Connecticut2026Passed Legislature

SB00220

Act on Student Literacy Support, Aspiring Educator Scholarships, ASL Curriculum Guidance, and Paraeducator Benefits

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 6:19 AM

In one sentence

This law requires the Department of Education to create reading support guidance for students in grades four through nine who are not proficient, establishes scholarships for aspiring educators from underrepresented groups identified as teacher shortage areas, creates a working group to develop American Sign Language curriculum standards, and allows unspent scholarship funds to expand health benefit subsidies for paraeducators at charter schools.

Requires the Department of Education to create guidance on multitiered systems of support or response to intervention frameworks for students in grades four through nine who are struggling with reading based on approved assessment data.
Establishes an aspiring educators scholarship program providing up to $10,000 annually per year of enrollment for individuals from population subgroups underrepresented in teaching and identified as teacher shortage areas.
Updates the definition of teacher shortage areas to include subject shortages, geographic shortages, and population subgroups that are underrepresented in the teaching profession.
Creates an American Sign Language education working group to recommend curriculum guidance aligned with national proficiency frameworks and certification standards for ASL instruction.
Allows up to $300,000 of unspent scholarship funds from fiscal year 2026 to be transferred to expand health benefit subsidies to paraeducators employed by charter schools.

Students in grades four through nine who are identified as struggling with reading.
High school graduates from public high schools in the state enrolled in teacher preparation programs at four-year institutions who belong to population subgroups underrepresented in teaching.
School districts, charter schools employing paraeducators, and higher education institutions offering teacher preparation programs.
The Department of Education and agencies involved in setting education policy.

The specific details for administering the scholarship program and additional eligibility criteria must be developed by January 1, 2027.
The expansion of health benefit subsidies to charter school paraeducators depends on whether unexpended funds exist in fiscal year 2026.

Plain language

Aspiring educator: An individual who is in a population subgroup that is underrepresented in the teaching profession in this state and has been identified as a teacher shortage area by the Commissioner of Education.
Multitiered systems of support: Frameworks used to provide reading instruction and supports based on data from approved assessments for students struggling with literacy.
Teacher shortage area: A subject, geographic location, or population subgroup where there is a lack of certified teachers in the state as identified by the Commissioner of Education.

Official record

Validated

To establish and provide reading instruction and supports to all students in grades four to nine who are below proficient in reading.

Official activity