Sec. 10-220. Duties of boards of education.
Sec. 10-220l. Qualified personnel to monitor school swimming pool. School swimming pool safety plan.
Sec. 10-220p. Materials provided to students when discussing career options.
Sec. 10-222i. State-wide safe school climate resource network.
Sec. 10-222n. School security and safety plan standards.
Sec. 10-222q. Social and Emotional Learning and School Climate Advisory Collaborative.
Sec. 10-222r. Publication of plain language explanation of rights and remedies.
Sec. 10-223j. School governance councils.
Sec. 10-233d. Expulsion of pupils.
Sec. 10-220. Duties of boards of education. (a) Each local or regional board of education shall maintain good public elementary and secondary schools, implement the educational interests of the state, as defined in section 10-4a, and provide such other educational activities as in its judgment will best serve the interests of the school district; provided any board of education may secure such opportunities in another school district in accordance with provisions of the general statutes and shall give all the children of the school district, including children receiving alternative education, as defined in section 10-74j, as nearly equal advantages as may be practicable; shall provide an appropriate learning environment for all its students which includes (1) adequate instructional books, supplies, materials, equipment, staffing, facilities and technology, (2) equitable allocation of resources among its schools, (3) proper maintenance of facilities, and (4) a safe school setting; shall, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (f) of this section, maintain records of allegations, investigations and reports that a child has been abused or neglected by a school employee, as defined in section 53a-65, employed by the local or regional board of education; shall have charge of the schools of its respective school district; shall make a continuing study of the need for school facilities and of a long-term school building program and from time to time make recommendations based on such study to the town; shall adopt and implement an indoor air quality program that provides for ongoing maintenance and facility reviews necessary for the maintenance and improvement of the indoor air quality of its facilities; shall adopt and implement a green cleaning program, pursuant to section 10-231g, that provides for the procurement and use of environmentally preferable cleaning products in school buildings and facilities; on and after July 1, 2021, and every five years thereafter, shall report to the Commissioner of Administrative Services on the condition of its facilities and the action taken to implement its long-term school building program, indoor air quality program and green cleaning program, which report the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall use to prepare a report every five years that said commissioner shall submit in accordance with section 11-4a to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education; shall advise the Commissioner of Administrative Services of the relationship between any individual school building project pursuant to chapter 173 and such long-term school building program; shall have the care, maintenance and operation of buildings, lands, apparatus and other property used for school purposes and at all times shall insure all such buildings and all capital equipment contained therein against loss in an amount not less than eighty per cent of replacement cost; shall determine the number, age and qualifications of the pupils to be admitted into each school; shall develop and implement a written plan for minority educator recruitment for purposes of subdivision (3) of section 10-4a; shall employ and dismiss the teachers of the schools of such district subject to the provisions of sections 10-151 and 10-158a; shall designate the schools which shall be attended by the various children within the school district; shall make such provisions as will enable each child of school age residing in the district to attend some public day school for the period required by law and provide for the transportation of children wherever transportation is reasonable and desirable, and for such purpose may make contracts covering periods of not more than five years; may provide alternative education, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-74j, or place in another suitable educational program a pupil enrolling in school who is nineteen years of age or older and cannot acquire a sufficient number of credits for graduation by age twenty-one; may arrange with the board of education of an adjacent town for the instruction therein of such children as can attend school in such adjacent town more conveniently; shall cause each child five years of age and over and under eighteen years of age who is not a high school graduate and is living in the school district to attend school in accordance with the provisions of section 10-184, and shall perform all acts required of it by the town or necessary to carry into effect the powers and duties imposed by law.
(b) The board of education of each local or regional school district shall, with the participation of parents, students, school administrators, teachers, citizens, local elected officials and any other individuals or groups such board shall deem appropriate, prepare a statement of educational goals for such local or regional school district. The statement of goals shall be consistent with state-wide goals pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-4 and include goals for career placement for students who do not pursue an advanced degree immediately after graduation. Each local or regional board of education shall annually establish student objectives for the school year which relate directly to the statement of educational goals prepared pursuant to this subsection and which identify specific expectations for students in terms of skills, knowledge and competence.
(c) Annually, each local and regional board of education shall submit to the Commissioner of Education a strategic school profile report for each school and school or program of alternative education, as defined in section 10-74j, under its jurisdiction and for the school district as a whole. The superintendent of each local and regional school district shall present the profile report at the next regularly scheduled public meeting of the board of education after each November first. The profile report shall provide information on measures of (1) student needs, (2) school resources, including technological resources and utilization of such resources and infrastructure, (3) student and school performance, including in-school suspensions, out-of-school suspensions and expulsions, the number of truants, as defined in section 10-198a, and chronically absent children, as defined in section 10-198c, (4) the number of students enrolled in an adult high school credit diploma program, pursuant to section 10-69, operated by a local or regional board of education or a regional educational service center, (5) equitable allocation of resources among its schools, (6) reduction of racial, ethnic and economic isolation, (7) special education, and (8) school-based arrests, as defined in section 10-233n. For purposes of this subsection, measures of special education include (A) special education identification rates by disability, (B) rates at which special education students are exempted from mastery testing pursuant to section 10-14q, (C) expenditures for special education, including such expenditures as a percentage of total expenditures, (D) achievement data for special education students, (E) rates at which students identified as requiring special education are no longer identified as requiring special education, (F) the availability of supplemental educational services for students lacking basic educational skills, (G) the amount of special education student instructional time with nondisabled peers, (H) the number of students placed out-of-district, and (I) the actions taken by the school district to improve special education programs, as indicated by analyses of the local data provided in subparagraphs (A) to (H), inclusive, of this subdivision. The superintendent shall include in the narrative portion of the report information about parental involvement and any measures the district has taken to improve parental involvement, including, but not limited to, employment of methods to engage parents in the planning and improvement of school programs and methods to increase support to parents working at home with their children on learning activities. For purposes of this subsection, measures of truancy include the type of data that is required to be collected by the Department of Education regarding attendance and unexcused absences in order for the department to comply with federal reporting requirements and the actions taken by the local or regional board of education to reduce truancy in the school district. Such truancy data shall be considered a public record, as defined in section 1-200.
(d) Prior to January 1, 2008, and every five years thereafter, for every school building that is or has been constructed, extended, renovated or replaced on or after January 1, 2003, a local or regional board of education shall provide for a uniform inspection and evaluation program of the indoor air quality within such buildings, such as the Environmental Protection Agency's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program. The inspection and evaluation program shall include, but not be limited to, a review, inspection or evaluation of the following: (1) The heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; (2) radon levels in the air; (3) potential for exposure to microbiological airborne particles, including, but not limited to, fungi, mold and bacteria; (4) chemical compounds of concern to indoor air quality including, but not limited to, volatile organic compounds; (5) the degree of pest infestation, including, but not limited to, insects and rodents; (6) the degree of pesticide usage; (7) the presence of and the plans for removal of any hazardous substances that are contained on the list prepared pursuant to Section 302 of the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, 42 USC 9601 et seq.; (8) ventilation systems; (9) plumbing, including water distribution systems, drainage systems and fixtures; (10) moisture incursion; (11) the overall cleanliness of the facilities; (12) building structural elements, including, but not limited to, roofing, basements or slabs; (13) the use of space, particularly areas that were designed to be unoccupied; and (14) the provision of indoor air quality maintenance training for building staff. Local and regional boards of education conducting evaluations pursuant to this subsection shall make available for public inspection the results of the inspection and evaluation at a regularly scheduled board of education meeting and on the board's or each individual school's web site.
(e) Each local and regional board of education shall establish a school district curriculum committee. The committee shall recommend, develop, review and approve all curriculum for the local or regional school district.
(f) Each local and regional board of education shall maintain in a central location all records of allegations, investigations and reports that a child has been abused or neglected by a school employee, as defined in section 53a-65, employed by the local or regional board of education, conducted pursuant to sections 17a-101a to 17a-101d, inclusive, and section 17a-103. Such records shall include any reports made to the Department of Children and Families. The Department of Education shall have access to such records.
(1949 Rev., S. 1501; 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 957d; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 11; 1969, P.A. 690, S. 4; P.A. 78-218, S. 143; P.A. 79-128, S. 11, 36; P.A. 80-166, S. 1; P.A. 84-460, S. 3, 16; P.A. 85-377, S. 5, 13; P.A. 86-333, S. 11, 32; P.A. 90-324, S. 4, 13; P.A. 93-353, S. 28, 31, 52; P.A. 94-245, S. 9, 46; P.A. 95-182, S. 6, 11; P.A. 96-26, S. 2, 4; 96-244, S. 17, 63; 96-270, S. 1, 11; P.A. 97-290, S. 21, 29; P.A. 98-168, S. 8, 26; 98-243, S. 19, 25; 98-252, S. 13, 38, 80; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 115, 121; P.A. 00-157, S. 3, 8; P.A. 01-173, S. 19, 67; P.A. 03-220, S. 1, 2; P.A. 04-26, S. 4; P.A. 06-158, S. 5; 06-167, S. 1; P.A. 08-153, S. 6; P A. 09-81, S. 2; 09-143, S. 1; 09-220, S. 6; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-6, S. 54; P.A. 10-71, S. 4; P.A. 11-85, S. 6; 11-93, S. 6; 11-136, S. 10, 17; P.A. 12-120, S. 4; P.A. 13-247, S. 200; P.A. 15-133, S. 3, 4; 15-168, S. 3; 15-225, S. 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 84; P.A. 18-34, S. 7; P.A. 19-58, S. 2.)
History: 1965 act substituted Sec. 10-158a for repealed Sec. 10-158; 1969 act added requirement that boards of education “implement the educational interests of the state as defined in section 10-4a”; P.A. 78-218 substituted “school district” for “town” throughout, specified applicability of provisions to local and regional, rather than town, boards and required attendance of children “seven years of age and over and under sixteen” rather than “between the ages of seven and sixteen”; P.A. 79-128 added Subsec. (b) re statement of goals by local and regional boards; P.A. 80-166 amended Subsec. (b) to require first attestation that programs are based on state goals “on September 1, 1982” rather than “in 1981”; P.A. 84-460 amended Subsec. (a) requiring that boards insure all buildings and all capital equipment against loss in an amount not less than 80% of replacement cost; P.A. 85-377 substituted commissioner of education for state board; P.A. 86-333 amended Subsec. (b) to extend from July 1, 1986, to July 1, 1987, the date when boards of education are to begin reviewing and updating the statement of goals; P.A. 90-324 added Subsec. (c) re strategic school profile reports; P.A. 93-353 provisions requiring local or regional board to submit the statement of goals to the state board of education, state board to review the statement and approve the statement as it pertains to the state-wide goals, local or regional board to review and if necessary update the statement of goals every five years and submit such statement to the state board and state board to review and approve the statement as it pertains to the state-wide goals, and removed obsolete language and added Subsec. (d) concerning a report to the state board of education on educational goals and student objectives and the development of a comprehensive professional development plan, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-245 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to change the dates from May first to November first, effective June 2, 1994; P.A. 95-182 amended Subsec. (a) to remove a requirement that local and regional boards of education attest to the Commissioner of Education that program offerings and instruction are based on educational goals and student objectives and deleted Subsec. (d) re reports concerning the statement of educational goals and student objectives and the development and implementation of professional development plans, effective June 28, 1995; P.A. 96-26 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize placement of certain older pupils in alternative school programs or other suitable educational programs, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 96-244 amended Subsec. (c) to delete obsolete language of Subdiv. (2), deleted Subdiv. (1) designation and replaced Subparas. with Subdivs., effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 96-270 amended Subsec. (a) to add the requirement to advise the Commissioner of Education of the relationship between any individual school building project and the long-term school building program, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 97-290 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re an appropriate learning environment, report on the condition of facilities and action taken to implement the long-term building program and the annual report by the commissioner to the General Assembly, and added Subsec. (c)(4) and (5) re equitable allocation of resources and re reduction of racial, ethnic and economic isolation, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-168 amended Subsec. (c) to add provisions re special education, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 98-243 amended Subsec. (a) to lower the age requirement for school attendance from 7 to 5, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 98-252 amended Subsec. (a) to add requirement for a written plan for minority staff recruitment and to make a technical change and amended Subsec. (c) to remove November date for report and in Subdiv. (2) specified technological resources and utilization of such resources and infrastructure, effective July 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-157 amended Subsec. (a) to change the reference to the school attendance age from “sixteen years of age” to “eighteen years of age who is not a high school graduate”, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 01-173 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change for the purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 03-220 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re maintenance of facilities and indoor air quality and making technical changes and added Subsec. (d) re indoor air quality inspection and evaluation program, effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 04-26 made a technical change in Subsec. (d)(5), effective April 28, 2004; P.A. 06-158 amended Subsec. (a) by changing annual reporting on facility conditions to biennial reporting, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 06-167 amended Subsec. (c) by adding language re parental involvement, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 08-153 added Subsec. (e) re establishment of curriculum committee, effective July 1, 2008; P.A. 09-81 amended Subsec. (a) by adding language re green cleaning program and amended Subsec. (d) by adding language requiring inspection results to be posted on the board's or individual school's web site; P.A. 09-143 amended Subsec. (c) by adding language re truancy data, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 09-220 amended Subsec. (d)(2) by deleting requirement that inspection and evaluation program include evaluation of radon levels in the water; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-6 amended Subsec. (c) by adding new Subdiv. (4) re number of students enrolled in adult high school credit diploma program and redesignating existing Subdivs. (4) to (6) as Subdivs. (5) to (7), effective October 5, 2009; P.A. 10-71 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective May 18, 2010; P.A. 11-85 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “develop” with “annually establish” and adding “for the school year” re student objectives and expectations, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-93 inserted provision in Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (f) re maintenance of records of allegations, investigations and reports of child abuse and neglect by a school employee, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-136 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing references to biennial with references to triennial re report on long-term school building program, indoor air quality program and green cleaning program and amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision re actions taken by board of education to reduce truancy in district, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-120 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “Commissioner of Education” with “Commissioner of Construction Services” and making a technical change, effective June 15, 2012; pursuant to P.A. 13-247, “Commissioner of Construction Services” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Administrative Services” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 15-133 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re alternative education, replacing reference to alternative school program with reference to alternative education and making conforming changes, and amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision re submission of strategic school profile report for each school or program of alternative education, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 15-168 amended Subsec. (c) by adding “in-school suspensions, out-of-school suspensions and expulsions” in Subdiv. (3), adding Subdiv. (8) re school-based arrests, replacing “for purposes of chapter 14” with “as defined in section 1-200”, and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 15-225 amended Subsec. (c)(3) by replacing “truancy” with “the number of truants, as defined in section 10-198a, and chronically absent children, as defined in section 10-198c”, effective July 1, 2015; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing references to triennial with references to every 5 years and replacing “2011” with “2021” re report on long-term school building program, indoor air quality program and green cleaning program, effective October 31, 2017; P.A. 18-34 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “minority staff recruitment” with “minority educator recruitment”, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 19-58 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re goals for career placement for students who do not pursue advanced degree immediately after graduation, effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-220a. In-service training. Professional development and evaluation committees. Institutes for educators. Cooperating teacher program, regulations. (a) Each local or regional board of education shall provide an in-service training program for its teachers, administrators and pupil personnel who hold the initial educator, provisional educator or professional educator certificate. Such program shall provide such teachers, administrators and pupil personnel with information on (1) the nature and the relationship of alcohol and drugs, as defined in subdivision (17) of section 21a-240, to health and personality development, and procedures for discouraging their abuse, (2) health and mental health risk reduction education that includes, but need not be limited to, the prevention of risk-taking behavior by children and the relationship of such behavior to substance abuse, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-infection and AIDS, as defined in section 19a-581, violence, teen dating violence, domestic violence and child abuse, (3) school violence prevention, conflict resolution, the prevention of and response to youth suicide and the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10-222d, except that those boards of education that implement any evidence-based model approach that is approved by the Department of Education and is consistent with subsection (c) of section 10-145a, sections 10-222d, 10-222g and 10-222h, subsection (g) of section 10-233c and sections 1 and 3 of public act 08-160*, shall not be required to provide in-service training on the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, (4) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency life saving procedures, (5) the requirements and obligations of a mandated reporter, (6) the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for, students with dyslexia, as defined in section 10-3d, and (7) culturally responsive pedagogy and practice. Each local or regional board of education may allow any paraprofessional or noncertified employee to participate, on a voluntary basis, in any in-service training program provided pursuant to this section.
(b) Not later than a date prescribed by the commissioner, each local and regional board of education shall establish a professional development and evaluation committee. Such professional development and evaluation committee shall consist of (1) at least one teacher, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10-144d, selected by the exclusive bargaining representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, (2) at least one administrator, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10-144e, selected by the exclusive bargaining representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, and (3) such other school personnel as the board deems appropriate. The duties of such committees shall include, but not be limited to, participation in the development or adoption of a teacher evaluation and support program for the district, pursuant to section 10-151b, and the development, evaluation and annual updating of a comprehensive local professional development plan for certified employees of the district. Such plan shall: (A) Be directly related to the educational goals prepared by the local or regional board of education pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-220, (B) on and after July 1, 2011, be developed with full consideration of the priorities and needs related to student outcomes as determined by the State Board of Education, and (C) provide for the ongoing and systematic assessment and improvement of both teacher evaluation and professional development of the professional staff members of each such board, including personnel management and evaluation training or experience for administrators, shall be related to regular and special student needs and may include provisions concerning career incentives and parent involvement. The State Board of Education shall develop guidelines to assist local and regional boards of education in determining the objectives of the plans and in coordinating staff development activities with student needs and school programs.
(c) The Department of Education, in cooperation with one or more regional educational service centers, is authorized to provide institutes annually for Connecticut educators. Such institutes shall serve as model programs of professional development and shall be taught by exemplary Connecticut teachers and administrators and by other qualified individuals as selected by the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall charge fees for attending such institutes provided such fees shall be based on the actual cost of such institutes.
(d) The Department of Education may fund, within available appropriations, in cooperation with one or more regional educational service centers: (1) A cooperating teacher program to train Connecticut public school teachers, certified teachers at private special education facilities approved by the Commissioner of Education, certified teachers at nonpublic schools approved by the commissioner and certified teachers at other facilities designated by the commissioner, who participate in the supervision, training and evaluation of student teachers, provided such certified teachers at nonpublic schools pay for the cost of participation in such cooperating teacher program and provided further that enrollment in such program shall first be made available to public school teachers; and (2) institutes to provide professional development for Connecticut public school educators and cooperating teachers, including institutes to provide professional development for Connecticut public school educators offered in cooperation with the Connecticut Humanities Council. Funds available under this subsection shall be paid directly to school districts for the provision of substitute teachers when cooperating teachers are released from regular classroom responsibilities and for the provision of professional development activities for cooperating and student teachers, except that such funds shall not be paid to nonpublic schools for such professional development activities. The cooperating teacher program shall operate in accordance with regulations adopted by the State Board of Education in accordance with chapter 54, except in cases of placement in other countries pursuant to written cooperative agreements between Connecticut institutions of higher education and institutions of higher education in other countries. A Connecticut institution may enter such an agreement only if the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents for Higher Education have jointly approved the institution's teacher preparation program to enter into such agreements. Student teachers shall be placed with trained cooperating teachers. Cooperating teachers who are Connecticut public school teachers shall be selected by local and regional boards of education. Cooperating teachers at such private special education facilities, nonpublic schools and other designated facilities shall be selected by the authority responsible for the operation of such facilities. If a board of education is unable to identify a sufficient number of individuals to serve in such positions, the commissioner may select qualified persons who are not employed by the board of education to serve in such positions. Such regulations shall require primary consideration of teachers' classroom experience and recognized success as educators. The provisions of sections 10-153a to 10-153n, inclusive, shall not be applicable to the selection, placement and compensation of persons participating in the cooperating teacher program pursuant to the provisions of this section and to the hours and duties of such persons. The State Board of Education shall protect and save harmless, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-235, any cooperating teacher while serving in such capacity.
(P.A. 73-632, S. 4, 5; P.A. 75-211, S. 2; P.A. 78-218, S. 144; P.A. 82-75, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-314, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-377, S. 6, 13; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-1, S. 10, 58; P.A. 87-352, S. 1, 2; 87-499, S. 13, 29, 34; P.A. 88-96, S. 1, 2; 88-273, S. 5, 6, 9; 88-360, S. 24, 63; P.A. 89-137, S. 10, 14; 89-168, S. 4; P.A. 90-324, S. 10, 11, 13; 90-325, S. 7, 32; P.A. 91-220, S. 7, 8; 91-264, S. 1, 2; 91-303, S. 19, 22; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-7, S. 9, 22; P.A. 93-23; 93-353, S. 29, 52; P.A. 94-221, S. 5; P.A. 95-101, S. 2; 95-182, S. 7, 11; 95-259, S. 21, 32; P.A. 96-244, S. 53, 63; P.A. 97-45, S. 2; 97-61, S. 2; P.A. 98-243, S. 20, 25; P.A. 00-220, S. 10, 43; P.A. 03-76, S. 16; 03-174, S. 3; 03-211, S. 6; P.A. 04-227, S. 1; P.A. 06-192, S. 2; P.A. 08-107, S. 1; 08-160, S. 6; June 19 Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-1, S. 16; P.A. 10-91, S. 1; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; 11-93, S. 5; 11-127, S. 3; 11-136, S. 2; 11-232, S. 5; P.A. 12-116, S. 43, 56; 12-173, S. 3; P.A. 13-3, S. 64; 13-31, S. 17; 13-245, S. 2; P.A. 15-97, S. 3; 15-108, S. 10; 15-215, S. 11; 15-232, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 292; P.A. 17-14, S. 5; 17-37, S. 2; 17-202, S. 20; P.A. 18-139, S. 5; P.A. 19-100, S. 2.)
*Note: Sections 1 and 3 of public act 08-160 are special in nature and therefore have not been codified but remain in full force and effect according to their terms.
History: P.A. 75-211 included instruction re alcohol and its effects in in-service training programs and health education programs; P.A. 78-218 specified applicability of provisions to local and regional boards in Subsecs. (a) and (b), deleted phrase “of every school district” and deleted September 1, 1974, deadline for establishment of programs in said Subsecs. and deleted Subsec. (c) re policy statements on procedures to deal with drug sales or use; P.A. 82-75 deleted Subsec. (b) which had required development of an ongoing program on drug and alcohol abuse; P.A. 84-314 added new Subsecs. (b) and (c) re development of plans to provide for the ongoing and systematic professional development of the professional staff members of boards of education and annual institutes to be held by the state department of education; P.A. 85-377 substituted commissioner of education for state board; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-1 added Subsec. (d) re cooperating teacher program and institutes and beginning teacher program; P.A. 87-352 included certified teachers at approved private special education facilities in the cooperating teacher and teacher mentor programs and made a technical change in Subsec. (d); P.A. 87-499 in Subsec. (c) provided that the institutes be provided in cooperation with one or more regional educational service centers and amended Subsec. (d) to provide that funding be in cooperation with one or more regional educational service centers and that the programs pay stipends that institutes be for teacher mentors in Subdiv. (2) and made technical changes; P.A. 88-96 added a reference to the Connecticut Humanities Council in Subsec. (d); P.A. 88-273 in Subsec. (d) added “who are Connecticut public school teachers” and provided that after July 1, 1989, the cooperating teacher and beginning teacher programs operate in accordance with regulations, that for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1989, selection of teachers be made pursuant to Subsec. (e) added by the same act rather than based on state guidelines, that all provisions concerning teacher negotiation law, Secs. 10-153a to 10-153n, inclusive, not apply to certain aspects of participation in the program and that the state board of education protect and save harmless certain persons and added Subsec. (e) re cooperating teacher and teacher mentor selection, placement and compensation for the fiscal years up to and including the fiscal year ending June 30, 1989; P.A. 88-360 in Subsec. (d)(2) added that the institutes be for Connecticut public school teachers, in Subsec. (d)(3) added that the beginning teacher program be for “other qualified persons approved by the commissioner of education” and that it be for persons who serve as assessors for beginning teachers and provided for the selection of qualified persons by the commissioner of education and made a technical change; P.A. 89-137 in Subsec. (d) provided that the Connecticut Humanities Council cooperate in offering continuing education institutes and not in offering the cooperating teacher program and the beginning teacher support and assessment program, substituted “educators” for “teachers” as persons for whom continuing education institutes are to be provided and provided that funds available under the subsection be paid directly to school districts for specified purposes; P.A. 89-168 changed the name from “standard” certificate to “professional educator” certificate and added a new Subdiv. (2) which includes information on health and mental issues affecting children, including child abuse and youth suicide as component of in-service training program; P.A. 90-324 in Subsec. (a) substituted “pupil personnel” for “guidance personnel”, added “educator” after “initial” and “provisional” and required the commissioner of education rather than the state board of education to approve the program and in Subsec. (b) added administrators and their bargaining representatives as persons who may advise boards of education on the development of five-year plans and added that such plans may include provisions concerning career incentives and parent involvement in Subdiv. (1) and added new Subdiv. (2) re comprehensive professional development plans; P.A. 90-325 added Subsec. (a)(3) re providing of information as to the growth and development of exceptional children, in Subsec. (d) provided that certain private special education facilities be approved by the commissioner of education, rather than the state board of education, that teachers at facilities designated by the commissioner be able to participate in the cooperating teacher and beginning teacher support and assessment programs and added that the institutes in Subdiv. (2) be for assessors and that funds available under the subsection are for professional development activities for assessors, deleted Subsec. (e) re cooperating teachers and teacher mentors and made technical changes; P.A. 91-220 replaced requirement that program be approved by the commissioner with requirement that it be submitted to the commissioner in Subsec. (a); P.A. 91-264 in Subsec. (c) added language concerning the charging of fees; P.A. 91-303 in Subsec. (b)(2) added provision for submission of a plan on and after April 1, 1994, and provided for revision of plans every five years rather than every three years; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-7 amended Subsec. (d) to remove provision for stipends for teachers who train student teachers and for mentors, added specific requirements pertaining to beginning teacher support and assessment programs and added provision regarding different requirements than those specified in regulations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992; P.A. 93-23 amended Subsec. (a) to add risk reduction education language; P.A. 93-353 amended Subsec. (b)(2) to delete requirement that the plan be developed by April 1, 1991, and substituted “a date prescribed by the commissioner” and that the plan be a three-year plan and that it be submitted to the commissioner of education, changed the date for implementation of the plan and removed language on the development and submission of another plan by April 1, 1994, added requirement that the plan be directly related to the educational goals prepared by the local or regional board and removed requirement that the local or regional board review and revise its plan every five years and submit it to the commissioner, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-221 added Subsec. (a)(4) re school violence prevention and conflict resolution; P.A. 95-101 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision concerning Holocaust education and awareness; P.A. 95-182 amended Subsec. (b) to remove former Subdiv. (1) re development of five-year professional development plans, deleting Subdiv. (2) designator, effective June 28, 1995; P.A. 95-259 added Subsec. (a)(5) re cardiopulmonary resuscitation, effective July 6, 1995; P.A. 96-244 added Subsec. (a)(6) re computer and other information technology, effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 97-45 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision concerning the Great Famine in Ireland; P.A. 97-61 amended Subsec. (a) to expand the list of topics for in-service training programs by adding African-American history, Puerto Rican history, Native American history, personal financial management and topics approved by the State Board of Education at the request of local or regional boards of education; P.A. 98-243 added Subsec. (a)(7) re teaching of language arts, reading and reading readiness, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-220 amended Subsec. (a) to remove a requirement to submit the program to the Commissioner of Education, effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 03-76 made technical changes in Subsecs. (c) and (d), effective June 3, 2003; P.A. 03-174 amended Subsec. (d) by deleting provision allowing for less than six observations, substituting provisions requiring assessment by educators with teaching experience in same field for provision not requiring assessment by teacher with certification endorsement in same field and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 03-211 amended Subsec. (a)(3) by including children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or learning disabilities, effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 04-227 added Subsec. (a)(8) re second language acquisition, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 06-192 amended Subsec. (d) by making technical changes and adding language re placement in other countries, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 08-107 amended Subsec. (d) to eliminate provisions re beginning teacher support and assessment program, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 08-160 amended Subsec. (a)(4) to add language re prevention of bullying, effective July 1, 2009 (Revisor's note: In 2009, a reference to “Board of Governors for Higher Education” in Subsec. (d) was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Governors of Higher Education” for accuracy); June 19 Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-1 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing provision re development of professional development plan with provision re establishment and duties of professional development committee, by designating existing provisions re educational goals and assessment and improvement of teacher evaluation and professional development as Subdivs. (1) and (3) and adding Subdiv. (2) re priorities and needs related to student outcomes, and by making conforming changes, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 10-91 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “teen dating violence, domestic violence” in Subdiv. (2), adding provision re allowing paraprofessionals and noncertified employees to participate in in-service training programs, adding new Subpara. (G) re domestic violence and teen dating violence and redesignating existing Subpara. (G) as Subpara. (H), effective July 1, 2010; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education” in Subsec. (d), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-93 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (9) re information on requirements and obligations of mandated reporter, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-127 amended Subsec. (d) by including certified teachers at nonpublic schools as persons eligible to participate in cooperating teacher programs, adding provisos re nonpublic school teachers to pay for cost of participation in program and enrollment in program to be available first to public school teachers, adding exception re funds for program not to be paid to nonpublic schools for professional development activities and making conforming changes, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-136 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “and genocide” to provisions re Holocaust education and awareness in Subpara. (A), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-232 amended Subsec. (a)(4) by adding language re prevention and response to youth suicide and identification of and response to bullying, adding “that is approved by the Department of Education” re evidence-based model approach and making conforming changes, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-116 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (10) re teacher evaluation and support program and amended Subsec. (d)(2) by replacing references to continuing education with references to professional development, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 12-173 amended Subsec. (a)(3) by adding provision re implementation of student individualized education programs, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a)(4) by making a technical change and amended Subsec. (a)(9) by adding new Subpara. (H) re mental health first aid training and redesignating existing Subpara. (H) as Subpara. (I), effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-31 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective May 28, 2013 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a)(10), a reference to “developed” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “adopted” to conform with change made by P.A. 13-245); P.A. 13-245 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting reference to Sec. 10-220a(a) and replacing “developed” with “adopted” and amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “professional development committee” with “professional development and evaluation committee”, replacing “of” with “selected by” and adding provision re participation or adoption of teacher evaluation and support program, effective July 2, 2013; P.A. 15-97 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (11) re detection and recognition of and interventions for students with dyslexia, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 15-108 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision, codified by the Revisors as Subdiv. (12), re cultural competency, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 15-215 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing existing language re membership of committee with new Subdivs. (1) to (3) re membership of committee and redesignating existing Subdivs. (1) to (3) as Subparas. (A) to (C), effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 15-232 amended Subsec. (a) by adding new Subpara. (I) re trauma-informed practice training, and redesignating existing Subpara. (I) as Subpara. (J); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a) by adding new Subpara. (J) re second language acquisition and redesignating existing Subpara. (J) as Subpara. (K), effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 17-14 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to Sec. 10-145a(d) with reference to Sec. 10-145a(c) in Subdiv. (4), and replacing reference to Sec. 10-145a(i) with reference to Sec. 10-145a(h) in Subdiv. (12), effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 17-37 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting “and youth suicide” in Subdiv. (2), deleting former Subdiv. (3) re growth and development of exceptional children, redesignating existing Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (3) and (4), deleting former Subdivs. (6) to (8) re computer and other information technology, teaching of language arts, and second language acquisition, respectively, redesignating existing Subdiv. (9) re mandated reporter as Subdiv. (5), deleting Subdiv. (10) re teacher evaluation and support program, redesignating existing Subdiv. (11) re literacy interventions for students with dyslexia as Subdiv. (6), deleting Subdiv. (12) re cultural competency, and deleting Subparas. (A) to (K) re various subjects that State Board shall assist and encourage boards of education to include as part of in-service training, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 17-202 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “handicapped and” with “children with a disability” in Subdiv. (3); P.A. 18-139 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective June 11, 2018; P.A. 19-100 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (7) re culturally responsive pedagogy and practice and making a conforming change, effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-220l. Qualified personnel to monitor school swimming pool. School swimming pool safety plan. (a) For purposes of this section:
(1) “School swimming pool” means any swimming pool approved for use by a local or regional board of education for student aquatic activities;
(2) “Student aquatic activities” means any physical education class, interscholastic athletics or extracurricular activities offered to students by a local or regional board of education that makes use of a school swimming pool;
(3) “Qualified swimming coach” means any person who (A) holds a valid coaching permit issued by the State Board of Education, and (B) (i) is certified as a lifeguard by the American Red Cross or another nationally recognized organization that conducts aquatic training programs, (ii) has completed a safety training for swim coaches and instructors course offered by the American Red Cross or an organization approved by the State Board of Education, or (iii) was certified as a lifeguard for at least five years during the previous ten years and has at least five years' experience as a swimming coach or an instructor of a physical education course that makes use of a school swimming pool;
(4) “Qualified educator” means any person who (A) holds a valid certificate issued by the State Board of Education, pursuant to section 10-145b, with an endorsement in physical education, (B) (i) is certified as a lifeguard by the American Red Cross or another nationally recognized organization that conducts aquatic training programs, (ii) has completed a safety training course for swim coaches and instructors offered by the American Red Cross or an organization approved by the State Board of Education, or (iii) was certified as a lifeguard for at least five years during the previous ten years and has at least five years' experience as a swimming coach or an instructor of a physical education course that makes use of a school swimming pool, (C) is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pursuant to section 19a-113a, and (D) has completed a course in first aid offered by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the Department of Public Health, any director of health or an organization using guidelines for first aid published by the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross;
(5) “Qualified lifeguard” means any person who (A) is sixteen years of age or older, (B) is certified as a lifeguard by the American Red Cross or another nationally recognized organization that conducts aquatic training programs, (C) is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pursuant to section 19a-113a, and (D) has completed a course in first aid offered by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the Department of Public Health, any director of health or an organization using guidelines for first aid published by the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.
(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2013, in addition to the person responsible for conducting any student aquatic activity that makes use of a school swimming pool, there shall be at least one qualified educator, qualified swimming coach or qualified lifeguard who shall be solely responsible for monitoring such school swimming pool during such student aquatic activities for swimmers who may be in distress and providing assistance to such swimmers when necessary.
(c) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year thereafter, no local or regional board of education shall offer a physical education course that makes use of a school swimming pool unless there is at least one qualified educator who shall serve as the instructor of such physical education course and be responsible for implementing the provisions of the school swimming pool safety plan developed pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, and at least one qualified educator, qualified swimming coach or qualified lifeguard whose primary responsibility is to monitor the school swimming pool for swimmers who may be in distress and provide assistance to such swimmers when necessary.
(d) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year thereafter, no local or regional board of education shall permit any student to participate in any interscholastic athletic activity that makes use of a school swimming pool unless there is at least one qualified swimming coach who shall serve as a coach of such participating students and be responsible for implementing the provisions of the school swimming pool safety plan, developed pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, and at least one qualified educator, qualified swimming coach or qualified lifeguard whose primary responsibility is to monitor the school swimming pool for swimmers who may be in distress and provide assistance to such swimmers when necessary.
(e) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year thereafter, no local or regional board of education shall offer any extracurricular activity that makes use of a school swimming pool unless there is at least one qualified lifeguard who shall (1) monitor the school swimming pool for swimmers who may be in distress and provide assistance to such swimmers when necessary, and (2) be responsible for implementing the provisions of the school swimming pool safety plan developed pursuant to subsection (f) of this section.
(f) Not later than July 1, 2014, each local or regional board of education that offers student aquatic activities at a school swimming pool shall adopt a school swimming pool safety plan that ensures compliance with this section and includes any other provisions deemed necessary and appropriate for ensuring the safety of students who use such school swimming pool for student aquatic activities. Such school swimming pool safety plan shall be reviewed and updated as necessary prior to the commencement of each school year.
(P.A. 13-161, S. 1; P.A. 19-105, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 13-161 effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 19-105 amended Subdiv. (4) to redefine “qualified educator”, and amended Subdiv. (5) to redefine “qualified lifeguard”, effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-220p. Materials provided to students when discussing career options. Guidance counselors and school counselors may provide materials concerning manufacturing, military and law enforcement careers when discussing career options with students.
(P.A. 19-58, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 19-58 effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-221a. High school graduation requirements. Student support and remedial services. Excusal from physical education requirement. Diplomas for certain veterans and certain persons assisting in the war effort during World War II. Student success plans. Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy. (a) For classes graduating from 1988 to 2003, inclusive, no local or regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily completed a minimum of twenty credits, not fewer than four of which shall be in English, not fewer than three in mathematics, not fewer than three in social studies, not fewer than two in science, not fewer than one in the arts or vocational education and not fewer than one in physical education.
(b) For classes graduating from 2004 to 2022, inclusive, no local or regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily completed a minimum of twenty credits, not fewer than four of which shall be in English, not fewer than three in mathematics, not fewer than three in social studies, including at least a one-half credit course on civics and American government, not fewer than two in science, not fewer than one in the arts or vocational education and not fewer than one in physical education.
(c) Commencing with classes graduating in 2023, and for each graduating class thereafter, no local or regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily completed a minimum of twenty-five credits, including not fewer than: (1) Nine credits in the humanities, including civics and the arts; (2) nine credits in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; (3) one credit in physical education and wellness; (4) one credit in health and safety education, as described in section 10-16b; (5) one credit in world languages, subject to the provisions of subsection (g) of this section; and (6) a one credit mastery-based diploma assessment.
(d) Commencing with classes graduating in 2023, and for each graduating class thereafter, local and regional boards of education shall provide adequate student support and remedial services for students beginning in grade seven. Such student support and remedial services shall provide alternate means for a student to complete any of the high school graduation requirements described in subsection (c) of this section, if such student is unable to satisfactorily complete any of the required courses or exams. Such student support and remedial services shall include, but not be limited to, (1) allowing students to retake courses in summer school or through an on-line course; (2) allowing students to enroll in a class offered at a constituent unit of the state system of higher education, as defined in section 10a-1, pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (g) of this section; (3) allowing students who received a failing score, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, on an end of the school year exam to take an alternate form of the exam; and (4) allowing those students whose individualized education programs state that such students are eligible for an alternate assessment to demonstrate competency on any of the five core courses through success on such alternate assessment.
(e) Any student who presents a certificate from a physician or advanced practice registered nurse stating that, in the opinion of the physician or advanced practice registered nurse, participation in physical education is medically contraindicated because of the physical condition of such student, shall be excused from the physical education requirement, provided the credit for physical education may be fulfilled by an elective.
(f) Determination of eligible credits shall be at the discretion of the local or regional board of education, provided the primary focus of the curriculum of eligible credits corresponds directly to the subject matter of the specified course requirements. The local or regional board of education may permit a student to graduate during a period of expulsion pursuant to section 10-233d, if the board determines the student has satisfactorily completed the necessary credits pursuant to this section. The requirements of this section shall apply to any student requiring special education pursuant to section 10-76a, except when the planning and placement team for such student determines the requirement not to be appropriate. For purposes of this section, a credit shall consist of not less than the equivalent of a forty-minute class period for each school day of a school year except for a credit or part of a credit toward high school graduation earned (1) at an institution accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education or regionally accredited, (2) through on-line coursework that is in accordance with a policy adopted pursuant to subsection (g) of this section, or (3) through a demonstration of mastery based on competency and performance standards, in accordance with guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education.
(g) Only courses taken in grades nine to twelve, inclusive, and that are in accordance with the state-wide subject matter content standards, adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-4, shall satisfy the graduation requirements set forth in this section, except that a local or regional board of education may grant a student credit (1) toward meeting the high school graduation requirements upon the successful demonstration of mastery of the subject matter content described in this section achieved through educational experiences and opportunities that provide flexible and multiple pathways to learning, including cross-curricular graduation requirements, career and technical education, virtual learning, work-based learning, service learning, dual enrollment and early college, courses taken in middle school, internships and student-designed independent studies, provided such demonstration of mastery is in accordance with such state-wide subject matter content standards; (2) toward meeting a specified course requirement upon the successful completion in grade seven or eight of any course, the primary focus of which corresponds directly to the subject matter of a specified course requirement in grades nine to twelve, inclusive; (3) toward meeting the high school graduation requirement upon the successful completion of a world language course (A) in grade six, seven or eight, (B) through on-line coursework, or (C) offered privately through a nonprofit provider, provided such student achieves a passing grade on an examination prescribed, within available appropriations, by the Commissioner of Education and such credits do not exceed four; (4) toward meeting the high school graduation requirement upon achievement of a passing grade on a subject area proficiency examination identified and approved, within available appropriations, by the Commissioner of Education, regardless of the number of hours the student spent in a public school classroom learning such subject matter; (5) toward meeting the high school graduation requirement upon the successful completion of coursework during the school year or summer months at an institution accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education or regionally accredited. One three-credit semester course, or its equivalent, at such an institution shall equal one-half credit for purposes of this section; (6) toward meeting the high school graduation requirement upon the successful completion of on-line coursework, provided the local or regional board of education has adopted a policy in accordance with this subdivision for the granting of credit for on-line coursework. Such a policy shall ensure, at a minimum, that (A) the workload required by the on-line course is equivalent to that of a similar course taught in a traditional classroom setting, (B) the content is rigorous and aligned with curriculum guidelines approved by the State Board of Education, where appropriate, (C) the course engages students and has interactive components, which may include, but are not limited to, required interactions between students and their teachers, participation in on-line demonstrations, discussion boards or virtual labs, (D) the program of instruction for such on-line coursework is planned, ongoing and systematic, and (E) the courses are (i) taught by teachers who are certified in the state or another state and have received training on teaching in an on-line environment, or (ii) offered by institutions of higher education that are accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education or regionally accredited; or (7) toward meeting the high school graduation requirement upon the successful completion of the academic advancement program, pursuant to section 10-5c.
(h) A local or regional board of education may offer one-half credit in community service which, if satisfactorily completed, shall qualify for high school graduation credit pursuant to this section, provided such community service is supervised by a certified school administrator or teacher and consists of not less than fifty hours of actual service that may be performed at times when school is not regularly in session and not less than ten hours of related classroom instruction. For purposes of this section, community service does not include partisan political activities. The State Board of Education shall assist local and regional boards of education in meeting the requirements of this section. The State Board of Education shall award a community service recognition award to any student who satisfactorily completes fifty hours or more of community service in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.
(i) (1) A local or regional board of education may award a diploma to a veteran, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, or a person with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in the armed forces, which veteran or person served during World War II or the Korean hostilities, as described in section 51-49h, or during the Vietnam Era, as defined in section 27-103, withdrew from high school prior to graduation in order to serve in the armed forces of the United States and did not receive a diploma as a consequence of such service.
(2) A local or regional board of education may award a diploma to any person who (A) withdrew from high school prior to graduation to work in a job that assisted the war effort during World War II, December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946, inclusive, (B) did not receive a diploma as a consequence of such work, and (C) has been a resident of the state for at least fifty consecutive years.
(j) For the school year commencing July 1, 2012, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall create a student success plan for each student enrolled in a public school, beginning in grade six. Such student success plan shall include a student's career and academic choices in grades six to twelve, inclusive. Beginning in grade six, such student success plan shall provide evidence of career exploration in each grade including, but not limited to, careers in manufacturing. The Department of Education shall revise and issue to local and regional boards of education guidance regarding changes to such student success plans. On and after July 1, 2020, in creating such student success plans, consideration shall be given to career and academic choices in computer science, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
(k) Commencing with classes graduating in 2018, and for each graduating class thereafter, a local or regional board of education may affix the Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy, as described in subsection (f) of section 10-5, to a diploma awarded to a student who has achieved a high level of proficiency in English and one or more foreign languages, as defined in said subsection (f). The local or regional board of education shall include on such student's transcript a designation that the student received the Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy.
(P.A. 83-282; P.A. 84-297, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-96, S. 1, 2; 85-613, S. 120, 154; P.A. 86-333, S. 12, 32; P.A. 88-136, S. 11, 37; P.A. 93-111, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-182, S. 8, 11; P.A. 96-26, S. 3, 4; P.A. 00-124, S. 1, 2; 00-156; 00-187, S. 69, 75; P.A. 08-138, S. 1; P.A. 10-111, S. 16; P.A. 11-17, S. 1; 11-28, S. 14; 11-48, S. 285; 11-135, S. 1, 2; P.A. 12-156, S. 10; 12-173, S. 8; 12-197, S. 22; P.A. 13-57, S. 1; 13-108, S. 1; 13-118, S. 14; 13-122, S. 17; 13-247, S. 189; P.A. 15-237, S. 1; P.A. 17-29, S. 2; 17-42, S. 1; P.A. 18-47, S. 7; P.A. 19-58, S. 3; 19-128, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 84-297 amended Subsec. (a) to establish a state-wide twenty credit requirement for graduation effective for classes graduating in 1988 and thereafter; to state the minimum number of credits to be earned in English, mathematics, social studies, science, the arts or vocational education and physical education and to allow the local or regional board of education to determine what is an eligible credit for purposes of fulfilling the requirement; P.A. 85-96 amended Subsec. (a) to permit an exception to the course requirement for graduation, allowing local or regional boards to grant a student credit toward a specified course requirement upon the successful completion in grade seven or eight of any course, the primary focus of which corresponds directly to the subject matter of a specified course requirement in grades nine to twelve, but specifying that students must complete at least twenty credits in grades nine to twelve, notwithstanding the grant of such credit; P.A. 85-613 made technical change; P.A. 86-333 made provision in Subsec. (a) for credit for coursework earned at institutions of higher education to satisfy high school graduation requirements; P.A. 88-136 deleted obsolete provisions in Subsec. (a) re students graduating in 1987; P.A. 93-111 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions on community service, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-182 deleted former Subsec. (b) concerning report to the General Assembly on graduation requirements, effective June 28, 1995; P.A. 96-26 added provision allowing expelled students to graduate if they have completed the necessary credits and deleted provision requiring that twenty credits toward graduation be completed in grades nine through twelve, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 00-124 added new provision, designated as Subsec. (g), re diplomas for veterans of World War II, effective May 29, 2000; P.A. 00-156, effective October 1, 2000, and 00-187, effective July 1, 2000, both divided the existing section into Subsecs., adding new provisions as Subsec. (b) to require that classes graduating in 2004 and thereafter have at least one-half credit in civics and American government; P.A. 08-138 amended Subsec. (e) by adding new Subdiv. (2) re world language course and Subdiv. (3) re subject area approved by commissioner and redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (4), effective July 1, 2008; P.A. 10-111 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “Commencing with classes graduating in 2004, and for each graduating class thereafter” with “For classes graduating from 2004 to 2017, inclusive”, added new Subsec. (c) re graduation requirements beginning with classes graduating in 2018, added new Subsec. (d) re student support and remedial services, redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) to (g) as Subsecs. (e) to (i), amended redesignated Subsec. (f) by adding provision re on-line coursework, amended redesignated Subsec. (g) by adding “the successful”, by adding Subparas. (A) and (B) and designating existing provision re nonprofit provider as Subpara. (C) in Subdiv. (2), by adding Subdiv. (5) re on-line coursework and by adding Subdiv. (6) re board examination series, and added Subsec. (j) re collection of student information, effective July 1, 2010; P.A. 11-17 amended Subsec. (i) by adding provision re Korean hostilities and making a conforming change, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-28 made a technical change in Subsec. (j), effective June 3, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Department of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education” in Subsecs. (f) and (g), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-135 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “2017” with “2019”, amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) by replacing “2018” with “2020” and amended Subsec. (j) by adding language re student success plan and making conforming changes, effective July 8, 2011; P.A. 12-156 amended Subsecs. (f) and (g) by adding references to State Board of Education re accreditation, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 12-173 amended Subsec. (d)(4) by replacing “individualized education plans” with “individualized education programs”, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 12-197 amended Subsec. (e) by adding provision allowing certification by an advanced practice registered nurse; P.A. 13-57 amended Subsec. (i) to allow the awarding of diplomas for veterans of the Vietnam Era, effective June 3, 2013; P.A. 13-108 amended Subsec. (f) by adding Subdiv. (3) re demonstration of mastery based on competency and performance standards, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-118 amended Subsecs. (f) and (g) to replace “State Board of Education” with “Office of Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-122 amended Subsec. (i) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and amending same by replacing “left” with “withdrew from” and adding Subdiv. (2) re diplomas for persons assisting in the war effort during World War II, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-247 amended Subsec. (g) by making a technical change and replacing “board examination series” with “academic advancement program” in Subdiv. (6), effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 15-237 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “2019” with “2020”, amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) by replacing “2020” with “2021”, amended Subsec. (g) by making a technical change and, in Subdiv. (4), by adding “during the school year or summer months”, amended Subsec. (h) by adding provision re community service recognition award, and amended Subsec. (i) by adding “subsection (a) of” re references to Sec. 27-103, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 17-29 added Subsec. (k) re Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 17-42 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “2020” with “2022”, amended Subsec. (c) by replacing provisions re graduation requirements with provisions re same, amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “2021” with “2023” and deleting “or end of the school year examinations”, and amended Subsec. (g) by adding provision re state-wide subject matter content standards, adding new Subdiv. (1) re successful demonstration of mastery of subject matter content and redesignating existing Subdivs. (1) to (6) as Subdivs. (2) to (7), effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 18-47 amended Subsec. (i)(1) to add provision re person with qualifying condition and discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable and to make technical changes; P.A. 19-58 amended Subsec. (j) to add provisions re student success plan to provide evidence of career exploration in each grade and department to revise and issue guidance to boards of education re changes to student success plans, effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 19-128 amended Subsec. (j) by adding provision re on and after July 1, 2020 consideration to be given to career and academic choices in computer science, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-221d. Criminal history and child abuse and neglect registry records checks of applicants and employees of eligible school operators. Termination or dismissal. Fingerprinting. Availability of information re applicant's history. (a) As used in this section and sections 10-232b and 10-232c, “eligible school operator” means a school or school district authorized to receive national criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to P.L. 92-544, and shall include a local or regional board of education, the Technical Education and Career System, the governing council of a state or local charter school, a cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a and an interdistrict magnet school operator other than an operator who is a third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the Commissioner of Education.
(b) Each eligible school operator shall, subject to the provisions of section 31-51i, (1) require each applicant for a position with such eligible school operator to state, in writing, whether such applicant has ever been convicted of a crime or whether criminal charges are pending against such applicant at the time of such application and, if charges are pending, to state the charges and the court in which such charges are pending, (2) require each applicant to submit to a records check of the Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to section 17a-101k, before such applicant may be hired by such eligible school operator, and (3) on and after July 1, 2019, require, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, each applicant for a position with such eligible school operator to submit to state and national criminal history records checks within thirty days from the date of employment and may require, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, any person hired prior to said date to submit to state and national criminal history records checks. The criminal history records checks required by this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with section 29-17a. If the eligible school operator receives notice of a conviction of a crime which has not previously been disclosed by such person to the eligible school operator, the eligible school operator may (A) terminate the contract of a certified employee, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-151, and (B) dismiss a noncertified employee, provided such employee is notified of the reason for such dismissal. If the eligible school operator receives notice of a conviction of a crime by a person holding a certificate, authorization or permit issued by the State Board of Education, the eligible school operator shall send such notice to the State Board of Education. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to cause an eligible school operator to disseminate the results of any national criminal history records check.
(c) If an eligible school operator requests, a regional educational service center shall arrange for the fingerprinting of any person required to submit to state and national criminal history records checks pursuant to this section or for conducting any other method of positive identification required by the State Police Bureau of Identification or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and shall forward such fingerprints or other positive identifying information to the State Police Bureau of Identification which shall conduct criminal history records checks in accordance with section 29-17a. Such regional educational service center shall maintain such fingerprints or other positive identifying information, which may be in an electronic format, for a period of four years, at the end of which such fingerprints and positive identifying information shall be destroyed. The State Police Bureau of Identification shall provide the results of such checks to such eligible school operator. No regional educational service center shall charge a fee for services under this subsection that exceeds any fee that the center may charge any applicant for a position with such center.
(d) State and national criminal history records checks for substitute teachers completed within one year prior to the date of employment with an eligible school operator and submitted to the employing eligible school operator shall meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. An eligible school operator shall not require substitute teachers to submit to state and national criminal history records checks pursuant to subsection (b) of this section if they are continuously employed by such eligible school operator, provided a substitute teacher is subjected to such checks at least once every five years. For purposes of this section, substitute teachers shall be deemed to be continuously employed by an eligible school operator if they are employed at least one day of each school year by such eligible school operator.
(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) a student employed by the eligible school operator that operates a school which the student attends, or (2) a person employed by an eligible school operator as a teacher for a noncredit adult class or adult education activity, as defined in section 10-67, who is not required to hold a teaching certificate pursuant to section 10-145b for his or her position.
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (g) of section 31-51i, and to the extent permissible under state and federal laws regarding the dissemination of criminal history records, the State Board of Education shall, upon request of an eligible school operator, make available to such eligible school operator requesting information concerning an applicant for a position with such eligible school operator (1) any information concerning the applicant's eligibility for employment in a position with such eligible school operator requiring a certificate, authorization or permit issued pursuant to chapter 166, (2) whether the department has knowledge that the applicant has been disciplined for a finding of abuse or neglect or sexual misconduct, as defined in section 10-222c, and any information concerning such a finding, and (3) whether the department has received notification that the applicant has been convicted of a crime or of criminal charges pending against the applicant and any information concerning such charges. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to cause the state board to investigate any such request or disseminate the results of any national criminal history records check.
(P.A. 93-328; P.A. 94-221, S. 7; P.A. 95-259, S. 16, 32; P.A. 98-252, S. 15, 80; P.A. 01-173, S. 55, 67; 01-175, S. 2; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 19; P.A. 04-181, S. 3; June 19 Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-1, S. 8; P.A. 10-71, S. 5; P.A. 11-93, S. 1; P.A. 12-116, S. 47; 12-120, S. 21; P.A. 16-67, S. 1; P.A. 17-48, S. 4; 17-68, S. 9; P.A. 18-51, S. 9; P.A. 19-91, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 94-221 amended Subsec. (a) to allow local and regional boards of education to require criminal history records checks of persons hired prior to July 1, 1994, and to allow private schools to require such checks of applicants for positions in such schools and employees of such schools; P.A. 95-259 amended Subsec. (a) to add references to Subsec. (d) and to regional educational service centers, designated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (d), inserting new Subsec. (b) re regional educational service centers and Subsec. (c) re substitute teachers and amended Subsec. (d), formerly Subsec. (b), to add provision concerning teachers of adult classes or activities, effective July 6, 1995; P.A. 98-252 amended Subsec. (b) to allow the service center to provide the results to other boards of education upon the request of the person fingerprinted, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 01-173 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute 30 for 90 days from date of employment for records checks, to add Subdiv. (3) re workers under public assistance employment programs, and to require boards of education to send notices of convictions to the State Board of Education, amended Subsec. (c) to make a technical change, amended Subsec. (d) by designating existing provisions as Subdivs. (1) and (3), adding Subdiv. (2) re employed students and making a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality in Subdiv. (3), and added Subsecs. (e) and (f) re submission of data bases to the State Police Bureau of Identification, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 01-175 made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality in Subsecs. (a), (b) and (d), amended Subsec. (a) by replacing language re Subsec. (b) state criminal history checks, fingerprinting and charging of fee for national criminal history records checks with language re state and national criminal history checks pursuant to Sec. 29-17a, and amended Subsec. (b) by replacing language re fingerprinting pursuant to Subsec. (a) with language re fingerprinting and criminal history records checks pursuant to Sec. 29-17a; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subsec. (a) to designate existing provision re worker placed under public assistance employment program as Subpara. (A) and add Subpara. (B) re providers of supplemental services in Subdiv. (3), to redesignate existing Subparas. (A) and (B) as Clauses (i) and (ii) and to add requirement that the State Board of Education be notified of criminal convictions of providers of supplemental services, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-181 amended Subsec. (b) by adding references to endowed or incorporated academies and special education facilities, effective July 1, 2004; June 19 Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-1 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting “On and after July 1, 1994”, by adding Subpara. (C) re workers in nonpaid, noncertified positions completing requirements for educator certification, by designating existing provisions re person holding certificate, authorization or permit or employed by provider of supplemental services as subclauses (I) and (II) and adding subclause (III) re person in nonpaid, noncertified position completing requirements for educator certification, and made technical changes in Subsecs. (e) and (f), effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 10-71 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective May 18, 2010; P.A. 11-93 amended Subsec. (a) by adding new Subdiv. (2) re applicants for positions in public schools to submit to records check of Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry and redesignating existing Subdivs. (2) and (3) as Subdivs. (3) and (4), amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) to make a technical change and added Subsec. (g) re applicants for certification to submit to records check of Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-116 made technical changes in Subsecs. (e) to (g), effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 12-120 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re maintenance and destruction of fingerprints and other positive identifying information, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 16-67 added references to governing council of state or local charter school and interdistrict magnet school operator, amended Subsec. (a)(2) by deleting provision re position requiring certificate, authorization or permit, by deleting Subpara. (B) re position not requiring certificate, authorization or permit and by deleting Subpara. (A) designator, amended Subsec. (a)(3) by adding “on and after July 1, 2016,” by replacing reference to person hired by board after July 1, 1994, with reference to applicant for position and, in Subpara. (C)(ii), by deleting provision re opportunity to file proper answer, amended Subsec. (b) by adding reference to contractor and adding provision re fee charged by regional educational service center, amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision re substitute teacher subject to checks, amended Subsec. (d) by deleting former Subdiv. (1) re applicability to person required to submit to criminal history records checks pursuant to Sec. 14-44(e), by deleting former Subdiv. (3) re teacher for noncredit adult class or adult education activity and by deleting Subdiv. (2) designator, added Subsec. (h) re availability of information concerning applicant, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 17-48 amended Subsec. (h) by replacing reference to Sec. 31-51i(f) with reference to Sec. 31-51(g); P.A. 17-68 added references to supervisory agents of nonpublic schools, amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “2016” with “2017” in Subdiv. (3), deleting provision re private school may require applicant to submit to criminal history records check, and adding provision re nonpublic school to pay fee charged for criminal history records checks required under section, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 18-51 amended Subsec. (d) by designating existing provision re student employed by school district in which student attends school as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re person employed by board of education as teacher for noncredit adult class or adult education activity, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 19-91 replaced references to local and regional boards of education, governing councils of state and local charter schools, interdistrict magnet school operators and supervisory agents of nonpublic schools with eligible school operators, added new Subsec. (a) re definition of “eligible school operator”, redesignated existing Subsecs. (a) to (d) as Subsecs. (b) to (e), deleted former Subsecs. (e) to (g), redesignated existing Subsec. (h) as Subsec. (f), amended redesignated Subsec. (b) by adding reference to section 31-51i, adding “, in writing,”, adding provision re pending charges, replacing “2017” with “2019” in Subdiv. (3), deleting existing Subdiv. (4) re person who performs service involving direct student contact, redesignating existing clauses (i) and (ii) as Subparas. (A) and (B), deleting subclauses (II) and (III) re person employed by provider of supplemental services and employed in nonpaid, noncertified position completing preparation requirements, respectively, deleting provision re supervisory agent of nonpublic school responsible for paying fee for criminal history records check, and adding provision re provisions of subsection not to be construed to cause dissemination of results of criminal history records checks, amended redesignated Subsec. (c) by replacing provision re regional educational service centers to provide results of checks with provision re State Police Bureau of Identification to provide results of checks to eligible school operators, amended redesignated Subsec. (f) by adding “and to the extent permissible under state and federal laws regarding the dissemination of criminal history records” and “or disseminate the results of any national criminal history records check” and replacing references to Department of Education with State Board of Education, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-221o. Lunch periods. Recess. Undirected play. Boards to adopt policies addressing limitation of physical exercise. (a) Each local and regional board of education shall require each school under its jurisdiction to (1) offer all full day students a daily lunch period of not less than twenty minutes, and (2) include in the regular school day for each student enrolled in elementary school time devoted to physical exercise of not less than twenty minutes in total, except that a planning and placement team may develop a different schedule for a child requiring special education and related services in accordance with chapter 164 and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from time to time. In the event of a conflict with this section and any provision of chapter 164, such other provision of chapter 164 shall be deemed controlling. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent a local or regional board of education from including an additional amount of time, beyond the twenty minutes required for physical exercise, devoted to undirected play during the regular school day for each student enrolled in elementary school.
(b) Not later than October 1, 2019, each local and regional board of education shall adopt a policy, as the board deems appropriate, concerning the issue regarding any school employee being involved in preventing a student from participating in the entire time devoted to physical exercise or undirected play in the regular school day, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, as a form of discipline. For purposes of this section, “school employee” means (1) a teacher, substitute teacher, school administrator, school superintendent, guidance counselor, school counselor, psychologist, social worker, nurse, physician, school paraprofessional or coach employed by a local or regional board of education or working in a public elementary, middle or high school; or (2) any other individual who, in the performance of his or her duties, has regular contact with students and who provides services to or on behalf of students enrolled in a public elementary, middle or high school, pursuant to a contract with the local or regional board of education.
(P.A. 04-224, S. 1; P.A. 12-116, S. 9; 12-198, S. 5; P.A. 13-173, S. 2; P.A. 18-15, S. 6; P.A. 19-173, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 04-224 effective July 1, 2004 (Revisor's note: A reference to “Individual With Disabilities Education Act” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Individuals With Disabilities Education Act” for accuracy); P.A. 12-116 amended Subdiv. (2) by replacing “a period of physical exercise” with “time devoted to physical exercise of not less than twenty minutes in total”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 12-198 made identical changes as P.A. 12-116, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-173 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to replace “grades kindergarten to five, inclusive,” with “elementary school” in Subdiv. (2) and added Subsec. (b) requiring each board to adopt a policy concerning the restriction of physical exercise as a form of discipline and defining “school employee”, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 18-15 amended Subsec. (b) by adding “school counselor”, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 19-173 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re additional time devoted to undirected play, and amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “2013” with “2019” and adding “or undirected play”, effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-222d. *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Safe school climate plans. Definitions. School climate assessments. (a) As used in this section, sections 10-222g to 10-222i, inclusive, and section 10-222k:
(1) “Bullying” means (A) the repeated use by one or more students of a written, oral or electronic communication, such as cyberbullying, directed at or referring to another student attending school in the same school district, or (B) a physical act or gesture by one or more students repeatedly directed at another student attending school in the same school district, that: (i) Causes physical or emotional harm to such student or damage to such student's property, (ii) places such student in reasonable fear of harm to himself or herself, or of damage to his or her property, (iii) creates a hostile environment at school for such student, (iv) infringes on the rights of such student at school, or (v) substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school. “Bullying” shall include, but not be limited to, a written, oral or electronic communication or physical act or gesture based on any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance, or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, or by association with an individual or group who has or is perceived to have one or more of such characteristics;
(2) “Cyberbullying” means any act of bullying through the use of the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, cellular mobile telephone or other mobile electronic devices or any electronic communications;
(3) “Teen dating violence” means any act of physical, emotional or sexual abuse, including stalking, harassing and threatening, that occurs between two students who are currently in or who have recently been in a dating relationship;
(4) “Mobile electronic device” means any hand-held or other portable electronic equipment capable of providing data communication between two or more individuals, including, but not limited to, a text messaging device, a paging device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, equipment that is capable of playing a video game or a digital video disk, or equipment on which digital images are taken or transmitted;
(5) “Electronic communication” means any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic or photo-optical system;
(6) “Hostile environment” means a situation in which bullying among students is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the school climate;
(7) “Outside of the school setting” means at a location, activity or program that is not school related, or through the use of an electronic device or a mobile electronic device that is not owned, leased or used by a local or regional board of education;
(8) “School employee” means (A) a teacher, substitute teacher, school administrator, school superintendent, guidance counselor, school counselor, psychologist, social worker, nurse, physician, school paraprofessional or coach employed by a local or regional board of education or working in a public elementary, middle or high school; or (B) any other individual who, in the performance of his or her duties, has regular contact with students and who provides services to or on behalf of students enrolled in a public elementary, middle or high school, pursuant to a contract with the local or regional board of education; and
(9) “School climate” means the quality and character of school life with a particular focus on the quality of the relationships within the school community between and among students and adults.
(b) Each local and regional board of education shall develop and implement a safe school climate plan to address the existence of bullying and teen dating violence in its schools. Such plan shall: (1) Enable students to anonymously report acts of bullying to school employees and require students and the parents or guardians of students to be notified at the beginning of each school year of the process by which students may make such reports, (2) enable the parents or guardians of students to file written reports of suspected bullying, (3) require school employees who witness acts of bullying or receive reports of bullying to orally notify the safe school climate specialist, described in section 10-222k, or another school administrator if the safe school climate specialist is unavailable, not later than one school day after such school employee witnesses or receives a report of bullying, and to file a written report not later than two school days after making such oral report, (4) require the safe school climate specialist to investigate or supervise the investigation of all reports of bullying and ensure that such investigation is completed promptly after receipt of any written reports made under this section and that the parents or guardians of the student alleged to have committed an act or acts of bullying and the parents or guardians of the student against whom such alleged act or acts were directed receive prompt notice that such investigation has commenced, (5) require the safe school climate specialist to review any anonymous reports, except that no disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report, (6) include a prevention and intervention strategy, as defined by section 10-222g, for school employees to deal with bullying and teen dating violence, (7) provide for the inclusion of language in student codes of conduct concerning bullying, (8) require each school to notify the parents or guardians of students who commit any verified acts of bullying and the parents or guardians of students against whom such acts were directed not later than forty-eight hours after the completion of the investigation described in subdivision (4) of this subsection, (9) require each school to invite the parents or guardians of a student against whom such act was directed to a meeting to communicate to such parents or guardians the measures being taken by the school to ensure the safety of the student against whom such act was directed and policies and procedures in place to prevent further acts of bullying, (10) require each school to invite the parents or guardians of a student who commits any verified act of bullying to a meeting, separate and distinct from the meeting required in subdivision (9) of this subsection, to discuss specific interventions undertaken by the school to prevent further acts of bullying, (11) establish a procedure for each school to document and maintain records relating to reports and investigations of bullying in such school and to maintain a list of the number of verified acts of bullying in such school and make such list available for public inspection, and annually report such number to the Department of Education, and in such manner as prescribed by the Commissioner of Education, (12) direct the development of case-by-case interventions for addressing repeated incidents of bullying against a single individual or recurrently perpetrated bullying incidents by the same individual that may include both counseling and discipline, (13) prohibit discrimination and retaliation against an individual who reports or assists in the investigation of an act of bullying, (14) direct the development of student safety support plans for students against whom an act of bullying was directed that address safety measures the school will take to protect such students against further acts of bullying, (15) require the principal of a school, or the principal's designee, to notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency when such principal, or the principal's designee, believes that any acts of bullying constitute criminal conduct, (16) prohibit bullying (A) on school grounds, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, function or program whether on or off school grounds, at a school bus stop, on a school bus or other vehicle owned, leased or used by a local or regional board of education, or through the use of an electronic device or an electronic mobile device owned, leased or used by the local or regional board of education, and (B) outside of the school setting if such bullying (i) creates a hostile environment at school for the student against whom such bullying was directed, or (ii) infringes on the rights of the student against whom such bullying was directed at school, or (iii) substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school, (17) require, at the beginning of each school year, each school to provide all school employees with a written or electronic copy of the school district's safe school climate plan, and (18) require that all school employees annually complete the training described in section 10-220a or section 10-222j. The notification required pursuant to subdivision (8) of this subsection and the invitation required pursuant to subdivision (9) of this subsection shall include a description of the response of school employees to such acts and any consequences that may result from the commission of further acts of bullying.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2014, each local and regional board of education that has not had a safe school climate plan, developed pursuant to this section, previously reviewed and approved by the Department of Education shall submit a safe school climate plan to the department for review and approval in accordance with the provisions of section 10-222p. Not later than thirty calendar days after approval by the department of such safe school climate plan, the board shall make such plan available on the board's and each individual school in the school district's Internet web site and ensure that such plan is included in the school district's publication of the rules, procedures and standards of conduct for schools and in all student handbooks.
(d) On and after July 1, 2012, and biennially thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall require each school in the district to complete an assessment using the school climate assessment instruments, including surveys, approved and disseminated by the Department of Education pursuant to section 10-222h. Each local and regional board of education shall collect the school climate assessments for each school in the district and submit such school climate assessments to the department.
(P.A. 02-119, S. 1; P.A. 06-115, S. 1; P.A. 08-160, S. 4; P.A. 11-232, S. 1; P.A. 14-172, S. 2; 14-232, S. 2; 14-234, S. 3; P.A. 18-15, S. 8.)
*Note: On and after July 1, 2021, this section, as amended by section 3 of public act 19-166, is to read as follows:
“Sec. 10-222d. Safe school, climate plans. Definitions. School climate assessments. (a) As used in this section, sections 10-222g to 10-222i, inclusive, section 10-222k, section 10-222q and section 2 of public act 19-166*:
(1) “Bullying” means an act that is direct or indirect and severe, persistent or pervasive, which (A) causes physical or emotional harm to an individual, (B) places an individual in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm, or (C) infringes on the rights or opportunities of an individual at school. “Bullying” shall include, but need not be limited to, a written, oral or electronic communication or physical act or gesture based on any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance, or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, or by association with an individual or group who has or is perceived to have one or more of such characteristics;
(2) “Cyberbullying” means any act of bullying through the use of the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, cellular mobile telephone or other mobile electronic devices or any electronic communications;
(3) “Teen dating violence” means any act of physical, emotional or sexual abuse, including stalking, harassing and threatening, that occurs between two students who are currently in or who have recently been in a dating relationship;
(4) “Mobile electronic device” means any hand-held or other portable electronic equipment capable of providing data communication between two or more individuals, including, but not limited to, a text messaging device, a paging device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, equipment that is capable of playing a video game or a digital video disk, or equipment on which digital images are taken or transmitted;
(5) “Electronic communication” means any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic or photo-optical system;
(6) “Hostile environment” means a situation in which bullying among students is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the school climate;
(7) “Outside of the school setting” means at a location, activity or program that is not school related, or through the use of an electronic device or a mobile electronic device that is not owned, leased or used by a local or regional board of education;
(8) “School employee” means (A) a teacher, substitute teacher, school administrator, school superintendent, guidance counselor, school counselor, psychologist, social worker, nurse, physician, school paraprofessional or coach employed by a local or regional board of education or working in a public elementary, middle or high school; or (B) any other individual who, in the performance of his or her duties, has regular contact with students and who provides services to or on behalf of students enrolled in a public elementary, middle or high school, pursuant to a contract with the local or regional board of education;
(9) “School climate” means the quality and character of school life based on patterns of students', parents' and guardians' and school employees' experiences of school life, including, but not limited to, norms, goals, values, interpersonal relationships, teaching and learning practices and organizational structures;
(10) “Positive school climate” means a school climate in which (A) the norms, values, expectations and beliefs that support feelings of social, emotional and physical safety are promoted, (B) students, parents and guardians of students and school employees feel engaged and respected and work together to develop and contribute to a shared school vision, (C) educators model and nurture attitudes that emphasize the benefits and satisfaction gained from learning, and (D) each person feels comfortable contributing to the operation of the school and care of the physical environment of the school;
(11) “Emotional intelligence” means the ability to (A) perceive, recognize and understand emotions in oneself or others, (B) use emotions to facilitate cognitive activities, including, but not limited to, reasoning, problem solving and interpersonal communication, (C) understand and identify emotions, and (D) manage emotions in oneself and others; and
(12) “Social and emotional learning” means the process through which children and adults achieve emotional intelligence through the competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.
(b) Each local and regional board of education shall develop and implement a safe school climate plan to address the existence of bullying and teen dating violence in its schools. Such plan shall: (1) Enable students to anonymously report acts of bullying to school employees and require students and the parents or guardians of students to be notified at the beginning of each school year of the process by which students may make such reports, (2) enable the parents or guardians of students to file written reports of suspected bullying, (3) require school employees who witness acts of bullying or receive reports of bullying to orally notify the safe school climate specialist, described in section 10-222k, or another school administrator if the safe school climate specialist is unavailable, not later than one school day after such school employee witnesses or receives a report of bullying, and to file a written report not later than two school days after making such oral report, (4) require the safe school climate specialist to investigate or supervise the investigation of all reports of bullying and ensure that such investigation is completed promptly after receipt of any written reports made under this section and that the parents or guardians of the student alleged to have committed an act or acts of bullying and the parents or guardians of the student against whom such alleged act or acts were directed receive prompt notice that such investigation has commenced, (5) require the safe school climate specialist to review any anonymous reports, except that no disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report, (6) include a prevention and intervention strategy, as defined by section 10-222g, for school employees to deal with bullying and teen dating violence, (7) provide for the inclusion of language in student codes of conduct concerning bullying, (8) require each school to notify the parents or guardians of students who commit any verified acts of bullying and the parents or guardians of students against whom such acts were directed not later than forty-eight hours after the completion of the investigation described in subdivision (4) of this subsection (A) of the results of such investigation, and (B) verbally and by electronic mail, if such parents' or guardians' electronic mail addresses are known, that such parents or guardians may refer to the plain language explanation of the rights and remedies available under sections 10-4a and 10-4b published on the Internet web site of the local or regional board of education pursuant to section 10-222r, (9) require each school to invite the parents or guardians of a student against whom such act was directed to a meeting to communicate to such parents or guardians the measures being taken by the school to ensure the safety of the student against whom such act was directed and policies and procedures in place to prevent further acts of bullying, (10) require each school to invite the parents or guardians of a student who commits any verified act of bullying to a meeting, separate and distinct from the meeting required in subdivision (9) of this subsection, to discuss specific interventions undertaken by the school to prevent further acts of bullying, (11) establish a procedure for each school to document and maintain records relating to reports and investigations of bullying in such school and to maintain a list of the number of verified acts of bullying in such school and make such list available for public inspection, and annually report such number to the Department of Education, and in such manner as prescribed by the Commissioner of Education, (12) direct the development of case-by-case interventions for addressing repeated incidents of bullying against a single individual or recurrently perpetrated bullying incidents by the same individual that may include both counseling and discipline, (13) prohibit discrimination and retaliation against an individual who reports or assists in the investigation of an act of bullying, (14) direct the development of student safety support plans for students against whom an act of bullying was directed that address safety measures the school will take to protect such students against further acts of bullying, (15) require the principal of a school, or the principal's designee, to notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency when such principal, or the principal's designee, believes that any acts of bullying constitute criminal conduct, (16) prohibit bullying (A) on school grounds, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, function or program whether on or off school grounds, at a school bus stop, on a school bus or other vehicle owned, leased or used by a local or regional board of education, or through the use of an electronic device or an electronic mobile device owned, leased or used by the local or regional board of education, and (B) outside of the school setting if such bullying (i) creates a hostile environment at school for the student against whom such bullying was directed, or (ii) infringes on the rights of the student against whom such bullying was directed at school, or (iii) substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school, (17) require, at the beginning of each school year, each school to provide all school employees with a written or electronic copy of the school district's safe school climate plan, and (18) require that all school employees annually complete the training described in section 10-220a or section 10-222j. The notification required pursuant to subdivision (8) of this subsection and the invitation required pursuant to subdivision (9) of this subsection shall include a description of the response of school employees to such acts and any consequences that may result from the commission of further acts of bullying.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2014, each local and regional board of education that has not had a safe school climate plan, developed pursuant to this section, previously reviewed and approved by the Department of Education shall submit a safe school climate plan to the department for review and approval in accordance with the provisions of section 10-222p. Not later than thirty calendar days after approval by the department of such safe school climate plan, the board shall make such plan available on the board's and each individual school in the school district's Internet web site and ensure that such plan is included in the school district's publication of the rules, procedures and standards of conduct for schools and in all student handbooks.
(d) On and after July 1, 2012, and biennially thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall require each school in the district to complete an assessment using the school climate assessment instruments, including surveys, approved and disseminated by the Department of Education pursuant to section 10-222h. Each local and regional board of education shall collect the school climate assessments for each school in the district and submit such school climate assessments to the department.”
(P.A. 02-119, S. 1; P.A. 06-115, S. 1; P.A. 08-160, S. 4; P.A. 11-232, S. 1; P.A. 14-172, S. 2; 14-232, S. 2; 14-234, S. 3; P.A. 18-15, S. 8; P.A. 19-166, S. 3.)
*Note: Section 2 of public act 19-166 is special in nature and therefore has not been codified but remains in full force and effect according to its terms.
History: P.A. 02-119 effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 06-115 added annual notification requirement in Subdiv. (1), added Subdiv. (9) re interventions, redefined “bullying” to include harassment and behavior on a school bus and added language re policies to address bullying outside of the school setting, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 08-160 added language re implementation of policy, deleted provision re use on and after February 1, 2003, amended Subdiv. (3) to require notification be in writing, amended Subdiv. (4) to add exception re anonymous report, amended Subdiv. (5) to add language re prevention, amended Subdiv. (7) to add language re notification by each school and invitation to attend at least one meeting, amended Subdiv. (8) to add language re report to Department of Education, added Subdiv. (10) re identification of appropriate personnel, redefined “bullying” to provide that acts may be committed against any student more than once and added language re submission of policy to Department of Education and publication of policy by school district, effective July 1, 2008 (Revisor's note: In codifying section 4 of public act 08-160, a reference to “this act” was deemed by the Revisors to be a reference to section 5 of that act and therefore cited as “section 10-222g”); P.A. 11-232 replaced references to bullying policy with references to safe school climate plan throughout, designated existing provisions as Subsecs. (b) and (c), added Subsec. (a) re definitions, amended Subsec. (b) by adding provisions re safe school climate plan and making conforming changes, deleting former definition of “bullying”, redesignating existing Subdivs. (5) to (7) as Subdivs. (6) to (8), adding new Subdivs. (5), (9) and (10), redesignating existing Subdiv. (9) as Subdiv. (11), deleting former Subdiv. (10) and adding Subdivs. (12) to (17), amended Subsec. (c) by expanding existing provisions re safe school climate plan and making conforming changes, and added Subsec. (d) re completion and submission of school climate assessments, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 14-172 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re notice of bullying policy at the beginning of the school year in Subdiv. (1), add provision re prompt notice to parents re bullying investigation in Subdiv. (4), delete provision re verified act of bullying and add “policies and procedures in place” in Subdiv. (9), add new Subdiv. (10) re meeting with parents or guardians of student who commits verified act of bullying, redesignate existing Subdivs. (10) to (17) as Subdivs. (11) to (18) and make technical changes, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 14-232 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “January 1, 2012” with “September 1, 2014”, adding requirement that boards of education that have not had a safe school climate plan previously reviewed and approved by department submit such plan for review and approval and making conforming changes, effective June 13, 2014; P.A. 14-234 amended Subsec. (a) to add new Subdiv. (3) defining “teen dating violence” and redesignate existing Subdivs. (3) to (8) as Subdivs. (4) to (9), and amended Subsec. (b) to add references to teen dating violence; P.A. 18-15 redefined “school employee” in Subsec. (a)(8) to include school counselors, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 19-166 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “bullying” in Subdiv. (1), redefining “school climate” in Subdiv. (9), adding Subdivs. (10) to (12) defining “positive school climate”, “emotional intelligence” and “social and emotional learning”, respectively, and amended Subsec. (b)(8) by adding Subparas. (A) and (B) re notice of results of investigation and explanation of rights and remedies available, respectively, effective July 1, 2021.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-222i. State-wide safe school climate resource network. (a) The Department of Education, in consultation with the State Education Resource Center, established pursuant to section 10-357a, the Governor's Prevention Partnership, the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity and the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, shall establish, within available appropriations, a state-wide safe school climate resource network for the identification, prevention and education of school bullying and teen dating violence in the state. Such state-wide safe school climate resource network shall make available to all schools information, training opportunities and resource materials to improve the school climate to diminish bullying and teen dating violence.
(b) The department may seek federal, state and municipal funding and may accept private donations for the administration of the state-wide safe school climate resource network.
(P.A. 11-232, S. 4; P.A. 14-212, S. 17; 14-234, S. 5; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3, S. 144; P.A. 19-117, S. 118.)
History: P.A. 11-232 effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 14-212 amended Subsec. (a) by adding reference to Sec. 10-357a, effective June 13, 2014; P.A. 14-234 amended Subsec. (a) to add “the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence” and “teen dating violence”; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “Commission on Children” with “Commission on Women, Children and Seniors”, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 19-117 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “Commission on Women, Children and Seniors” with “Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity”, effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-222n. School security and safety plan standards. (a) Not later than January 1, 2014, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall develop school security and safety plan standards. Not later than January 1, 2020, and every three years thereafter, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall reevaluate and update the school security and safety plan standards. The school security and safety plan standards shall be an all-hazards approach to emergencies at public schools and shall include, but not be limited to, (1) involvement of local officials, including the chief executive officer of the municipality, the superintendent of schools, law enforcement, fire, public health, emergency management and emergency medical services, in the development of school security and safety plans, (2) a command center organization structure based on the federal National Incident Management System and a description of the responsibilities of such command center organization, (3) a requirement that a school security and safety committee be established at each school, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-222m, (4) crisis management procedures, (5) a requirement that local law enforcement and other local public safety officials evaluate, score and provide feedback on fire drills and crisis response drills, conducted pursuant to section 10-231, (6) a requirement that local and regional boards of education annually submit reports to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection regarding such fire drills and crisis response drills, (7) procedures for managing various types of emergencies, (8) a requirement that each local and regional board of education conduct a security and vulnerability assessment for each school under the jurisdiction of such board every two years and develop a school security and safety plan for each such school, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-222m, based on the results of such assessment, (9) a requirement that the safe school climate committee for each school, established pursuant to section 10-222k, collect and evaluate information relating to instances of disturbing or threatening behavior that may not meet the definition of bullying, as defined in section 10-222d, and report such information, as necessary, to the district safe school climate coordinator, described in section 10-222k, and the school security and safety committee for the school, established pursuant to section 10-222m, and (10) a requirement that the school security and safety plan for each school provide an orientation on such school security and safety plan to each school employee, as defined in section 10-222d, at such school and provide violence prevention training in a manner prescribed in such school security and safety plan. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall make such standards available to local officials, including local and regional boards of education, and the Department of Education shall distribute such standards to all public schools within the state.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2014, and annually thereafter, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall submit the school security and safety plan standards and any recommendations for legislation regarding such standards to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.
(P.A. 13-3, S. 86; P.A. 19-52, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 13-3 effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 19-52 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re reevaluation and updating of school security and safety plan standards and distribution of standards by the Department of Education to public schools, effective June 26, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-222q. Social and Emotional Learning and School Climate Advisory Collaborative. (a) There is established a social and emotional learning and school climate advisory collaborative. The collaborative shall (1) collect information concerning the school climate improvement efforts of local and regional boards of education, (2) document any needs articulated by local and regional boards of education for technical assistance and training relating to fostering positive school climates, (3) identify best practices for promoting positive school climates, (4) direct resources to support state-wide and local initiatives on issues relating to fostering and improving positive school climates and improving access to social and emotional learning in schools, (5) develop an assessment for screening students in grades three to twelve, inclusive, to determine whether such students are at risk for suicide, (6) develop a biennial state-wide school climate survey, as described in subsection (c) of section 2 of public act 19-166*, (7) develop a model positive school climate policy, as described in subsection (a) of section 2 of public act 19-166*, (8) develop a plain language explanation of the rights and remedies available under sections 10-4a and 10-4b for distribution to parents and guardians pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of section 10-222d, and provide such explanation to each local and regional board of education not later than January 1, 2021, and (9) perform other functions concerning social and emotional learning and fostering positive school climates.
(b) The collaborative shall consist of the following members:
(1) Five appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom is a member of the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee, established pursuant to section 46b-121n; one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education; one of whom is a school administrator with experience in district-level, equity-focused and cross-disciplinary social and emotional learning; one of whom is a representative of an organization that provides free or reduced-cost legal services; and one of whom is a representative of Connecticut Parent Power;
(2) Five appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Association of Schools; one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Association of School Administrators; one of whom is a representative of the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for Connecticut; one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut School Counselor Association; and one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents;
(3) Three appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom is a representative of Special Education Equity for Kids of Connecticut; one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center; and one of whom is a representative of African Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities, Inc.;
(4) Three appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom is a representative of the Center for Children's Advocacy; one of whom is a representative of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence; and one of whom is a representative of the Neag School of Education at The University of Connecticut;
(5) Three appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom is a representative of the American Federation of Teachers-Connecticut; one of whom is a representative of the Center for Social and Emotional Learning at Central Connecticut State University; and one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Parent Teacher Association;
(6) Three appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Education Association; one of whom is a representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Connecticut; and one of whom is a representative of the Youth Suicide Advisory Board established pursuant to section 17a-52;
(7) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee;
(8) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children and education;
(9) The Child Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee; and
(10) The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or the executive director's designee.
(c) All appointments to the collaborative shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.
(d) The cochairpersons of the collaborative shall be the executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or the executive director's designee, and a cochairperson elected from among the members. The first meeting of the collaborative shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section.
(e) The collaborative may designate subcommittees and advisory groups to carry out its functions, provided any subcommittees so designated shall be comprised of members of the collaborative.
(f) The staff of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity shall serve as administrative staff of the collaborative.
(g) Not later than January 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, the collaborative shall submit a report concerning (1) its efforts to (A) monitor the school climate improvement efforts of local and regional boards of education, (B) document needs articulated by local and regional boards of education for technical assistance and training relating to fostering positive school climates, (C) identify best practices for promoting positive school climates, and (D) direct resources to support state-wide and local initiatives on issues relating to fostering and improving positive school climates and improving access to social and emotional learning, and (2) any recommendations, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children and education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.
(P.A. 19-166, S. 1.)
*Note: Section 2 of public act 19-166 is special in nature and therefore has not been codified but remains in full force and effect according to its terms.
History: P.A. 19-166 effective July 8, 2019 (Revisor's note: Pursuant to P.A. 19-117, “Commission on Women, Children and Seniors” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity”).
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-222r. Publication of plain language explanation of rights and remedies. Not later than June 30, 2021, each local and regional board of education shall publish on the Internet web site of such board the plain language explanation of the rights and remedies available under sections 10-4a and 10-4b provided pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-222q.
(P.A. 19-166, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 19-166 effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-222s. Provision of training materials re prevention of and intervention in discrimination and harassment against students. Each local and regional board of education, in consultation with the Department of Education and the social and emotional learning and school climate advisory collaborative established pursuant to section 10-222q, shall provide on the Internet web site of the department training materials to school administrators regarding the prevention of and intervention in discrimination against and targeted harassment of students based on such students' (1) actual or perceived differentiating characteristics, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, or (2) association with individuals or groups who have or are perceived to have one or more of such characteristics. Such training materials may be developed in consultation with or provided by one or more organizations offering training on identifying, preventing and intervening in discrimination.
(P.A. 19-166, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 19-166 effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-223j. School governance councils. (a)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, on and after July 1, 2012, the local or regional board of education for a school that has been identified as in need of improvement pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223 may establish, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, a school governance council for each school so identified.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, on and after July 1, 2012, the local or regional board of education for a school that has been designated as a low achieving school, pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 10-223e due to such school failing to make adequate yearly progress in mathematics and reading at the whole school level shall establish, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, a school governance council for each school so designated.
(3) Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, on and after July 1, 2012, the local or regional board of education for a school that has been classified as a category four school or a category five school, pursuant to section 10-223e, shall establish, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, a school governance council for each school so designated.
(4) The provisions of subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of this subsection shall not apply to a school described in said subdivisions if (A) such school consists of a single grade level, or (B) such school is under the jurisdiction of a local or regional board of education that has adopted a similar school governance council model on or before July 1, 2011, that consists of parents, teachers from each grade level or subject area, administrators and paraprofessionals and such school governance council model is being administered at such school at the time such school is so identified as in need of improvement or so designated as a low achieving school.
(b) (1) The school governance council for a high school shall consist of (A) seven members who are a parent or guardian of a student attending the school, regardless of such parent or guardian's status as a public official, (B) two members who are community leaders within the school district, (C) five members who are teachers at the school, (D) one nonvoting member who is the principal of the school, or his or her designee, and (E) two nonvoting student members who are students at the school. The parent or guardian members shall be elected by the parents or guardians of students attending the school, provided, for purposes of the election, each household with a student attending the school shall have one vote. The community leader members shall be elected by the parent or guardian members and teacher members of the school governance council. The teacher members shall be elected by the teachers of the school. The nonvoting student members shall be elected by the student body of the school.
(2) The school governance council for an elementary or a middle school shall consist of (A) seven members who are a parent or guardian of a student attending the school, regardless of such parent or guardian's status as a public official, (B) two members who are community leaders within the school district, (C) five members who are teachers at the school, and (D) one nonvoting member who is the principal of the school, or his or her designee. The parent or guardian members shall be elected by the parents or guardians of students attending the school, provided, for purposes of the election, each household with a student attending the school shall have one vote. The community leader members shall be elected by the parent or guardian members and teacher members of the school governance council. The teacher members shall be elected by the teachers of the school.
(3) Terms of voting members elected pursuant to this subsection shall be for two years and no members shall serve more than four terms on the council. The nonvoting student members shall serve one year and no student member shall serve more than two terms on the council.
(c) (1) Except for those schools described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, schools that have been designated as a low achieving school pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 10-223e due to such school failing to make adequate yearly progress in mathematics and reading at the whole school level prior to July 1, 2012, and are among the lowest five per cent of schools in the state based on achievement shall establish a school governance council for the school.
(2) Except for those schools described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, schools that have been designated as a low achieving school, pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 10-223e, due to such school failing to make adequate yearly progress in mathematics and reading at the whole school level prior to July 1, 2012, but are not among the lowest five per cent of schools in the state based on achievement, shall establish a school governance council for the school.
(d) The school governance council shall have the following responsibilities: (1) Analyzing school achievement data and school needs relative to the improvement plan for the school prepared pursuant to this section; (2) reviewing the fiscal objectives of the draft budget for the school and providing advice to the principal of the school before such school's budget is submitted to the superintendent of schools for the district; (3) participating in the hiring process for the school principal or other administrators of the school by conducting interviews of candidates and reporting on such interviews to the superintendent of schools for the school district and the local and regional board of education; (4) assisting the principal of the school in making programmatic and operational changes for improving the school's achievement, including program changes, adjusting school hours and days of operation, and enrollment goals for the school; (5) working with the school administration to develop and approve a school compact for parents, legal guardians and students that includes an outline of the criteria and responsibilities for enrollment and school membership consistent with the school's goals and academic focus, and the ways that parents and school personnel can build a partnership to improve student learning; (6) developing and approving a written parent involvement policy that outlines the role of parents and legal guardians in the school; (7) utilizing records relating to information about parents and guardians of students maintained by the local or regional board of education for the sole purpose of the election described in subsection (b) of this section. Such information shall be confidential and shall only be disclosed as provided in this subdivision and shall not be further disclosed; and (8) if the council determines it necessary and subject to the provisions of subsection (i) of this section recommending reconstitution of the school in accordance with the provisions of subsection (g) of this section.
(e) The school governance council or a similar school governance council model, described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, at a school that has been identified as in need of improvement pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e may: (1) In those schools that require an improvement plan, review the annual draft report detailing the goals set forth in the state accountability plan prepared in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e and provide advice to the principal of the school prior to submission of the report to the superintendent of schools; (2) in those schools where an improvement plan becomes required pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e, assist the principal of the school in developing such plan prior to its submission to the superintendent of schools; (3) work with the principal of the school to develop, conduct and report the results of an annual survey of parents, guardians and teachers on issues related to the school climate and conditions; and (4) provide advice on any other major policy matters affecting the school to the principal of the school, except on any matters relating to provisions of any collective bargaining agreement between the exclusive bargaining unit for teachers pursuant to section 10-153b and local or regional boards of education.
(f) The local or regional board of education shall provide appropriate training and instruction to members of the school governance council or a similar school governance council model, described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, at a school that has been identified as in need of improvement pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e to aid the members in the execution of their duties.
(g) (1) The school governance council or a similar school governance council model, described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, at a school that has been designated as a low achieving school, pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 10-223e may, by an affirmative vote of the council, recommend the reconstitution of the school into one of the following models: (A) The turnaround model, as described in the Federal Register of December 10, 2009; (B) the restart model, as described in the Federal Register of December 10, 2009; (C) the transformation model, as described in the Federal Register of December 10, 2009; (D) any other model that may be developed by federal law; (E) a CommPACT school, pursuant to section 10-74g; or (F) an innovation school, pursuant to section 10-74h. Not later than ten days after the school governance council informs the local or regional board of education of its recommendation for the school, such board shall hold a public hearing to discuss such vote of the school governance council and shall, at the next regularly scheduled meeting of such board or ten days after such public hearing, whichever is later, conduct a vote to accept the model recommended by the school governance council, select an alternative model described in this subdivision or maintain the current school status. If the board selects an alternative model, the board shall meet with such school governance council to discuss an agreement on which alternative to adopt not later than ten days after such vote of the board. If no such agreement can be achieved, not later than forty-five days after the last such meeting between the board and the school governance council, the Commissioner of Education shall decide which of the alternatives to implement. If the board votes to maintain the current school status, not later than forty-five days after such vote of the board, the Commissioner of Education shall decide whether to implement the model recommended by the school governance council or to maintain the current school status. If the final decision pursuant to this subdivision is adoption of a model, the local or regional board of education shall implement such model during the subsequent school year in conformance with the general statutes and applicable regulations, and the provisions specified in federal regulations and guidelines for schools subject to restructuring pursuant to Section 1116(b)(8) of the No Child Left Behind Act, P.L. 107-110 or any other applicable federal laws or regulations.
(2) Any school governance council for a school or any similar school governance council model, described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, at a school that has been identified as in need of improvement pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e may recommend reconstitution, pursuant to subdivision (8) of subsection (d) of this subsection, during the third year after such school governance council or such similar school governance council model was established if the school for such governance council has not reconstituted as a result of receiving a school improvement grant pursuant to Section 1003(g) of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 USC 6301 et seq., or such reconstitution was initiated by a source other than the school governance council.
(h) A school governance council or any similar school governance council model, described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, at a school that has been identified as in need of improvement pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e shall be considered a component of parental involvement for purposes of federal funding pursuant to Section 1118 of the No Child Left Behind Act, P.L. 107-110.
(i) The Department of Education shall allow not more than twenty-five schools per school year to reconstitute pursuant to this section. The department shall notify school districts and school governance councils when this limit has been reached. For purposes of this subsection, a reconstitution shall be counted towards this limit upon receipt by the department of notification of a final decision regarding reconstitution by the local or regional board of education.
(P.A. 12-116, S. 23; P.A. 13-31, S. 19-21; P.A. 18-42, S. 8; P.A. 19-31, S. 2; 19-91, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 12-116 effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-31 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b)(3), (d) and (i), effective May 28, 2013; P.A. 18-42 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re parent or guardian of student to serve as student governance council member regardless of parent's or guardian's status as public official, and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 19-31 made technical changes in Subsec. (b)(1) and (2), effective June 26, 2019; P.A. 19-91 amended Subsec. (b)(3) by replacing “two terms” with “four terms”, effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-232a. Criminal history and child abuse and neglect registry records checks of applicants and employees of nongovernmental school operators. Termination or dismissal. Fingerprinting. Availability of information re applicant's history. (a) As used in this section and sections 10-232b and 10-232c, “nongovernmental school operator” means an operator of an interdistrict magnet school that is a third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the Commissioner of Education, the governing council of a state or local charter school, an endowed or incorporated academy approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-34, a special education facility approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-76d or the supervisory agent of a nonpublic school.
(b) Each nongovernmental school operator shall, subject to the provisions of section 31-51i, (1) require each applicant for a position with such nongovernmental school operator to state, in writing, whether such applicant has ever been convicted of a crime or whether criminal charges are pending against such applicant at the time of such application and, if charges are pending, to state the charges and the court in which such charges are pending, (2) require each applicant to submit to a records check of the Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to section 17a-101k, before such applicant may be hired by such nongovernmental school operator, and (3) on and after July 1, 2019, require, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, each applicant for a position with such nongovernmental school operator to submit to state and national criminal history records checks within thirty days from the date of employment and may require, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, any person hired prior to said date to submit to state and national criminal history records checks. The criminal history records checks required by this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with section 29-17a, the federal National Child Protection Act of 1993 and the federal Volunteers for Children Act of 1998. If the nongovernmental school operator receives notice of a conviction of a crime which has not previously been disclosed by such person to the nongovernmental school operator, the nongovernmental school operator may (A) terminate the contract of a certified employee, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-151, if applicable, and (B) dismiss a noncertified employee, provided such employee is notified of the reason for such dismissal. If the nongovernmental school operator receives notice of a conviction of a crime by a person holding a certificate, authorization or permit issued by the State Board of Education, the nongovernmental school operator shall send such notice to the State Board of Education. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to cause a nongovernmental school operator to disseminate the results of any national criminal history records check.
(c) If a nongovernmental school operator requests, a regional educational service center shall arrange for the fingerprinting of any person required to submit to state and national criminal history records checks pursuant to this section or for conducting any other method of positive identification required by the State Police Bureau of Identification or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and shall forward such fingerprints or other positive identifying information to the State Police Bureau of Identification which shall conduct criminal history records checks in accordance with section 29-17a, the federal National Child Protection Act of 1993 and the federal Volunteers for Children Act of 1998. Such regional educational service center shall maintain such fingerprints or other positive identifying information, which may be in an electronic format, for a period of four years, at the end of which such fingerprints and positive identifying information shall be destroyed. The State Police Bureau of Identification shall provide the results of such checks to such nongovernmental school operator. No regional educational service center shall charge a fee for services under this subsection that exceeds any fee that the center may charge any applicant for a position with such center.
(d) State and national criminal history records checks for substitute teachers completed within one year prior to the date of employment with a nongovernmental school operator and submitted to the employing nongovernmental school operator shall meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. A nongovernmental school operator shall not require substitute teachers to submit to state and national criminal history records checks pursuant to subsection (b) of this section if they are continuously employed by such nongovernmental school operator, provided a substitute teacher is subjected to such checks at least once every five years. For purposes of this section, substitute teachers shall be deemed to be continuously employed by a nongovernmental school operator if they are employed at least one day of each school year by such nongovernmental school operator.
(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) a student employed by the nongovernmental school operator that operates a school which the student attends, or (2) a person employed by a nongovernmental school operator as a teacher for a noncredit adult class or adult education activity, as defined in section 10-67, who is not required to hold a teaching certificate pursuant to section 10-145b for his or her position.
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (g) of section 31-51i, and to the extent permissible under state and federal laws regarding the dissemination of criminal history records, the State Board of Education shall, upon request of a nongovernmental school operator, make available to such nongovernmental school operator requesting information concerning an applicant for a position with such nongovernmental school operator, (1) any information concerning the applicant's eligibility for employment in a position with such nongovernmental school operator requiring a certificate, authorization or permit issued pursuant to chapter 166, (2) whether the department has knowledge that the applicant has been disciplined for a finding of abuse or neglect or sexual misconduct, as defined in section 10-222c, and any information concerning such a finding, and (3) whether the department has received notification that the applicant has been convicted of a crime or of criminal charges pending against the applicant and any information concerning such charges. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to cause the state board to investigate any such request or disseminate the results of any national criminal history records check.
(P.A. 19-91, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 19-91 effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-232b. Criminal history and child abuse and neglect registry records checks of students in teacher preparation programs. Fee waiver. (a) Each eligible school operator and nongovernmental school operator shall require each student who is enrolled in a teacher preparation program, as defined in section 10-10a, and completing his or her student teaching experience with such eligible school operator or nongovernmental school operator, to (1) state, in writing, whether such student has ever been convicted of a crime or whether criminal charges are pending against such applicant at the time of such application and, if charges are pending, to state the charges and the court in which such charges are pending, (2) submit to a records check of the Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to section 17a-101k, before such student begins such student teaching experience, and (3) on and after July 1, 2019, submit to state and national criminal history records checks within sixty days from the date such student begins to perform such student teaching experience. The criminal history records checks required by this section shall be conducted in accordance with section 29-17a.
(b) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall waive the fee for a criminal history records check required under this section.
(P.A. 19-91, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 19-91 effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-232c. Criminal history and child abuse and neglect registry records checks of persons who will perform service involving direct contact with students. Each eligible school operator or nongovernmental school operator may require any person who will perform a service involving direct contact with students to (1) state, in writing, whether such person has ever been convicted of a crime or whether criminal charges are pending against such applicant at the time of such application and, if charges are pending, to state the charges and the court in which such charges are pending, (2) submit to a records check of the Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to section 17a-101k, before such person performs a service involving direct contact with students, and (3) on and after July 1, 2019, submit to state and national criminal history records checks in accordance with section 29-17a and the National Child Protection Act of 1993, P.L. 103-209, as amended from time to time.
(P.A. 19-91, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 19-91 effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-232d. Criminal history and child abuse and neglect registry records checks of certified school personnel. Denial of application for and revocation of certification. (a) The State Board of Education shall submit, periodically, to the State Police Bureau of Identification a database providing identification information of each applicant to the board for an initial issuance of certificate, authorization or permit pursuant to sections 10-144o to 10-149, inclusive. The State Police Bureau of Identification shall conduct a state criminal history records check in accordance with section 29-17a against such database and notify the State Board of Education of any such applicant who has a criminal conviction. The State Board of Education shall not issue a certificate, authorization or permit until the board receives and evaluates the results of such check and may deny an application in accordance with the provisions of subsection (i) of section 10-145b.
(b) The State Board of Education shall submit, periodically, to the State Police Bureau of Identification a database providing identification information of each person who holds a certificate, authorization or permit. The State Police Bureau of Identification shall conduct a state criminal history records check in accordance with section 29-17a against such database and shall notify the State Board of Education of any such person who has a criminal conviction. The State Board of Education may revoke the certificate, authorization or permit of such person in accordance with the provisions of subsection (i) of section 10-145b.
(c) The State Board of Education shall require each applicant seeking an initial issuance or renewal of a certificate, authorization or permit pursuant to sections 10-144o to 10-149, inclusive, to submit to a records check of the Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to section 17a-101k. If notification is received that the applicant is listed as a perpetrator of abuse or neglect on the Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry, the board shall deny an application for the certificate, authorization or permit in accordance with the provisions of subsection (i) of section 10-145b, or may revoke the certificate, authorization or permit in accordance with the provisions of said subsection (i).
(P.A. 19-91, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 19-91 effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 10-233d. Expulsion of pupils. (a)(1) Any local or regional board of education, at a meeting at which three or more members of such board are present, or the impartial hearing board established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, may expel, subject to the provisions of this subsection, any pupil in grades three to twelve, inclusive, whose conduct on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity is violative of a publicized policy of such board and is seriously disruptive of the educational process or endangers persons or property or whose conduct off school grounds is violative of such policy and is seriously disruptive of the educational process, provided a majority of the board members sitting in the expulsion hearing vote to expel and that at least three affirmative votes for expulsion are cast. In making a determination as to whether conduct is seriously disruptive of the educational process, the board of education or impartial hearing board may consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to: (A) Whether the incident occurred within close proximity of a school; (B) whether other students from the school were involved or whether there was any gang involvement; (C) whether the conduct involved violence, threats of violence or the unlawful use of a weapon, as defined in section 29-38, and whether any injuries occurred; and (D) whether the conduct involved the use of alcohol.
(2) Expulsion proceedings pursuant to this section, except as provided in subsection (i) of this section, shall be required for any pupil in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, whenever there is reason to believe that any pupil (A) on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity, was in possession of a firearm, as defined in 18 USC 921, as amended from time to time, or deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or martial arts weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, (B) off school grounds, did possess such a firearm in violation of section 29-35 or did possess and use such a firearm, instrument or weapon in the commission of a crime under chapter 952, or (C) on or off school grounds, offered for sale or distribution a controlled substance, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 21a-240, whose manufacture, distribution, sale, prescription, dispensing, transporting or possessing with intent to sell or dispense, offering, or administering is subject to criminal penalties under sections 21a-277 and 21a-278. Such a pupil shall be expelled for one calendar year if the local or regional board of education or impartial hearing board finds that the pupil did so possess or so possess and use, as appropriate, such a firearm, instrument or weapon or did so offer for sale or distribution such a controlled substance, provided the board of education or the hearing board may modify the period of expulsion for a pupil on a case-by-case basis, and as provided for in subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section.
(3) Unless an emergency exists, no pupil shall be expelled without a formal hearing held pursuant to sections 4-176e to 4-180a, inclusive, and section 4-181a, provided whenever such pupil is a minor, the notice required by section 4-177 and section 4-180 shall also be given to the parents or guardian of the pupil at least five business days before such hearing. If an emergency exists, such hearing shall be held as soon after the expulsion as possible. The notice shall include information concerning the parent's or guardian's and the pupil's legal rights and concerning legal services provided free of charge or at a reduced rate that are available locally and how to access such services. An attorney or other advocate may represent any pupil subject to expulsion proceedings. The parent or guardian of the pupil shall have the right to have the expulsion hearing postponed for up to one week to allow time to obtain representation, except that if an emergency exists, such hearing shall be held as soon after the expulsion as possible.
(b) For purposes of conducting expulsion hearings as required by subsection (a) of this section, any local or regional board of education or any two or more of such boards in cooperation may establish an impartial hearing board of one or more persons. No member of any such board or boards shall be a member of the hearing board. The hearing board shall have the authority to conduct the expulsion hearing and render a final decision in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-176e to 4-180a, inclusive, and section 4-181a.
(c) (1) In determining the length of an expulsion and the nature of the alternative educational opportunity to be offered under subsection (d) of this section, the local or regional board of education, or the impartial hearing board established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, may receive and consider evidence of past disciplinary problems that have led to removal from a classroom, suspension or expulsion of such pupil.
(2) For any pupil expelled for the first time pursuant to this section and who has never been suspended pursuant to section 10-233c, except for a pupil who has been expelled based on possession of a firearm or deadly weapon as described in subsection (a) of this section, the local or regional board of education may shorten the length of or waive the expulsion period if the pupil successfully completes a board-specified program and meets any other conditions required by the board. Such board-specified program shall not require the pupil or the parent or guardian of the pupil to pay for participation in the program.
(d) No local or regional board of education is required to offer an alternative educational opportunity, except in accordance with this section. Any pupil under sixteen years of age who is expelled shall be offered an alternative educational opportunity, which shall be (1) alternative education, as defined by section 10-74j, with an individualized learning plan, if such board provides such alternative education, or (2) in accordance with the standards adopted by the State Board of Education, pursuant to section 10-233o, during the period of expulsion, provided any parent or guardian of such pupil who does not choose to have his or her child enrolled in an alternative educational opportunity shall not be subject to the provisions of section 10-184. Any pupil expelled for the first time who is between the ages of sixteen and eighteen and who wishes to continue his or her education shall be offered such an alternative educational opportunity if he or she complies with conditions established by his or her local or regional board of education. Such alternative educational opportunity may include, but shall not be limited to, the placement of a pupil who is at least seventeen years of age in an adult education program pursuant to section 10-69. Any pupil participating in any such adult education program during a period of expulsion shall not be required to withdraw from school under section 10-184. A local or regional board of education shall count the expulsion of a pupil when he was under sixteen years of age for purposes of determining whether an alternative educational opportunity is required for such pupil when he is between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. A local or regional board of education may offer an alternative educational opportunity to a pupil for whom such alternative educational opportunity is not required pursuant to this section.
(e) If a pupil is expelled pursuant to this section for possession of a firearm, as defined in 18 USC 921, as amended from time to time, or deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or martial arts weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, the board of education shall report the violation to the local police department or in the case of a student enrolled in a technical education and career school to the state police. If a pupil is expelled pursuant to this section for the sale or distribution of a controlled substance, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 21a-240, whose manufacture, distribution, sale, prescription, dispensing, transporting or possessing with the intent to sell or dispense, offering, or administration is subject to criminal penalties under sections 21a-277 and 21a-278, the board of education shall refer the pupil to an appropriate state or local agency for rehabilitation, intervention or job training, or any combination thereof, and inform the agency of its action.
(f) Whenever a pupil is expelled pursuant to the provisions of this section, notice of the expulsion and the conduct for which the pupil was expelled shall be included on the pupil's cumulative educational record. Such notice, except for notice of an expulsion of a pupil in grades nine to twelve, inclusive, based on possession of a firearm or deadly weapon as described in subsection (a) of this section, (1) shall be expunged from the cumulative educational record by the local or regional board of education if a pupil graduates from high school, or (2) may be expunged from the cumulative educational record by the local or regional board of education before a pupil graduates from high school if (A) in the case of a pupil for which the length of the expulsion period is shortened or the expulsion period is waived pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section, such board determines that an expungement is warranted at the time such pupil completes the board-specified program and meets any other conditions required by such board pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section, or (B) such pupil has demonstrated to such board that the conduct and behavior of such pupil in the years following such expulsion warrants an expungement. A local or regional board of education, in determining whether to expunge such notice under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, may receive and consider evidence of any subsequent disciplinary problems that have led to removal from a classroom, suspension or expulsion of such pupil.
(g) A local or regional board of education may adopt the decision of a pupil expulsion hearing conducted by another school district provided such local or regional board of education or impartial hearing board shall hold a hearing pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section which shall be limited to a determination of whether the conduct which was the basis for the expulsion would also warrant expulsion under the policies of such board. The pupil shall be excluded from school pending such hearing. The excluded student shall be offered an alternative educational opportunity in accordance with the provisions of subsections (d) and (e) of this section.
(h) Whenever a pupil against whom an expulsion hearing is pending withdraws from school after notification of such hearing but before the hearing is completed and a decision rendered pursuant to this section, (1) notice of the pending expulsion hearing shall be included on the pupil's cumulative educational record, and (2) the local or regional board of education or impartial hearing board shall complete the expulsion hearing and render a decision. If such pupil enrolls in school in another school district, such pupil shall not be excluded from school in the other district pending completion of the expulsion hearing pursuant to this subsection unless an emergency exists, provided nothing in this subsection shall limit the authority of the local or regional board of education for such district to suspend the pupil or to conduct its own expulsion hearing in accordance with this section.
(i) Prior to conducting an expulsion hearing for a child requiring special education and related services described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (5) of section 10-76a, a planning and placement team shall convene to determine whether the misconduct was caused by the child's disability. If it is determined that the misconduct was caused by the child's disability, the child shall not be expelled. The planning and placement team shall reevaluate the child for the purpose of modifying the child's individualized education program to address the misconduct and to ensure the safety of other children and staff in the school. If it is determined that the misconduct was not caused by the child's disability, the child may be expelled in accordance with the provisions of this section applicable to children who do not require special education and related services. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (d) and (e) of this section, whenever a child requiring such special education and related services is expelled, an alternative educational opportunity, consistent with such child's educational needs shall be provided during the period of expulsion.
(j) An expelled pupil may apply for early readmission to school. Except as provided in this subsection, such readmission shall be at the discretion of the local or regional board of education. The board of education may delegate authority for readmission decisions to the superintendent of schools for the school district. If the board delegates such authority, readmission shall be at the discretion of the superintendent. Readmission decisions shall not be subject to appeal to Superior Court. The board or superintendent, as appropriate, may condition such readmission on specified criteria.
(k) Local and regional boards of education shall submit to the Commissioner of Education such information on expulsions for the possession of weapons as required for purposes of the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994, 20 USC 8921 et seq., as amended from time to time.
(l) (1) Any student who commits an expellable offense and is subsequently placed in a juvenile detention center or any other residential placement for such offense may be expelled by a local or regional board of education in accordance with the provisions of this section. The period of expulsion shall run concurrently with the period of placement in a juvenile detention center or other residential placement.
(2) If a student who committed an expellable offense seeks to return to a school district after participating in a diversionary program or having been placed in a juvenile detention center or any other residential placement and such student has not been expelled by the local or regional board of education for such offense under subdivision (1) of this subsection, the local or regional board of education for the school district to which the student is returning shall allow such student to return and may not expel the student for additional time for such offense.
(P.A. 75-609, S. 4; P.A. 78-218, S. 165; P.A. 79-115, S. 2, 3; 79-369, S. 1, 2; P.A. 81-215, S. 1, 3; P.A. 82-118, S. 1, 2; P.A. 83-218, S. 1, 2; 83-587, S. 70, 96; P.A. 84-546, S. 25, 173; P.A. 86-398, S. 2; P.A. 88-317, S. 57, 107; P.A. 92-37, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-35, S. 1-3; P.A. 94-221, S. 2; P.A. 95-304, S. 5, 9; P.A. 96-146, S. 9, 12; 96-244, S. 19-21, 63; P.A. 98-139, S. 2, 3; P.A. 00-157, S. 4, 8; P.A. 07-122, S. 2; 07-217, S. 45; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-3, S. 49; P.A. 09-82, S. 1; P.A. 11-115, S. 3; 11-126, S. 1; P.A. 12-116, S. 87; 12-120, S. 28; P.A. 14-229, S. 1, 2; P.A. 15-96, S. 3; P.A. 16-147, S. 12; P.A. 17-220, S. 2; 17-237, S. 75, 76; P.A. 18-31, S. 12; P.A. 19-91, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 78-218 substituted “local” for “town” boards of education, deleted reference to school districts and included feminine personal pronoun in Subsec. (c); P.A. 79-115 inserted new Subsec. (b) re consideration of past disciplinary problems in determining length of expulsion and alternative educational opportunity to be offered and relettered former Subsecs. (b) and (c) as (c) and (d); P.A. 79-369 required presence of at least three members at meeting for expulsion and required majority vote, with at least three votes in favor of expulsion, for expulsion to be effected in Subsec. (a) and made technical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 81-215 inserted new Subsec. (b) authorizing boards of education to establish impartial hearing boards for the purpose of conducting expulsion hearings, relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly and amended Subsec. (e) to limit the mandatory provision of an alternative educational opportunity to pupils under 18 years of age, but specified that age limitation shall not apply to special education pupils; P.A. 82-118 repealed Subsec. (d) which required notification be sent to state board of education of any student against whom disciplinary action was taken, relettering Subsec. (e) accordingly, reduced age limitation on offering of alternative educational opportunities to expelled students from 18 to 16 and made offering of such programs to 16 to 18-year-olds made conditional on students' acceptance of board of education requirements in newly relettered Subsec. (d); P.A. 83-218 added Subsec. (e) limiting requirement that boards of education offer alternative educational opportunities to expelled students between the ages of 16 and 18; P.A. 83-587 made technical change in Subsec. (e); P.A. 84-546 made technical change, substituting references to pupils for references to students in Subsecs. (d) and (e); P.A. 86-398 amended Subsec. (e) by restructuring it and by not requiring boards of education to offer alternative educational opportunities to students expelled for offering controlled substances for sale or distribution and by imposing certain duties on boards of education; P.A. 88-317 amended references to Secs. 4-177 to 4-180 in Subsecs. (a) and (b) to include new sections added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 92-37 added Subsecs. (f) and (g) concerning the notice on the cumulative educational record and the adoption of the decision of another school district, respectively; P.A. 93-35 amended Subsec. (g) to limit the scope of the hearing and added Subsec. (h) concerning procedure when pupil who faces expulsion hearing withdraws from school, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-221 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for mandatory expulsion proceedings whenever there is reason to believe that a pupil was in possession of a weapon on school grounds and to provide for mandatory expulsion if it is determined as a result of the proceedings that the pupil did so possess the weapon and expanded Subsec. (e)(1) to include firearms and deadly weapons, to apply the provisions to school-sponsored activities and to provide for the referral to a planning and placement team of special education students; P.A. 95-304 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for expulsions for conduct off school grounds, to change the provisions concerning possession of a weapon and to provide for case by case modification of the period of expulsion, amended Subsec. (d) to limit the requirement for the provision of an alternative educational opportunity for pupils between 16 and 18 years of age to such pupils “expelled for the first time”, to add provision on the counting of expulsions prior to 16 years of age, to remove language concerning special education students and language specifying that an alternative educational placement may include placement in a regular classroom program in another school and to add language on placement in an adult education program, amended Subsec. (e) to add requirement for report to the police in specified cases, to delete requirement for the board to report to the Commissioner of Education referrals based on the sale or distribution of controlled substances and to delete provisions concerning special education students, amended Subsec. (f) to add exception for possession of a firearm or deadly weapon, added Subsec. (i) re special education students and Subsec. (j) re information on expulsions for the possession of weapons and made technical corrections, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-146 made technical change in Subsec. (i), effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 96-244 amended Subsec. (a) to rewrite the criteria for expulsion for conduct based on where the conduct took place, to insert Subdiv. and Subpara. designations, to make the existing language Subpara. (A) and to apply it to conduct on school grounds or at a school sponsored activity, in Subpara. (A) to delete requirement that the possession be in violation of Secs. 29-35 or 53a-3, to add the cite to federal law for the definition of “firearm”, to add “dangerous instrument or martial arts weapon”, to add Subpara. (B) re conduct off school grounds and Subpara. (C) re controlled substances, amended Subsec. (e) to apply the federal definition for “firearm”, to add “martial arts weapon” and to make technical changes and amended Subsec. (f) to delete provision requiring removal of the notice of expulsion from the cumulative record if the pupil is not expelled again or suspended one or more times during the 2-year period commencing on the date of return to school from the expulsion, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 98-139 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to add criteria for consideration in determining whether conduct is seriously disruptive of the educational process, added new Subsec. (j) re readmission and redesignated existing Subsec. (j) as Subsec. (k), effective June 4, 1998 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a)(1)(D) the word “in” in the phrase “whether the conduct involved in the use of alcohol” was deleted editorially by the Revisors for grammatical accuracy); P.A. 00-157 amended Subsec. (d) to specify that boards of education are only required to offer an alternative educational opportunity in accordance with this section, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 07-122 made a technical change in Subsec. (a)(2), amended Subsec. (c) to designate existing language as Subdiv. (1) and add Subdiv. (2) re program for first time expulsions, and amended Subsec. (f) to designate existing language as Subdiv. (1), make a technical change therein and add Subdiv. (2) re shortened or waived expulsion period, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 07-217 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective July 12, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-3 amended Subsec. (a)(3) to add language re legal services information, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 09-82 made a technical change in Subsecs. (f)(2) and (h) and added Subsec. (l) re prohibition against expulsion of students who return to school district after serving in a residential placement, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 11-115 amended Subsec. (l) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (2) and amending same to delete “for one year or more, the” and add language re student who has not been expelled by board of education, and by adding Subdiv. (1) re expulsion of student to run concurrently with period of commitment, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-126 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re pupils participating in adult education program during period of expulsion shall not be required to withdraw from school and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 12-116, “regional vocational-technical school” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “technical high school” in Subsec. (e), effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 12-120 amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “sixteen” with “seventeen” re placement of pupil in adult education program, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 14-229 amended Subsec. (c) by making a technical change in Subdiv. (1) and adding provision re exception for a pupil who has been expelled based on possession of a firearm or deadly weapon in Subdiv. (2), and amended Subsec. (f) by deleting existing Subdiv. (1) designator, making exception re expulsion based on possession of firearm or deadly weapon applicable to only pupils in grades nine to twelve, designating existing provision re expungement if pupil graduates from high school as new Subdiv. (1), adding new Subdiv. (2) re expungement before a pupil graduates from high school and deleting former Subdiv. (2), effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 15-96 amended Subsec. (a) by making provisions of Subdiv. (1) applicable to pupils in grades 3 to 12, making provisions of Subdiv. (2) applicable to pupils in grades kindergarten to 12 and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 16-147 amended Subsec. (a)(3) by adding provision re notice to be given at least 5 business days before hearing and to include information re legal rights and adding provision re representation of pupil and right to postpone hearing in order to obtain representation, amended Subsec. (d) by deleting provision notwithstanding Sec. 10-220(a), by adding provision equating alternative educational opportunity with alternative education with an individualized learning plan, amended Subsec. (e) by deleting provisions re boards of education not required to provide alternative educational opportunity to pupils between ages of 16 and 18 who are expelled for certain conduct endangering persons and by adding references to definition of firearm and references to dangerous instrument and martial arts weapon and by adding provision re controlled substance, amended Subsec. (l)(2) by adding provision re diversionary program, and made technical and conforming changes, effective August 15, 2017; P.A. 17-220 amended Subsec. (d) by adding “No local or regional board of education is required to offer an alternative educational opportunity, except in accordance with this section.”, deleting “equivalent to”, designating existing provision re alternative education as Subdiv. (1) and amending same by adding “if such board provides such alternative education”, adding Subdiv. (2) re standards adopted by State Board of Education, replacing “program” with “opportunity”, and making technical and conforming changes, effective August 15, 2017; P.A. 17-237 amended Subsec. (e) by replacing “technical high school” with “technical education and career school”, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 18-31 amended Subsec. (l) to replace reference to commitment with reference to placement in Subdiv. (1), to replace “detained” with “placed” in Subdiv. (2), and to delete references to the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 19-91 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by replacing “or” with “and” in provision re expulsion of pupil whose conduct is violative of publicized policy of board and is seriously disruptive of educational process, effective July 1, 2019.
(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |