state pursuant to section 46b-129 or 46b-140 or is returned to the child's parent or guardian, whichever is earlier. If the child remains in such placement beyond one calendar year the Department of Children and Families shall be responsible for such costs. During the period the local or regional board of education is responsible for the reasonable cost of special education and related services pursuant to this subparagraph, the board shall be responsible for such costs in an amount equal to the lesser of one hundred per cent of the costs of such education and related services or the average per pupil educational costs of such board of education for the prior fiscal year, determined in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 10-76f. The State Board of Education shall pay on a current basis, except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, any costs in excess of such local or regional board's basic contributions paid by such board of education in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision. The costs for services other than educational shall be paid by the state agency which placed the child. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to the school districts established within the Department of Children and Families, pursuant to section 17a-37, the Department of Correction, pursuant to section 18-99a, or the Department of Mental Retardation, pursuant to section 17a-240, provided in any case in which special education is being provided at a private residential institution, including the residential components of regional educational service centers, to a child for whom no local or regional board of education can be found responsible under subsection (b) of this section, Unified School District #2 shall provide the special education and related services and be financially responsible for the reasonable costs of such special education instruction for such children. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, [and June 30, 2005] to June 30, 2007, inclusive, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this subdivision shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this subdivision for such year.

(3) Payment for children who require special education and who reside on state-owned or leased property or in permanent family residences as defined in section 17a-154, and who are not the educational responsibility of the unified school districts established pursuant to section 17a-37, section 17a-240 or section 18-99a, shall be made in the following manner: The State Board of Education shall pay to the school district which is responsible for providing instruction for each such child pursuant to the provisions of this subsection one hundred per cent of the reasonable costs of such instruction. In the fiscal year following such payment, the State Board of Education shall deduct from the special education grant due the local or regional board of education under whose jurisdiction the child would otherwise be attending school, where such board has been identified, the amount for which such board would otherwise have been financially responsible pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection. No such deduction shall be made for any school district which is responsible for providing special education instruction for children whose parents or legal guardians do not reside within such district. The amount deducted shall be included as a net cost of special education by the Department of Education for purposes of the state's special education grant calculated pursuant to section 10-76g. A school district otherwise eligible for reimbursement under the provisions of this subdivision for the costs of education of a child residing in a permanent family residence shall continue to be so eligible in the event that a person providing foster care in such residence adopts the child. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, and June 30, 2005, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this subdivision shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this subdivision for such year.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall provide regular education and special education and related services to eligible residents in facilities operated by the department who are eighteen to twenty-one years of age. In the case of a resident who requires special education, the department shall provide the requisite identification and evaluation of such resident in accordance with the provisions of this section. The department shall be financially responsible for the provision of educational services to eligible residents. The Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Children and Families and Education shall develop and implement an interagency agreement which specifies the role of each agency in ensuring the provision of appropriate education services to eligible residents in accordance with this section. The State Board of Education shall pay to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services one hundred per cent of the reasonable costs of such educational services provided to eligible residents of such facilities. Payment shall be made by the board as follows: Eighty-five per cent of the estimated cost in July and the adjusted balance in May.

(5) Application for the grant to be paid by the state for costs in excess of the local or regional board of education's basic contribution shall be made by such board of education by filing with the State Board of Education, in such manner as prescribed by the Commissioner of Education, annually on or before December first a statement of the cost of providing special education, as defined in subdivision (2) of this subsection, for a child of the board placed by a state agency in accordance with the provisions of said subdivision or, where appropriate, a statement of the cost of providing educational services other than special educational services pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of section 10-253, provided a board of education may submit, not later than March first, claims for additional children or costs not included in the December filing. Payment by the state for such excess costs shall be made to the local or regional board of education as follows: Seventy-five per cent of the cost in February and the balance in May. The amount due each town pursuant to the provisions of this subsection and the amount due to each town as tuition from other towns pursuant to this section shall be paid to the treasurer of each town entitled to such aid, provided the treasurer shall treat such grant or tuition received, or a portion of such grant or tuition, which relates to special education expenditures incurred pursuant to subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection in excess of such board's budgeted estimate of such expenditures, as a reduction in expenditures by crediting such expenditure account, rather than town revenue. The state shall notify the local or regional board of education when payments are made to the treasurer of the town pursuant to this subdivision.

Sec. 19. Subsection (a) of section 10-76g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(a) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, and each fiscal year thereafter, in any case in which special education is being provided at a private residential institution, including the residential components of regional educational service centers, to a child for whom no local or regional board of education can be found responsible under subsection (b) of section 10-76d, the Department of Children and Families shall pay the costs of special education to such institution pursuant to its authority under sections 17a-1 to 17a-26, inclusive, 17a-28 to 17a-50, inclusive, and 17a-52. (2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, and each fiscal year thereafter, any local or regional board of education which provides special education and related services for any child (A) who is placed by a [state] public agency, including, but not limited to, offices of a government of a federally recognized Native American tribe, in a private residential facility or who is placed in a facility or institution operated by the Department of Children and Families and who receives such special education at a program operated by a regional education service center or program operated by a local or regional board of education, and (B) for whom no local or regional board of education can be found responsible under subsection (b) of section 10-76d, shall be eligible to receive one hundred per cent of the reasonable costs of special education for such child as defined in the regulations of the State Board of Education. Any such board eligible for payment shall file with the Department of Education, in such manner as prescribed by the Commissioner of Education, annually, on or before December first a statement of the cost of providing special education for such child, provided a board of education may submit, not later than March first, claims for additional children or costs not included in the December filing. Payment by the state for such costs shall be made to the local or regional board of education as follows: Seventy-five per cent of the cost in February and the balance in May.

Sec. 20. Section 10-253 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(a) Children placed out by the Commissioner of Children and Families or by other agencies or persons, including offices of a government of a federally recognized Native American tribe, private child-caring or child-placing agencies licensed by the Department of Children and Families, and eligible residents of facilities operated by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or by the Department of Public Health who are eighteen to twenty-one years of age, shall be entitled to all free school privileges of the school district where they then reside as a result of such placement, except as provided in subdivision (4) of subsection (e) of section 10-76d. Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section and subdivision (4) of subsection (e) of section 10-76d, payment for such education shall be made by the board of education of the school district under whose jurisdiction such child would otherwise be attending school where such a school district is identified.

(b) The board of education of the school district under whose jurisdiction a child would otherwise be attending school shall be financially responsible for the reasonable costs of education for a child placed out by the Commissioner of Children and Families or by other agencies, including, but not limited to, offices of a government of a federally recognized Native American tribe, in a private residential facility when such child requires educational services other than special education services. Such financial responsibility shall be the lesser of one hundred per cent of the costs of such education or the average per pupil educational costs of such board of education for the prior fiscal year, determined in accordance with subsection (a) of section 10-76f. Any costs in excess of the boards' basic contribution shall be paid by the State Board of Education on a current basis. The costs for services other than educational shall be paid by the state agency which placed the child. Application for the grant to be paid by the state for costs in excess of the local or regional board of education's basic contribution shall be made in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (5) of subsection (e) of section 10-76d. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, [and June 30, 2005] to June 30, 2007, inclusive, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this subsection shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this subsection for such year.

(c) No board of education shall be required to provide school accommodations for any child whose legal residence is in another state unless the board has entered into an agreement concerning the provision of educational services and programs with the state or local educational agency of such state responsible for educating the child, the facility where the child is placed or the parent or guardian placing such child, and provided that a bond, in a sum equal to the tuition payable for such child, issued by a surety company authorized to do business in this state and conditioned upon the payment of tuition at the rate established by the board, shall be filed with the treasurer of the school district in which such child is attending school by the parent or guardian or other person or organization in control of such child.

(d) Children residing with relatives or nonrelatives, when it is the intention of such relatives or nonrelatives and of the children or their parents or guardians that such residence is to be permanent, provided without pay and not for the sole purpose of obtaining school accommodations, and, for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1981, and each fiscal year thereafter, children not requiring special education who are residing in any facility or home as a result of a placement by a public agency, including, but not limited to, offices of a government of a federally recognized Native American tribe, other than a local or regional board of education, and except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, shall be entitled to all free school privileges accorded to resident children of the school district in which they then reside. A local or regional board of education may require documentation from the parent or guardian, the relative or nonrelative, emancipated minor or pupil eighteen years of age or older that the residence is to be permanent, provided without pay and not for the sole purpose of obtaining school accommodations provided by the school district. Such documentation may include affidavits, provided that prior to any request for documentation of a child's residency from the child's parent or guardian, relative or nonrelative, or emancipated minor or pupil eighteen years of age or older, the board of education shall provide the parent or guardian, relative or nonrelative, emancipated minor or pupil eighteen years of age or older with a written statement specifying the basis upon which the board has reason to believe that such child, emancipated minor or pupil eighteen years of age or older is not entitled to school accommodations.

(e) (1) For purposes of this subsection:

(A) "Temporary shelters" means facilities which provide emergency shelter for a specified, limited period of time, and

(B) "Educational costs" means the reasonable costs of providing regular or, except as otherwise provided, special education, but in no event shall such costs exceed the average per pupil cost for regular education students or the actual cost of providing special education for special education students.

(2) Children in temporary shelters shall be entitled to free school privileges from either the school district in which the shelter is located or the school district in which the child would otherwise reside, if not for the need for temporary shelter. Upon notification from the school district in which the temporary shelter is located, the school district in which the child would otherwise reside, if identified, shall either pay tuition to the school district in which the temporary shelter is located for the child to attend school in that district or shall continue to provide educational services, including transportation, to such child. If the school district where the child would otherwise reside cannot be identified, the school district in which the temporary shelter is located shall be financially responsible for the educational costs for such child, except that in the case of a child who requires special education and related services and is placed by the Department of Children and Families in a temporary shelter on or after July 1, 1995, the school district in which the child resided immediately prior to such placement or the Department of Children and Families shall be responsible for the cost of such special education and related services, to the extent such board or department is responsible for such costs under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 10-76d. If the school district where the child would otherwise reside declines to provide free school privileges, the school district where the temporary shelter is located shall provide free school privileges and may recover tuition from the school district where the child would otherwise reside. In the case of children requiring special education who have been placed in out-of-district programs by either a board of education or state agency, the school district in which the child would otherwise reside shall continue to be responsible for the child's education until such time as a new residence is established, notwithstanding the fact that the child or child's family resides in a temporary shelter.

(f) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, educational services shall be provided by each local and regional board of education to homeless children and youths in accordance with the provisions of 42 USC 11431, et seq. , as amended from time to time.

Sec. 21. Subsection (b) of section 10-66cc of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(b) The governing council of each charter school shall submit annually, to the Commissioner of Education, at such time and in such manner as [he] the commissioner prescribes, and, in the case of a local charter school, to the local or regional board of education for the school district in which the school is located, a report on the condition of the school, including (1) the educational progress of students in the school, (2) the financial condition of the school, including a certified audit statement of all revenues and expenditures, (3) accomplishment of the mission, purpose and any specialized focus of the charter school, [and] (4) the racial and ethnic composition of the student body and efforts taken to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of the student body, and (5) best practices employed by the school that contribute significantly to the academic success of students.

Sec. 22. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2005) The Department of Education shall, annually, publish a report on all of the best practices reported by governing councils of charter schools pursuant to subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of section 10-66cc of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and distribute a copy of such report to each public school superintendent and the governing council of each charter school.

Sec. 23. Section 10-76n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(a) The State Board of Education shall continue to maintain the special education resource center, with federal funds granted to the state for the maintenance of said center under the provisions of the federal Education for the Handicapped Act, for purposes consistent with the provisions of said act as it may from time to time be amended. The Commissioner of Education is authorized to accept any federal funds allotted to the state for such purposes and shall administer such funds in accordance with federal law.

(b) The special education resource center described in subsection (a) of this section may be conducted by the state education resource center, established pursuant to section 24 of this act, as part of its program of activities.

Sec. 24. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2005) (a) The State Board of Education shall establish a state education resource center to assist the board in the provision of programs and activities that will promote educational equity and excellence. Such activities, to be provided by the state education resource center or a regional educational service center, may include training and continuing education seminars, publication of technical materials, research and evaluation, and other related activities. The center may support programs and activities concerning early childhood education, the federal No Child Left Behind Act, P. L. 107-110, and closing the academic achievement gap between socio-economic subgroups, and other related programs.

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

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

Sec. 25. Subsection (c) of section 10-264l of the general statutes, as amended by section 3 of public act 05-2, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(c) (1) The maximum amount each interdistrict magnet school program shall be eligible to receive per enrolled student shall be determined as follows: (A) For each participating district whose magnet school program enrollment is equal to or less than thirty per cent of the magnet school program total enrollment, ninety per cent of the foundation as defined in subdivision (9) of section 10-262f; (B) for each participating district whose magnet school program enrollment is greater than thirty per cent but less than or equal to sixty per cent of the magnet school program total enrollment, a percentage between sixty and ninety per cent of said foundation that is inversely proportional to the percentage of magnet school program students from such district; and (C) for each participating district whose magnet school program enrollment is greater than sixty per cent but less than or equal to ninety per cent of the magnet school program total enrollment, a percentage between zero and sixty per cent of said foundation that is inversely proportional to the percentage of magnet school program students from such district. The amounts so determined shall be proportionately adjusted, if necessary, within the limit of the available appropriation, and in no case shall any grant pursuant to this section exceed the reasonable operating budget of the magnet school program, less revenues from other sources. Any magnet school program operating less than full-time but at least half-time shall be eligible to receive a grant equal to sixty-five per cent of the grant amount determined pursuant to this subsection.

(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, [2005] 2003, and each fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner may, within available appropriations, provide supplemental grants for the purposes of enhancing educational programs in such interdistrict magnet schools as the commissioner determines. Such grants shall be made after the commissioner has reviewed and approved the total operating budget for such schools, including all revenue and expenditure estimates.

Sec. 26. Subsection (h) of section 10-76f of the general statutes, as amended by section 1 of public act 05-13, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(h) "Net cost of special education" means the result obtained by subtracting from the expenditures made by a claimant board for special education personnel, equipment, materials, tuition, transportation, rent and consultant services, (1) the total amount of any funds from other state or federal grants, private grants or special education tuition received by the board or town in such year and used to implement special education programs approved pursuant to said sections, (2) the total amount of any funds from Medicaid payments [received by] expended by the board in such year [pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-76d] and used to implement special education programs, and (3) expenditures for special education provided to children requiring special education who are described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (5) of section 10-76a.

Sec. 27. Section 10-266p of the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (f) as follows (Effective July 1, 2005):

(NEW) (f) In addition to the amounts allocated in subsection (a), and subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of this section, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, the State Board of Education shall allocate two million thirty-nine thousand six hundred eighty six dollars to the towns that rank one to three, inclusive, in population pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (a), and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, the State Board of Education shall allocate two million six hundred ten thousand seven hundred ninety-eight dollars to the towns that rank one to three, inclusive, in population pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (a).

Sec. 28. Subsection (e) of section 10-16p of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(e) (1) Priority school districts and former priority school districts shall receive grants based on their proportional share of the sum of the products obtained by multiplying the average number of enrolled kindergarten students in each priority school district and in each former priority school district for the three years prior to the year the grant is to be paid, by the ratio of the average percentage of free and reduced price meals for all severe need schools in such district to the minimum percentage requirement for severe need school eligibility, provided no such school district shall receive a grant that is less than the grant it received for the prior fiscal year, including any supplemental grants received in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, or a grant that is less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars.

(2) The Department of Education may retain up to five-tenths of one per cent of the amount appropriated for purposes of this section for coordination, program evaluation and administration.

(3) If a town that is eligible for a grant pursuant to subsection (c) of this section does not submit, by October first, a plan which is subsequently approved for the expenditure of the entire amount of funds for which such town is eligible, the department may use up to seventy per cent of any amounts such town has not earmarked for expenditure, to provide supplemental grants to other towns that are eligible for grants pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and the remaining thirty per cent of any amounts such town has not earmarked for expenditure, for school readiness professional development, including, but not limited to, scholarship assistance for school readiness staff to attain early childhood education certification and staff training to enhance literacy teaching skills.

Sec. 29. Subdivision (9) of section 10-262f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(9) "Foundation" means (A) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1990, three thousand nine hundred eighteen dollars, (B) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1991, four thousand one hundred ninety-two dollars, (C) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, four thousand four hundred eighty-six dollars, (D) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1993, June 30, 1994, and June 30, 1995, four thousand eight hundred dollars, (E) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, June 30, 1997, and June 30, 1998, five thousand seven hundred eleven dollars, (F) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, five thousand seven hundred seventy-five dollars, and (G) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, to June 30, [2005] 2007, inclusive, five thousand eight hundred ninety-one dollars.

Sec. 30. Subsection (d) of section 10-262j of the general statutes is amended by adding subdivision (12) as follows (Effective July 1, 2005):

(12) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, the regular program expenditures of a town shall be no less than the sum of (A) its minimum expenditure requirement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, (B) its aid increase pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and (C) if the resident student count for October 2004, is less than the resident student count for October 2003, the result obtained by multiplying the difference between the town's resident student count for October 2004, using the data of record as of December 1, 2004, and the town's resident student count for October 2003, using the data of record as of December 1, 2003, by one-half of the foundation.

Sec. 31. Section 10-262i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1990, and for each fiscal year thereafter, each town shall be paid a grant equal to the amount the town is entitled to receive under the provisions of section 10-262h, as calculated using the data of record as of the December first prior to the fiscal year such grant is to be paid, adjusted for the difference between the final entitlement for the prior fiscal year and the preliminary entitlement for such fiscal year as calculated using the data of record as of the December first prior to the fiscal year when such grant was paid.

(b) The amount due each town pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be paid by the Comptroller, upon certification of the Commissioner of Education, to the treasurer of each town entitled to such aid in installments during the fiscal year as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the grant in October, twenty-five per cent of the grant in January and the balance of the grant in April. The balance of the grant due towns under the provision of this subsection shall be paid in March rather than April to any town which has not adopted the uniform fiscal year and which would not otherwise receive such final payment within the fiscal year of such town.

(c) All aid distributed to a town pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be expended for educational purposes only and shall be expended upon the authorization of the local or regional board of education. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, and each fiscal year thereafter, if a town receives an increase in funds pursuant to this section over the amount it received for the prior fiscal year such increase shall not be used to supplant local funding for educational purposes. The budgeted appropriation for education in any town receiving an increase in funds pursuant to this section shall be not less than the amount appropriated for education for the prior year plus such increase in funds.

(d) Upon a determination by the State Board of Education that a town or kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, regional school district failed in any fiscal year to meet the requirements pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the town or kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, regional school district shall forfeit an amount equal to two times the amount of the shortfall. The amount so forfeited shall be withheld by the Department of Education from the grant payable to the town in the second fiscal year immediately following such failure by deducting such amount from the town's equalization aid grant payment pursuant to this section, except that in the case of a kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, regional school district, the amount so forfeited shall be withheld by the Department of Education from the grants payable pursuant to this section to the towns which are members of such regional school district. The amounts deducted from such grants to each member town shall be proportional to the number of resident students in each member town. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the State Board of Education may waive such forfeiture upon agreement with the town or kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, regional school district that the town or kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, regional school district shall increase its budgeted appropriation during the fiscal year in which the forfeiture would occur by an amount not less than the amount of said forfeiture or for other good cause shown. Any additional funds expended pursuant to such an agreement shall not be included in a district's expenditures for the purpose of establishing any future minimum expenditure requirement.

Sec. 32. Subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of section 10-262h of the general statutes, as amended by section 1 of public act 05-2, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(6) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and each fiscal year thereafter, a grant in an amount equal to the amount of its target aid as described in subdivision (32) of section 10-262f except that such amount shall be capped in accordance with the following: (A) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, June 30, 1997, June 30, 1998, and June 30, 1999, for each town, the maximum percentage increase over its previous year's base revenue shall be the product of five per cent and the ratio of the wealth of the town ranked one hundred fifty-third when all towns are ranked in descending order to each town's wealth, provided no town shall receive an increase greater than five per cent. (B) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, June 30, 2001, June 30, 2002, June 30, 2003, and June 30, 2004, for each town, the maximum percentage increase over its previous year's base revenue shall be the product of six per cent and the ratio of the wealth of the town ranked one hundred fifty-third when all towns are ranked in descending order to each town's wealth, provided no town shall receive an increase greater than six per cent. (C) No such cap shall be used for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, or any fiscal year thereafter. (D) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, for each town, the maximum percentage reduction from its previous year's base revenue shall be equal to the product of three per cent and the ratio of each town's wealth to the wealth of the town ranked seventeenth when all towns are ranked in descending order, provided no town's grant shall be reduced by more than three per cent. (E) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 1997, June 30, 1998, and June 30, 1999, for each town, the maximum percentage reduction from its previous year's base revenue shall be equal to the product of five per cent and the ratio of each town's wealth to the wealth of the town ranked seventeenth when all towns are ranked in descending order, provided no town's grant shall be reduced by more than five per cent. (F) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, and each fiscal year thereafter, no town's grant shall be less than the grant it received for the prior fiscal year. (G) For each fiscal year, except for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, in addition to the amount determined pursuant to this subdivision, a town shall be eligible for a density supplement if the density of the town is greater than the average density of all towns in the state. The density supplement shall be determined by multiplying the density aid ratio of the town by the foundation level and the town's total need students for the prior fiscal year provided, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, and each fiscal year thereafter, no town's density supplement shall be less than the density supplement such town received for the prior fiscal year. (H) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, the grant determined in accordance with this subdivision for a town ranked one to forty-two when all towns are ranked in descending order according to town wealth shall be further reduced by one and two-hundredths of a per cent and such grant for all other towns shall be further reduced by fifty-six-hundredths of a per cent. (I) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, and each fiscal year thereafter, no town whose school district is a priority school district shall receive a grant pursuant to this subdivision in an amount that is less than the amount received under such grant for the prior fiscal year. (J) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, and each fiscal year through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, no town whose school district is a priority school district shall receive a grant pursuant to this subdivision that provides an amount of aid per resident student that is less than the amount of aid per resident student provided under the grant received for the prior fiscal year. (K) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, and each fiscal year thereafter, no town whose school district is a priority school district shall receive a grant pursuant to this subdivision in an amount that is less than seventy per cent of the sum of (i) the product of a town's base aid ratio, the foundation level and the town's total need students for the fiscal year prior to the year in which the grant is to be paid, (ii) the product of a town's supplemental aid ratio, the foundation level and the sum of the portion of its total need students count described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (25) of section 10-262f for the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year in which the grant is to be paid, and the adjustments to its resident student count described in subdivision (22) of said section 10-262f relative to length of school year and summer school sessions, and (iii) the town's regional bonus. (L) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, and each fiscal year thereafter, no town whose school district is a transitional school district shall receive a grant pursuant to this subdivision in an amount that is less than forty per cent of the sum of (i) the product of a town's base aid ratio, the foundation level and the town's total need students for the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year in which the grant is to be paid, (ii) the product of a town's supplemental aid ratio, the foundation level and the sum of the portion of its total need students count described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (25) of section 10-262f for the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year in which the grant is to be paid, and the adjustments to its resident student count described in subdivision (22) of said section 10-262f relative to length of school year and summer school sessions, and (iii) the town's regional bonus. (M) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, (i) each town whose target aid is capped pursuant to this subdivision shall receive a grant that includes a pro rata share of twenty-five million dollars based on the difference between its target aid and the amount of the grant determined with the cap, and (ii) all towns shall receive a grant that is at least 1. 68 per cent greater than the grant they received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001. (N) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, (i) each town whose target aid is capped pursuant to this subdivision shall receive a pro rata share of fifty million dollars based on the difference between its target aid and the amount of the grant determined with the cap, and (ii) each town shall receive a grant that is at least 1. 2 per cent more than its base revenue, as defined in subdivision (28) of section 10-262f. (O) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, each town shall receive a grant that is at least equal to the grant it received for the prior fiscal year. (P) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, (i) each town whose target aid is capped pursuant to this subdivision shall receive a grant that includes a pro rata share of fifty million dollars based on the difference between its target aid and the amount of the grant determined with the cap, (ii) each town's grant including the cap supplement shall be reduced by three per cent, (iii) the towns of Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven shall each receive a grant that is equal to the grant such towns received for the prior fiscal year plus one million dollars, (iv) those towns described in clause (i) of this subparagraph shall receive a grant that includes a pro rata share of three million dollars based on the same pro rata basis as used in said clause (i), (v) towns whose school districts are priority school districts pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-266p or transitional school districts pursuant to section 10-263c or who are eligible for grants under section 10-276a or 10-263d for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2002, to June 30, 2004, inclusive, shall receive grants that are at least equal to the grants they received for the prior fiscal year, (vi) towns not receiving funds under clause (iii) of this subparagraph shall receive a pro rata share of any remaining funds based on their grant determined under this subparagraph. (Q) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, (i) no town shall receive a grant pursuant to this subparagraph in an amount that is less than sixty per cent of the amount determined pursuant to the previous subparagraphs of this subdivision, (ii) notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, each town shall receive a grant that is equal to the amount the town received for the prior fiscal year increased by twenty-three and twenty-seven hundredths per cent of the difference between the grant amount calculated pursuant to this subdivision and the amount the town received for the prior fiscal year, (iii) no town whose school district is a priority school district pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-266p shall receive a grant pursuant to this subdivision that is less than three hundred seventy dollars per resident student, and (iv) each town shall receive a grant that is at least the greater of the amount of the grant it received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, or the amount of the grant it received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, increased by seven tenths per cent, except that the town of Winchester shall not receive less than its fixed entitlement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003. (R) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2006, and June 30, 2007, each town shall receive a grant that is equal to the amount of the grant the town received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, increased by two per cent plus the amount specified in section 33 of this act.

Sec. 33. (Effective July 1, 2005) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2006, and June 30, 2007, the education equalization aid grant each town receives shall be increased by the following amounts in accordance with subparagraph (R) of subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of section 10-262h of the general statutes, as amended by this act:

Sec. 34. (Effective from passage) (a) The Department of Education shall establish a task force to study interdistrict magnet schools. The task force shall consist of (1) the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, (2) a member of the State Board of Education designated by the board, (3) two directors of regional educational service centers designated by the commissioner, (4) two representatives of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education designated by the association, (5) two representatives of the Connecticut Association of Schools designated by the association, (6) the chairpersons, or their designees, and ranking members, or their designees, of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, (7) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, and (8) a member appointed by the Governor. The chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education shall be the cochairpersons of the task force.

(b) The task force shall: (1) Examine interdistrict magnet school per pupil expenditures and compare such expenditures to the state-wide average local and regional school district per pupil expenditure; (2) evaluate the adequacy of state grants for the operation of interdistrict magnet schools and transportation grants; (3) study standard cost sharing by participating school districts; (4) examine interdistrict magnet school governance, including a comparison of school district-based and regional educational service center-based governance; and (5) consider projected enrollment commitment standards for state-aided construction and operation of new interdistrict magnet schools.

(c) The Commissioner of Education shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, on the study to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and the budgets of state agencies by January 1, 2006.

Sec. 35. (Effective July 1, 2005) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, the distribution of priority school district grants pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-266p of the general statutes shall be as follows: (1) For priority school districts in the amount of $ 34,538,308, (2) for school readiness in the amount of $ 48,516,500, (3) for early reading success in the amount of $ 19,747,286, (4) for extended school building hours in the amount of $ 2,994,752, and (5) for school accountability in the amount of $ 3,499,699.

(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, the distribution of priority school district grants pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-266p of the general statutes shall be as follows: (1) For priority school districts in the amount of $ 35,862,269, (2) for school readiness in the amount of $ 51,006,500, (3) for early reading success in the amount of $ 19,747,286, (4) for extended school building hours in the amount of $ 2,994,752, and (5) for school accountability in the amount of $ 3,499,699.

Sec. 36. Section 10-264l of the general statutes, as amended by section 3 of public act 05-2, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(a) The Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, establish a grant program to assist local and regional boards of education, regional educational service centers, the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of Manchester Community College, and cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a with the operation of interdistrict magnet school programs. All interdistrict magnet schools shall be operated in conformance with the same laws and regulations applicable to public schools. For the purposes of this section "an interdistrict magnet school program" means a program which (1) supports racial, ethnic and economic diversity, (2) offers a special and high quality curriculum, and (3) requires students who are enrolled to attend at least half-time. An interdistrict magnet school program does not include a regional vocational agriculture school, a regional vocational-technical school or a regional special education center. On and after July 1, 2000, the governing authority for each interdistrict magnet school program that is in operation prior to July 1, 2005, shall restrict the number of students that may enroll in the program from a participating district to eighty per cent of the total enrollment of the program. The governing authority for each interdistrict magnet school program that begins operations on or after July 1, 2005, shall (A) restrict the number of students that may enroll in the program from a participating district to seventy-five per cent of the total enrollment of the program, and (B) maintain such a school enrollment that at least twenty-five per cent but not more than seventy-five per cent of the students enrolled are pupils of racial minorities, as defined in section 10-226a.

(b) Applications for interdistrict magnet school program operating grants awarded pursuant to this section shall be submitted annually to the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes. In determining whether an application shall be approved and funds awarded pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to: (1) Whether the program offered by the school is likely to increase student achievement; (2) whether the program is likely to reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation; (3) the percentage of the student enrollment in the program from each participating district; and (4) the proposed operating budget and the sources of funding for the interdistrict magnet school. If requested by the commissioner, the applicant shall meet with the commissioner or the commissioner's designee to discuss the budget and sources of funding. The commissioner shall not award a grant to a program that is in operation prior to July 1, 2005, if more than eighty per cent of its total enrollment is from one school district, except that the commissioner may award a grant for good cause, for any one year, on behalf of an otherwise eligible magnet school program, if more than eighty per cent of the total enrollment is from one district. The commissioner shall not award a grant to a program that begins operations on or after July 1, 2005, if more than seventy-five per cent of its total enrollment is from one school district or if less than twenty-five or more than seventy-five per cent of the students enrolled are pupils of racial minorities, as defined in section 10-226a, except that the commissioner may award a grant for good cause, for one year, on behalf of an otherwise eligible interdistrict magnet school program, if more than seventy-five per cent of the total enrollment is from one district or less than twenty-five or more than seventy-five per cent of the students enrolled are pupils of racial minorities. The commissioner may not award grants pursuant to such an exception for a second consecutive year.

(c) (1) The maximum amount each interdistrict magnet school program, except those described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of this subsection, shall be eligible to receive per enrolled student shall be determined as follows: (A) For each participating district whose magnet school program enrollment is equal to or less than thirty per cent of the magnet school program total enrollment, ninety per cent of the foundation as defined in subdivision (9) of section 10-262f; (B) for each participating district whose magnet school program enrollment is greater than thirty per cent but less than or equal to sixty per cent of the magnet school program total enrollment, a percentage between sixty and ninety per cent of said foundation that is inversely proportional to the percentage of magnet school program students from such district; and (C) for each participating district whose magnet school program enrollment is greater than sixty per cent but less than or equal to ninety per cent of the magnet school program total enrollment, a percentage between zero and sixty per cent of said foundation that is inversely proportional to the percentage of magnet school program students from such district. The amounts so determined shall be proportionately adjusted, if necessary, within the limit of the available appropriation, and in no case shall any grant pursuant to this section exceed the reasonable operating budget of the magnet school program, less revenues from other sources. Any magnet school program operating less than full-time but at least half-time shall be eligible to receive a grant equal to sixty-five per cent of the grant amount determined pursuant to this subsection.

(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, the commissioner may, within available appropriations, provide supplemental grants for the purposes of enhancing educational programs in such interdistrict magnet schools as the commissioner determines. Such grants shall be made after the commissioner has reviewed and approved the total operating budget for such schools, including all revenue and expenditure estimates.

(3) (A) Each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional educational service center that enrolls less than fifty-five per cent of the school's students from a single town shall receive a per pupil grant in the amount of six thousand two hundred fifty dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, and in the amount of six thousand five hundred dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, and for each fiscal year thereafter.

(B) Each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional educational service center that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent of the school's students from a single town shall receive a per pupil grant in an amount that is at least three thousand dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, and for each fiscal year thereafter.

(d) Grants made pursuant to this section shall be paid as follows: Fifty per cent by September first and the balance by January first of each fiscal year. The January first payment shall be adjusted to reflect actual interdistrict magnet school program enrollment as of the preceding October first, if the actual level of enrollment is lower than the projected enrollment stated in the approved grant application.

[(e) The Department of Education may retain up to one per cent of the amount appropriated for purposes of this section for program evaluation and administration. ]

[(f)] (e) Each local or regional school district in which an interdistrict magnet school is located shall provide the same kind of transportation to its children enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school as it provides to its children enrolled in other public schools in such local or regional school district. The parent or guardian of a child denied the transportation services required to be provided pursuant to this subsection may appeal such denial in the manner provided in sections 10-186 and 10-187.

[(g)] (f) On or before October fifteenth of each year, the Commissioner of Education shall determine if interdistrict magnet school enrollment is below the number of students for which funds were appropriated. If the commissioner determines that the enrollment is below such number, the additional funds shall not lapse but shall be used by the commissioner for grants for interdistrict cooperative programs pursuant to section 10-74d.

[(h)] (g) In the case of a student identified as requiring special education, the school district in which the student resides shall: (1) Hold the planning and placement team meeting for such student and shall invite representatives from the interdistrict magnet school to participate in such meeting; and (2) pay the interdistrict magnet school an amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of educating such student and the sum of the amount received by the interdistrict magnet school for such student pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and amounts received from other state, federal, local or private sources calculated on a per pupil basis. Such school district shall be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 10-76g. If a student requiring special education attends an interdistrict magnet school on a full-time basis, such interdistrict magnet school shall be responsible for ensuring that such student receives the services mandated by the student's individualized education program whether such services are provided by the interdistrict magnet school or by the school district in which the student resides.

[(i)] (h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the enrollment of nonpublic school students in an interdistrict magnet school program that operates less than full-time, provided (1) such students constitute no more than five per cent of the full-time equivalent enrollment in such magnet school program, and (2) such students are not counted for purposes of determining the amount of grants pursuant to this section and section 10-264i.

Sec. 37. Subsection (a) of section 10-19o of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) The Commissioner of Education shall establish a program to provide grants to youth service bureaus in accordance with this section. Only youth service bureaus which were eligible to receive grants pursuant to this section for the fiscal year ending June 30, [2003] 2005, or which applied for a grant by June 30, [2003] 2005, with prior approval of the town's contribution pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, shall be eligible for a grant pursuant to this section for any fiscal year commencing on or after July 1, [2003] 2005. Each such youth service bureau shall receive a grant of fourteen thousand dollars. The Department of Education may expend an amount not to exceed two per cent of the amount appropriated for purposes of this section for administrative expenses. If there are any remaining funds, each such youth service bureau that was awarded a grant in excess of fifteen thousand dollars in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995, shall receive a percentage of such funds. The percentage shall be determined as follows: For each such grant in excess of fifteen thousand dollars, the difference between the amount of the grant awarded to the youth service bureau for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995, and fifteen thousand dollars shall be divided by the difference between the total amount of the grants awarded to all youth service bureaus that were awarded grants in excess of fifteen thousand dollars for said fiscal year and the product of fifteen thousand dollars and the number of such grants for said fiscal year.

Sec. 38. Subsection (c) of section 10-66ee of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(c) (1) The state shall [, annually,] pay in accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter school, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, seven thousand [two] six hundred [fifty] twenty-five dollars for each student enrolled in such school, and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, and for each fiscal year thereafter, eight thousand dollars for each student enrolled in such school. Such payments shall be made as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than July fifteenth and September fifteenth based on estimated student enrollment on May first, and twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than January fifteenth and the remaining amount not later than April fifteenth, each based on student enrollment on October first. If, for any fiscal year, the total amount appropriated for grants pursuant to this subdivision exceeds seven thousand two hundred fifty dollars per student, the amount of such grants payable per student shall be increased proportionately. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, such increase shall be limited to one hundred ten dollars per student. (2) In the case of a student identified as requiring special education, the school district in which the student resides shall: (A) Hold the planning and placement team meeting for such student and shall invite representatives from the charter school to participate in such meeting; and (B) pay the state charter school, on a quarterly basis, an amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of educating such student and the sum of the amount received by the state charter school for such student pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and amounts received from other state, federal, local or private sources calculated on a per pupil basis. Such school district shall be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 10-76g. The charter school a student requiring special education attends shall be responsible for ensuring that such student receives the services mandated by the student's individualized education program whether such services are provided by the charter school or by the school district in which the student resides.

Sec. 39. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2005) The Department of Education may establish, within available appropriations, a pilot program for the use of technology in providing computer assisted writing, instruction and testing, in the ninth and tenth grades in the public schools, including the regional vocational-technical schools. The Commissioner of Education for purposes of the program may award grants to local and regional boards of education and regional vocational-technical schools for demonstration projects. Boards of education and vocational-technical schools seeking to participate in the pilot program shall apply to the department at such time and in such form as the commissioner prescribes. The commissioner shall select a diverse group of participants based on the population, geographic location and economic characteristics of the school district or school. Local and regional board of educations and regional vocational-technical schools awarded grants under the program may use grant funds for expenses for computer hardware, computer software, professional development, technical consulting assistance and other related activities.

Sec. 40. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, the Regional School District #11 dissolution study committee whose final member was appointed on February 28, 2005, pursuant to section 10-63b of the general statutes, may complete its written report pursuant to 10-63c of the general statutes, within eighteen months following the appointment of the full committee.

Sec. 41. (Effective from passage) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, the Department of Education shall establish a competitive grant program for an adult education initiative for young adults. The department shall award grants to provide for new and unique methods of educating young adults entering adult education. The total amount of such grants awarded pursuant to this section shall not exceed five hundred thousand dollars.

Sec. 42. Section 10a-169 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

For the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 1987, and thereafter, any student (1) who is a resident of the state as defined under sections 10a-28, 10a-29 and 10a-30, (2) who has not received a baccalaureate degree and (3) who has been accepted for study on a full-time or part-time basis at any postsecondary school, technical institute, college or university within the state or in any other state which permits its students to bring state student financial assistance funds into Connecticut shall be eligible for financial assistance under the capitol scholarship grant program at any stage of postsecondary study. All such institutions shall be previously approved or accredited by the Board of Governors of Higher Education or by the State Board of Education for postsecondary study. Grants under said program shall be based on financial need and either previous high school academic achievement or performance on standardized academic aptitude tests, as determined by the Board of Governors of Higher Education. The maximum award tendered to a student attending an institution in the state shall not exceed [two] three thousand dollars annually. The maximum award tendered to a student attending an out-of-state institution shall not exceed five hundred dollars annually. Sums so awarded shall be disbursed by the accepting institution on behalf of the student for tuition fees, books, board or any legitimate educational expense.

Sec. 43. Subsection (d) of section 10-292o of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(d) The amount of the regional educational service center lease grant approved by the Commissioner of Education under the provisions of this section shall be the eligible percentage, as determined in subsection (c) of section 10-285a, times the eligible lease costs as determined by the Commissioner of Education. Grants pursuant to this section shall be paid on a current year basis if the regional educational service center files an application to lease a facility with the Department of Education on or before August first of each year. No such facility or portion thereof shall be eligible for a grant under this section unless the local fire marshal has declared the facility suitable for occupancy as a facility for use in furnishing educational programs and services. Eligible costs pursuant to this section shall be limited to the lease cost of the building, net of any other costs. Grant payments shall be made as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the estimated cost in October, twenty-five per cent of the estimated cost in January, and the balance of the estimated cost in April. The actual cost will be reported on or before September first following the year of application on the end of school year report filed by each regional educational service center. If the Commissioner of Education determines that there has been an underpayment or overpayment in a grant made pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall calculate the amount of the underpayment or overpayment and shall adjust the amount of the grant payment for the fiscal year next following the fiscal year in which such underpayment or overpayment was made. The amount of the adjustment shall be equal to the amount of the underpayment or overpayment. If the amount of the overpayment exceeds the grant payment for the fiscal year next following the fiscal year in which such overpayment was made, the regional educational service center shall, upon the request of the commissioner, pay the department the difference. Any lease pursuant to this section shall be for a period not to exceed twenty years. In no event shall the reimbursement pursuant to this section be based upon a cost per square foot which exceeds the cost determined to be reasonable by the Commissioner of Education. In the case of any grants computed under this section, any federal funds or other state funds received for such costs covered by the grant shall be deducted from cost estimates prior to computation of the grant. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, [and June 30, 2005] to June 30, 2007, the amount of the grants payable to regional educational service centers in accordance with this section shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this section for such year.

Sec. 44. Subsection (f) of section 10-66j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, [and June 30, 2005] to June 30, 2007, inclusive, the amount of grants payable to regional educational service centers shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for such grants for such year.

Sec. 45. (Effective from passage) The Department of Higher Education shall contract with an independent auditor to conduct an actuarial study of the private occupational student protection account established pursuant to section 10a-22u of the general statutes. The purpose of the study shall be to determine the amount of funds needed to maintain the account at a level that provides adequate protection to students of private occupational schools. Any costs incurred by the study shall be paid by the private occupational schools. Not later than February 1, 2006, the department shall report on the study, with any recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.

Sec. 46. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2005) (a) The Department of Education, in consultation with the after school committee established pursuant to section 10-16v of the general statutes, may, within available appropriations, administer a grant program to provide grants for after school programs to local and regional boards of education, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations that are exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended. For purposes of this subsection, "after school program" means a program that takes place when school is not in session and is for the educational, enrichment and recreational activities for of children in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive.

(b) Applications for grants pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be filed annually with the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes.

(c) For purposes of carrying out the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Department of Education may accept funds from private sources and from any state agency that is a member of the after school committee.

Sec. 47. (Effective from passage) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, the Commissioner of Education may provide grants for children in the Hartford program described in section 10-266aa of the general statutes to participate in an all day kindergarten program. In addition to the subsidy provided to the receiving district for educational services, such grants may be used for the payment of before and after-school care and remedial services for the kindergarten students participating in the program.

Sec. 48. (Effective July 1, 2005) Notwithstanding subdivision (3) of subsection (e) of section 10-16p of the general statutes, the Department of Education may retain up to one hundred ninety-eight thousand two hundred dollars of the amount appropriated for purposes of section 10-16p of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for coordination, program evaluation and administration.

Sec. 49. Subsection (h) of section 10-265f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2005):

(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, [and June 30, 2005] to June 30, 2007, the amount available for the competitive grant program pursuant to this section shall be one million seven hundred eighty-eight thousand one dollars and the maximum administrative amount shall not be more than two hundred three thousand six hundred forty-six dollars.

Sec. 50. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a committee to review and assess pathways to baccalaureate degrees in early childhood education and child development to promote the professionalization of the early childhood education workforce. The committee shall identify existing systems and programs that lead to two and four-year degrees in early childhood education or child development. The committee shall (1) review and assess the accessibility of these programs by the early childhood education workforce, (2) make recommendations for increased access to initial teacher certification in early childhood education or child development, and (3) make recommendations for strengthening the existing articulation agreement between two and four year colleges offering early childhood education or child development.

(b) The committee shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Commissioner of Higher Education, or the commissioner's designee;

(2) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee;

(3) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee;

(4) The Labor Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee;

(5) One appointed by the Commissioner of Education who shall be knowledgeable in matters involving educator preparation, certification, support and assessment;

(6) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be the academic dean of a public institution of higher education that offers a teacher preparation program in early childhood education or child development at the baccalaureate level, and one of whom shall be a member of the early childhood education or child development workforce;

(7) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be the academic dean of an independent institution of higher education that offers a teacher preparation program in early childhood education or child development at the baccalaureate level, and one of whom shall be an academic dean of a baccalaureate degree program in early childhood education or child development at a university of the Connecticut State University system;

(8) Two appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a representative from the Community-Technical College system, and one of whom shall be a representative of a state teacher's association;

(9) Two appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a faculty member of an associate degree program in early childhood education or child development, and one of whom shall be a representative of a state administrator's association;

(10) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a faculty member of an independent institution of higher education that offers a baccalaureate degree program in early childhood education or child development, and one of whom shall be a representative of the Connecticut State University system office;

(11) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of Charter Oak State College, and one of whom shall be a representative of a state early childhood education association;

(12) The director of the Office of Workforce Competitiveness or the director's designee;

(13) One appointed by the Governor who shall be from the state's Career Ladder Advisory Committee with expertise in early childhood education; and

(14) Two appointed by the Commissioner of Education one of whom shall be a representative of a local or regional school district that offers a preschool program; and one of whom shall be a community representative from a local state-funded school readiness program.

(c) All appointments to the committee shall be made no later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.

(d) The Commissioner of Higher Education or the commissioner's designee shall be the chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the committee, which shall be held no later than sixty days after the effective date of this section.

(e) Not later than January 1, 2006, the committee shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.

Sec. 51. Subsections (b) and (c) of section 10-14n of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(b) Beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, the state-wide mastery examinations pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be administered in March or April.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the state-wide mastery examinations pursuant to this section shall be administered as follows:

(1) Beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, each student enrolled in grades three to eight, inclusive, and ten in any public school shall, annually, in March or April, take a state-wide mastery examination that measures the essential and grade-appropriate skills in reading, writing and mathematics; and

(2) Beginning in the 2007-2008 school year, each student enrolled in grades five, eight and ten in any public school shall, annually, in March or April, take a state-wide mastery examination in science.

Sec. 52. Section 10a-42a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

Nothing in sections 10a-36 to 10a-42, inclusive, shall affect the eligibility of an accredited independent college or university which, as of June 30, 1983, participated in the program authorized under sections 10a-36 to 10a-42, inclusive, of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to 1983. A change in corporate structure shall not affect the eligibility of an accredited independent college or university that participated in said program as of said date.

Approved June 30, 2005