AN ACT CONCERNING EDUCATION FUNDING, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS.

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5002
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING EDUCATION FUNDING, SPECIAL
EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subdivision (9) of section 10 -262f of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2
2026): 3
(9) "Foundation" means [(A) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1990, 4
three thousand nine hundred eighteen dollars, (B) for the fiscal year 5
ending June 30, 1991, four thousand one hundred ninety-two dollars, 6
(C) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, four thousand four hundred 7
eighty-six dollars, (D) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1993, June 30, 8
1994, and June 30, 1995, four thousand eight hundred dollars, (E) for the 9
fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, June 30, 1997, and June 30, 1998, five 10
thousand seven hundred eleven dollars, (F) for the fiscal year ending 11
June 30, 1999, five thousand seven hundred seventy-five dollars, (G) for 12
the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, to June 30, 2007, inclusive, five 13
thousand eight hundred ninety -one dollars, (H) for the fiscal years 14
ending June 30, 2008, to June 30, 2013, inclusive, nine thousand six 15
hundred eighty -seven dollars, and (I) ] (A) for the fiscal [year] years 16
ending June 30, 2014, [and each fiscal year thereafter ] to June 30, 2026, 17
inclusive, eleven thousand five hundred twenty-five dollars, (B) for the 18
fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, eleven thousand five hundred twenty -19
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five dollars adjusted by the percentage increase in personal income, as 20
defined in section 2 -33a, or the percentage increase in inflation, as 21
defined in section 2-33a, whichever is greater, and (C) for the fiscal year 22
ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of the 23
foundation for the prior fiscal year adjusted by the percentage increase 24
in personal income, as defined in section 2 -33a, or the percentage 25
increase in inflation, as defined in section 2-33a, whichever is greater. 26
Sec. 2. Section 10-252a of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes 27
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 28
1, 2026): 29
(a) As used in this section, sections 10-65, as amended by this act, 10-30
252b and 10-264l, as amended by this act: 31
(1) "Choice program" means (A) an interdistrict magnet school 32
program, or (B) a regional agricultural science and technology center. 33
(2) "Foundation" has the same meaning as provided in section 10 -34
262f, as amended by this act. 35
(3) "Resident students" has the same meaning as provided in section 36
10-262f, as amended by this act. 37
(4) "Resident choice program students" means the number of part -38
time and full -time students of a town enrolled or participating in a 39
particular choice program. 40
(5) "Total need students" has the same meaning as provided in section 41
10-262f, as amended by this act. 42
(6) "Total magnet school program need students" means the sum of 43
(A) the number of part -time and full -time students enrolled in the 44
interdistrict magnet school program of the interdistrict magnet school 45
operator that is (i) not a local or regional board of education, (ii) the 46
board of governors for an independent institution of higher education, 47
as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such 48
a board, on behalf of the independent institution of higher education, or 49
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(iii) any other third -party, not -for-profit corporation approved by the 50
Commissioner of Education, for the school year, and (B) for the school 51
year commencing July 1, 2024, and each school year thereafter, (i) thirty 52
per cent of the number of part -time and full -time students enrolled in 53
such interdistrict magnet school program eligible for free or reduced 54
price meals or free milk, (ii) fifteen per cent of the number of such part-55
time and full -time students eligible for free or reduced price meals or 56
free milk in excess of the number of such part -time and full -time 57
students eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk that is equal 58
to sixty per cent of the total number of students enrolled in such 59
interdistrict magnet school program, (iii) twenty -five per cent of the 60
number of part-time and full-time students enrolled in such interdistrict 61
magnet school program who are English language learners, [and] (iv) 62
for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, if such 63
interdistrict magnet school program is assisting the state in meeting its 64
obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 65
(1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 66
commissioner, for the current fiscal year, thirty per cent of the number 67
of part-time and full-time students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet 68
school program , and (v) (I) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, 69
twenty-seven and one-half per cent of the number of part-time and full-70
time students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program, (II) 71
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, twenty -five per cent of the 72
number of part-time and full-time students enrolled in such interdistrict 73
magnet school program, (III) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, 74
twenty-two and one -half per cent of the number of part -time and full-75
time students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program, and 76
(IV) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 77
thereafter, twenty per cent of the number of part -time and full -time 78
students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program. 79
(7) "Sending town" means the town that sends resident choice 80
program students, which it would otherwise be legally responsible for 81
educating, to a choice program. 82
[(8) "Receiving district" has the same meaning as provided in section 83
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10-266aa.] 84
[(9)] (8) "Weighted funding amount per pupil" means the quotient of 85
(A) the product of the foundation and a town's total need students for 86
the fiscal year prior to the year in which the grant is to be paid, and (B) 87
the number of resident students of the town. 88
[(10)] (9) "In-district student" means a student enrolled or 89
participating in a choice program operated or maintained by a local or 90
regional board of education and for whom such local or regional board 91
of education is legally responsible for educating. 92
[(11)] (10) "Out-of-district student" means a student enrolled or 93
participating in a choice program operated or maintained by a local or 94
regional board of education and who does not reside in the town or a 95
member town of such local or regional board of education. 96
[(12)] (11) "Total revenue per pupil" means the sum of (A) the per 97
student amount of the grant for a choice program student for the fiscal 98
year ending June 30, 2024, (B) the per student amount of any general 99
education tuition for a student in such choice program for the fiscal year 100
ending June 30, 2024, and (C) the per child amount of any tuition 101
charged for a child enrolled in a preschool program offered by a regional 102
educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school 103
preschool program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, pursuant to 104
section 10-264l, as amended by this act. 105
[(13)] (12) "Adjusted total revenue per pupil" means the sum of (A) 106
the per student amount of the grant for a choice program student for the 107
current fiscal year, (B) the per student amount of any general education 108
tuition for a student in such choice program for the current fiscal year, 109
and (C) the per child amount of any tuition charged for a child enrolled 110
in a preschool program offered by a regional educational service center 111
operating an interdistrict magnet school preschool program for the 112
current fiscal year, pursuant to section 10-264l, as amended by this act. 113
[(14)] (13) "Sending town adjustment factor" means the product of (A) 114
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the weighted funding amount per pupil or the total revenue per pupil, 115
whichever is greater, for a sending town, and (B) the number of its 116
resident choice program students. 117
(14) "New interdistrict magnet school program operator" means an 118
interdistrict magnet school program operator that commences 119
operations for a new interdistrict magnet school program on or after 120
July 1, 2024. 121
(15) "Comparable per student grant amount" means the per student 122
grant amount received by other interdistrict magnet school program 123
operators authorized to receive a grant under this section that are in the 124
same region, as determined by the Commissioner of Education. 125
(b) (1) (A) Except as otherwise provided in [subdivision (2) of this 126
subsection] subparagraph (B) of this subdivision , for the fiscal [year] 127
years ending June 30, 2025, and [each fiscal year thereafter ] June 30, 128
2026, an interdistrict magnet school program operator that is not a local 129
or regional board of education shall be entitled to a grant in an amount 130
equal to the sum of [(A)] (i) forty-two per cent of the difference between 131
[(i)] (I) the product of the foundation and its total magnet school 132
program need students, and [(ii)] (II) the per student amount such 133
operator received under section 10-264l, as amended by this act, for the 134
fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, multiplied by the number of students 135
enrolled in such program for the current fiscal year, and [(B)] (ii) the 136
amount described in subparagraph [(A)(ii)] (A)(i)(II) of this subdivision, 137
except, [if such] for a new interdistrict magnet school program operator, 138
[commences operations on or after July 1, 2024, for a new interdistrict 139
magnet school program, ] the per student amount such operator 140
received for purposes of subparagraph [(A)(ii)] (A)(i)(II) of this 141
subdivision [for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, shall equal the per 142
student grant amount received by other interdistrict magnet school 143
program operators authorized to receive a grant under this subdivision 144
in the same region as determined by the Commissioner of Education ] 145
shall equal a comparable per student grant amount. 146
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[(2)] (B) For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2025, and [each 147
fiscal year thereafter] June 30, 2026, if [(A)] (i) the quotient of the sum of 148
the total revenue per pupil during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, 149
and the total number of such students enrolled in such program of such 150
operator during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, is greater than [(B)] 151
(ii) the quotient of the sum of the adjusted total revenue per pupil and 152
the number of such students enrolled in such program of such operator 153
during the current fiscal year, then such operator shall be entitled to a 154
grant in an amount equal to the sum of [(i)] (I) the amount described in 155
[subdivision (1) of this subsection] subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, 156
and [(ii)] (II) the product of the difference between the amount described 157
in subparagraph [(A)] (B)(i) of this subdivision and the amount 158
described in subparagraph [(B)] (B)(ii) of this subdivision and the total 159
number of students enrolled in such program of such operator during 160
the current fiscal year. 161
(2) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B) of this 162
subdivision, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, an interdistrict 163
magnet school program operator that is not a local or regional board of 164
education shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of 165
(i) fifty-six per cent of the difference between (I) the product of the 166
foundation and its total magnet school program need students, and (II) 167
the per student amount such operator received under section 10-264l, as 168
amended by this act, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, multiplied 169
by the number of students enrolled in such program for the current 170
fiscal year, and (ii) the amount described in subparagraph (A)(i)(II) of 171
this subdivision, except for a new interdistrict magnet school program 172
operator, such amount shall equal a comparable per student grant 173
amount. 174
(B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, if (i) the quotient of the 175
sum of the total revenue per pupil during the fiscal year ending June 30, 176
2024, and the total number of such students enrolled in such program of 177
such operator during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, is greater than 178
(ii) the quotient of the sum of the adjusted total revenue per pupil and 179
the number of such students enrolled in such program of such operator 180
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during the current fiscal year, then such operator shall be entitled to a 181
grant in an amount equal to the sum of (I) the amount described in 182
subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, and (II) the product of the 183
difference between the amount described in subparagraph (B)(i) of this 184
subdivision and the amount described in subparagraph (B)(ii) of this 185
subdivision and the total number of students enrolled in such program 186
of such operator during the current fiscal year. 187
(3) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B) of this 188
subdivision, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, an interdistrict 189
magnet school program operator that is not a local or regional board of 190
education shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of 191
(i) seventy per cent of the difference between (I) the product of the 192
foundation and its total magnet school program need students, and (II) 193
the per student amount such operator received under section 10-264l, as 194
amended by this act, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, multiplied 195
by the number of students enrolled in such program for the current 196
fiscal year ending, and (ii) the amount described in subparagraph 197
(A)(i)(II) of this subdivision, except for a new interdistrict magnet school 198
program operator, such amount shall equal a comparable per student 199
grant amount. 200
(B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, if (i) the quotient of the 201
sum of the total revenue per pupil during the fiscal year ending June 30, 202
2024, and the total number of such students enrolled in such program of 203
such operator during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, is greater than 204
(ii) the quotient of the sum of the adjusted total revenue per pupil and 205
the number of such students enrolled in such program of such operator 206
during the current fiscal year ending, then such operator shall be 207
entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of (I) the amount 208
described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, and (II) the product 209
of the difference between the amount described in subparagraph (B)(i) 210
of this subdivision and the amount described in subparagraph (B)(ii) of 211
this subdivision and the total number of students enrolled in such 212
program of such operator during the current fiscal year. 213
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(4) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B) of this 214
subdivision, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, an interdistrict 215
magnet school program operator that is not a local or regional board of 216
education shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of 217
(i) eighty-five per cent of the difference between (I) the product of the 218
foundation and its total magnet school program need students, and (II) 219
the per student amount such operator received under section 10-264l, as 220
amended by this act, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, multiplied 221
by the number of students enrolled in such program for the current 222
fiscal year, and (ii) the amount described in subparagraph (A)(i)(II) of 223
this subdivision, except for a new interdistrict magnet school program 224
operator, such amount shall equal a comparable per student grant 225
amount. 226
(B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, if (i) the quotient of the 227
sum of the total revenue per pupil during the fiscal year ending June 30, 228
2024, and the total number of such students enrolled in such program of 229
such operator during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, is greater than 230
(ii) the quotient of the sum of the adjusted total revenue per pupil and 231
the number of such students enrolled in such program of such operator 232
during the current fiscal year, then such operator shall be entitled to a 233
grant in an amount equal to the sum of (I) the amount described in 234
subparagraph (A) of this subdivision , and (II) the product of the 235
difference between the amount described in subparagraph (B)(i) of this 236
subdivision and the amount described in subparagraph (B)(ii) of this 237
subdivision and the total number of students enrolled in such program 238
of such operator during the current fiscal year. 239
(5) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B) of this 240
subdivision, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 241
thereafter, an interdistrict magnet school program operator that is not a 242
local or regional board of education shall be entitled to a grant in an 243
amount equal to the product of the foundation and its total magnet 244
school program need students, except for a new interdistrict magnet 245
school program operator, such amount shall equal a comparable per 246
student grant amount. 247
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(B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 248
thereafter, if (i) the quotient of the sum of the total revenue per pupil 249
during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and the total number of such 250
students enrolled in such program of such operator during the fiscal 251
year ending June 30, 2024, is greater than (ii) the quotient of the sum of 252
the adjusted total revenue per pupil and the number of such students 253
enrolled in such program of such operator during the current fiscal year, 254
then such operator shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the 255
sum of (I) the amount described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, 256
and (II) the product of the difference between the amount described in 257
subparagraph (B)(i) of this subdivision and the amount described in 258
subparagraph (B)(ii) of this subdivision and the total number of 259
students enrolled in such program of such operator during the current 260
fiscal year. 261
(c) (1) For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2025, and [each fiscal 262
year thereafter] June 30, 2026 , an interdistrict magnet school operator 263
that is a local or regional board of education shall be entitled to a grant 264
in an amount equal to the sum of [(1)] (A) forty-two per cent of the 265
difference between [(A)] (i) the sum of [(i)] (I) the sending town 266
adjustment factors for each sending town, and [(ii)] (II) the product of 267
the number of in -district students enrolled in the interdistrict magnet 268
school program of such board and the per student amount of the grant 269
under section 10-264l, as amended by this act, for an in-district student 270
enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program for the fiscal year 271
ending June 30, 2024, and [(B)] (ii) the appropriate per student amounts, 272
for in -district students and out -of-district students, such operator 273
received under section 10-264l, as amended by this act, for the fiscal year 274
ending June 30, 2024, multiplied by the appropriate numbers of in -275
district students and out -of-district students enrolled in such program 276
for the current fiscal year, and [(2)] (B) the amount described in 277
subparagraph [(B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection ] (A)(ii) of this 278
subdivision, except, [if such ] for a new interdistrict magnet school 279
program operator, [commences operations on or after July 1, 2024, in a 280
new interdistrict magnet school program,] the per student amount such 281
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operator received for purposes of subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (B) of this 282
subdivision [for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, shall equal the per 283
student grant amount received by other interdistrict magnet school 284
program operators authorized to receive a grant under this subdivision 285
in the same region as determined by the commissioner. ] shall equal a 286
comparable per student grant amount. 287
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, an interdistrict magnet 288
school operator that is a local or regional board of education shall be 289
entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of (A) fifty-six per cent 290
of the difference between (i) the sum of (I) the sending town adjustment 291
factors for each sending town, and (II) the product of the number of in-292
district students enrolled in the interdistrict magnet school program of 293
such board and the per student amount of the grant under section 10 -294
264l, as amended by this act, for an in -district student enrolled in such 295
interdistrict magnet school program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 296
2024, and (ii) the appropriate per student amounts, for in -district 297
students and out -of-district students, such operator received under 298
section 10-264l, as amended by this act, for the fiscal year ending June 299
30, 2024, multiplied by the appropriate numbers of in -district students 300
and out -of-district students enrolled in such program for the current 301
fiscal year, and (B) the amount described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of this 302
subdivision, except for a new interdistrict magnet school program 303
operator, such amount shall equal a comparable per student grant 304
amount. 305
(3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, an interdistrict magnet 306
school operator that is a local or regional board of education shall be 307
entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of (A) seventy per cent 308
of the difference between (i) the sum of (I) the sending town adjustment 309
factors for each sending town, and (II) the product of the number of in-310
district students enrolled in the interdistrict magnet school program of 311
such board and the per student amount of the grant under section 10 -312
264l, as amended by this act, for an in -district student enrolled in such 313
interdistrict magnet school program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 314
2024, and (ii) the appropriate per student amounts, for in -district 315
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students and out -of-district students, such operator received under 316
section 10-264l, as amended by this act, for the fiscal year ending June 317
30, 2024, multiplied by the appropriate numbers of in -district students 318
and out -of-district students enrolled in such program for the current 319
fiscal year, and (B) the amount described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of this 320
subdivision, except for a new interdistrict magnet school program 321
operator, such amount shall equal a comparable per student grant 322
amount. 323
(4) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, an interdistrict magnet 324
school operator that is a local or regional board of education shall be 325
entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of (A) eighty-five per 326
cent of the difference between (i) the sum of (I) the sending town 327
adjustment factors for each sending town, and (II) the product of the 328
number of in-district students enrolled in the interdistrict magnet school 329
program of such board and the per student amount of the grant under 330
section 10 -264l, as amended by this act, for an in -district student 331
enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program for the fiscal year 332
ending June 30, 2024, and (ii) the appropriate per student amounts, for 333
in-district students and out-of-district students, such operator received 334
under section 10-264l, as amended by this act, for the fiscal year ending 335
June 30, 2024, multiplied by the appropriate numbers of in -district 336
students and out -of-district students enrolled in such program for the 337
current fiscal year, and (B) the amount described in subparagraph (A)(ii) 338
of this subdivision , except for a new interdistrict magnet school 339
program operator, such amount shall equal a comparable per student 340
grant amount. 341
(5) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 342
thereafter, an interdistrict magnet school operator that is a local or 343
regional board of education shall be entitled to a grant in an amount 344
equal to the sum of (A) the sending town adjustment factors for each 345
sending town, and (B) the product of the number of in-district students 346
enrolled in the interdistrict magnet school program of such board and 347
the per student amount of the grant under section 10 -264l, as amended 348
by this act, for an in-district student enrolled in such interdistrict magnet 349
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school program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, except for a new 350
interdistrict magnet school program operator, such amount shall equal 351
a comparable per student grant amount. 352
(d) (1) For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2025, and [each fiscal 353
year thereafter] June 30, 2026, a local or regional board of education that 354
operates a regional agricultural science and technology center shall be 355
entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of [(1)] (A) forty-two 356
per cent of the difference between [(A)] (i) the sum of [(i)] (I) the sending 357
town adjustment factors for each sending town, and [(ii)] (II) the product 358
of the number of in -district students enrolled in such center and five 359
thousand two hundred, and [(B)] (ii) five thousand two hundred 360
multiplied by the number of students enrolled in such center for the 361
current fiscal year, and [(2)] (B) the amount described in subparagraph 362
[(B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection.] (A)(ii) of this subdivision. 363
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, a local or regional board 364
of education that operates a regional agricultural science and 365
technology center shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the 366
sum of (A) fifty-six per cent of the difference between (i) the sum of (I) 367
the sending town adjustment factors for each sending town, and (II) the 368
product of the number of in-district students enrolled in such center and 369
five thousand two hundred, and (ii) five thousand two hundred 370
multiplied by the number of students enrolled in such center for the 371
current fiscal year, and (B) the amount described in subparagraph (A)(ii) 372
of this subdivision. 373
(3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, a local or regional board 374
of education that operates a regional agricultural science and 375
technology center shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the 376
sum of (A) seventy per cent of the difference between (i) the sum of (I) 377
the sending town adjustment factors for each sending town, and (II) the 378
product of the number of in-district students enrolled in such center and 379
five thousand two hundred, and (ii) five thousand two hundred 380
multiplied by the number of students enrolled in such center for the 381
current fiscal year, and (B) the amount described in subparagraph (A)(ii) 382
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of this subdivision. 383
(4) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, a local or regional board 384
of education that operates a regional agricultural science and 385
technology center shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the 386
sum of (A) eighty-five per cent of the difference between (i) the sum of 387
(I) the sending town adjustment factors for each sending town, and (II) 388
the product of the number of in-district students enrolled in such center 389
and five thousand two hundred, and (ii) five thousand two hundred 390
multiplied by the number of students enrolled in such center for the 391
current fiscal year, and (B) the amount described in subparagraph (A)(ii) 392
of this subdivision. 393
(5) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 394
thereafter, a local or regional board of education that operates a regional 395
agricultural science and technology center shall be entitled to a grant in 396
an amount equal to the sum of (A) the sending town adjustment factors 397
for each sending town, and (B) the product of the number of in -district 398
students enrolled in such center and five thousand two hundred. 399
Sec. 3. Subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 10-65 of the general 400
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 401
(Effective July 1, 2026): 402
(2) The board of education operating an agricultural science and 403
technology education center may charge, subject to the provisions of 404
section 10-65b, tuition for a school year in an amount not to exceed fifty-405
nine and two -tenths per cent of the foundation level pursuant to 406
subdivision (9) of section 10 -262f, as amended by this act , per student 407
for the fiscal year in which the tuition is paid, except that (A) such board 408
may charge tuition for (i) students enrolled under shared -time 409
arrangements on a pro rata basis, and (ii) special education students 410
which shall not exceed the actual costs of educating such students minus 411
the amounts received pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of 412
this section and subsection (c) of this section, and (B) (i) for the fiscal 413
[year] years ending June 30, 2025, and [each fiscal year thereafter] June 414
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30, 2026, such board may charge such tuition in an amount not to exceed 415
fifty-eight per cent of the amount such board charged during the fiscal 416
year ending June 30, 2024 , (ii) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, 417
such board may charge such tuition in an amount not to exceed forty -418
four per cent of the amount such board charged during the fiscal year 419
ending June 30, 2024, (iii) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, such 420
board may charge such tuition in an amount not to exceed thirty per 421
cent of the amount such board charged during the fiscal year ending 422
June 30, 2024, (iv) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, such board 423
may charge such tuition in an amount not to exceed fifteen per cent of 424
the amount such board charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 425
2024, and (v) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 426
thereafter, such board shall not charge tuition. Any tuition paid by such 427
board for special education students in excess of the tuition paid for 428
non-special-education students shall be reimbursed pursuant to section 429
10-76g. 430
Sec. 4. Subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (k) of section 10 -264l of 431
the 2026 supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the 432
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 433
(k) (1) For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2014, [and each fiscal 434
year thereafter] to June 30, 2029, inclusive, any tuition charged to a local 435
or regional board of education by [(A)] a regional educational service 436
center operating an interdistrict magnet school, [(B)] the Hartford school 437
district operating the Great Path Academy on behalf of Manchester 438
Community College, or [(C)] any interdistrict magnet school operator 439
described in section 10-264s, for any student enrolled in kindergarten to 440
grade twelve, inclusive, in such interdistrict magnet school shall be in 441
an amount equal to the difference between [(i)] (A) the average per pupil 442
expenditure of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and [(ii)] (B) 443
the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection 444
(c) of this section plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a 445
per pupil basis, except [for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each 446
fiscal year thereafter, ] the per student tuition charged to a local or 447
regional board of education shall not [(I)] (i) (I) for the fiscal years 448
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ending June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, exceed fifty-eight per cent of the 449
per student tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, 450
(II) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, exceed forty-four per cent of 451
the per student tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 452
2024, (III) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, exceed thirty per cent 453
of the per student tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 454
2024, and (IV) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, exceed fifteen per 455
cent of the per student tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 456
30, 2024, or [(II)] (ii) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each 457
fiscal year thereafter, for an interdistrict magnet school program that is 458
authorized to charge tuition to a local or regional board of education 459
under this subsection and commences operations on or after July 1, 2024, 460
exceed the per student average tuition charged by interdistrict magnet 461
school programs serving similar grade ranges in the same region as 462
determined by the commissioner. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 463
2030, and each fiscal year thereafter, a regional educational service 464
center operating an interdistrict magnet school, the Hartford school 465
district operating the Great Path Academy on behalf of Manchester 466
Community College, or any interdistrict magnet school operator 467
described in section 10-264s, shall not charge tuition to a local or regional 468
board of education, except for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2031, and 469
each fiscal year thereafter, such operator may charge tuition to a local or 470
regional board of education if the grant to which such operator is 471
entitled under section 10-252a, as amended by this act, is not calculated 472
using a foundation amount that is adjusted by the greater of either the 473
percentage increase in personal income, as defined in section 2 -33a, or 474
the percentage increase in inflation, as defined in section 2 -33a, 475
provided such tuition charged shall not exceed the difference between 476
the amount of the grant such operator would have been entitled to 477
receive for the fiscal year if such grant was calculated using the 478
foundation, as defined in section 10 -252a, as amended by this act, and 479
the amount of the grant that such operator will receive for such fiscal 480
year. If any such board of education fails to pay such tuition, the 481
commissioner may withhold from such board's town or towns a sum 482
payable under section 10-262i in an amount not to exceed the amount of 483
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the unpaid tuition to the magnet school and pay such money to the fiscal 484
agent for the magnet school as a supplementary grant for the operation 485
of the interdistrict magnet school program. In no case shall the sum of 486
such tuitions exceed the difference between the total expenditures of the 487
magnet school for the prior fiscal year and the total per pupil state 488
subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue 489
from other sources. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive 490
financial review of the operating budget of a magnet school to verify 491
such tuition rate. 492
(2) For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2016, [and each fiscal 493
year thereafter] to June 30, 2029, inclusive, a regional educational service 494
center operating an interdistrict magnet school offering a preschool 495
program that is not located in the Sheff region shall charge tuition to the 496
parent or guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool program in an 497
amount up to four thousand fifty -three dollars, except such regional 498
educational service center shall (A) not charge tuition to such parent or 499
guardian with a family income at or below seventy -five per cent of the 500
state median income, and (B) (i) (I) for the fiscal [year] years ending June 501
30, 2025, and [each fiscal year thereafter] June 30, 2026, charge tuition to 502
such parent or guardian in an amount not to exceed fifty -eight per cent 503
of the tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, (II) for 504
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, charge tuition to such parent or 505
guardian in an amount not to exceed forty -four per cent of the tuition 506
charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, (III) for the fiscal 507
year ending June 30, 2028, charge tuition to such parent or guardian in 508
an amount not to exceed thirty per cent of the tuition charged during 509
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and (IV) for the fiscal year ending 510
June 30, 2029, charge tuition to such parent or guardian in an amount 511
not to exceed fifteen per cent of the tuition charged during the fiscal year 512
ending June 30, 2024, and (ii) except for an interdistrict magnet school 513
preschool program that is authorized to charge tuition to a parent or 514
guardian under this subsection and commences operations on or after 515
July 1, 2024, charge tuition to such parent or guardian in an amount not 516
to exceed the per child average tuition charged by interdistrict magnet 517
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school preschool programs in the same region as determined by the 518
commissioner. The Department of Education shall, within available 519
appropriations, be financially responsible for any unpaid tuition 520
charged to such parent or guardian with a family income at or below 521
seventy-five per cent of the state median income. The commissioner 522
may conduct a comprehensive financial review of the operating budget 523
of any such magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition 524
rate. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 525
thereafter, a regional educational service center operating an 526
interdistrict magnet school offering a preschool program that is not 527
located in the Sheff region shall not charge tuition to the parent or 528
guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool program. 529
Sec. 5. Subdivision (2) of subsection (m) of section 10-264l of the 2026 530
supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 531
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 532
(2) For the [school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school 533
year thereafter ] fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, to June 30, 2029, 534
inclusive, any interdistrict magnet school operator that is a local or 535
regional board of education and did not charge tuition to another local 536
or regional board of education for the school year commencing July 1, 537
2014, may not charge tuition to such board unless (A) such operator 538
receives authorization from the Commissioner of Education to charge 539
the proposed tuition, and (B) if such authorization is granted, such 540
operator provides written notification on or before September first of 541
the school year prior to the school year in which such tuition is to be 542
charged to such board of the tuition to be charged to such board for each 543
student that such board is otherwise responsible for educating and is 544
enrolled at the interdistrict magnet school under such operator's control, 545
except for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 546
thereafter, the amount of such tuition charged to such other local or 547
regional board of education shall not (i) for the fiscal years ending June 548
30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, exceed fifty-eight per cent of the per student 549
tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, for the fiscal 550
year ending June 30, 2027, exceed forty-four per cent of the per student 551
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tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, for the fiscal 552
year ending June 30, 2028, exceed thirty per cent of the per student 553
tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and for the 554
fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, exceed fifteen per cent of the per student 555
tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, or (ii) for an 556
interdistrict magnet school program that is authorized to charge tuition 557
to a local or regional board of education under this subsection and 558
commences operations on or after July 1, 2024, exceed the per student 559
average tuition charged by interdistrict magnet school programs 560
serving similar grade ranges in the same region as determined by the 561
commissioner. In deciding whether to authorize an interdistrict magnet 562
school operator to charge tuition under this subdivision, the 563
commissioner shall consider (I) the average per pupil expenditure of 564
such operator for each interdistrict magnet school under the control of 565
such operator, and (II) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy and 566
any revenue from other sources received by such operator. The 567
commissioner may conduct a comprehensive financial review of the 568
operating budget of the magnet school of such operator to verify that 569
the tuition is appropriate. The provisions of this subdivision shall not 570
apply to any interdistrict magnet school operator that is a regional 571
educational service center or assisting the state in meeting its obligations 572
pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any 573
related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 574
Commissioner of Education. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, 575
and each fiscal year thereafter, any interdistrict magnet school operator 576
that is a local or regional board of education shall not charge tuition. 577
Sec. 6. Subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 10 -264o of the 2026 578
supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is 579
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 580
(b) For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2013, [and each fiscal 581
year thereafter] to June 30, 2029, inclusive, any tuition charged to a local 582
or regional board of education by a regional educational service center 583
or by Goodwin University Magnet Schools operating an interdistrict 584
magnet school assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to 585
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the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related 586
stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of 587
Education, for any student enrolled in kindergarten to grade twelve, 588
inclusive, in such interdistrict magnet school shall be in an amount equal 589
to the difference between (1) the average per pupil expenditure of the 590
magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (2) the amount of any per 591
pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of section 10 -264l, 592
plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis, 593
except for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 594
thereafter, the per student tuition charged to a local or regional board of 595
education shall not (A) (i) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, and 596
June 30, 2026, exceed fifty -eight per cent of the per student tuition 597
charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, (ii) for the fiscal year 598
ending June 30, 2027, exceed forty -four per cent of the per student 599
tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, (iii) for the 600
fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, exceed thirty per cent of the per student 601
tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and (iv) for 602
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, exceed fifteen per cent of the per 603
student tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, or 604
(B) for an interdistrict magnet school program that is authorized to 605
charge tuition to a local or regional board of education under this 606
subsection and commences operations on or after July 1, 2024, exceed 607
the per student average tuition charged by interdistrict magnet school 608
programs serving similar grade ranges in the same region as determined 609
by the commissioner. If any such board of education fails to pay such 610
tuition, the commissioner may withhold from such board's town or 611
towns a sum payable under section 10 -262i in an amount not to exceed 612
the amount of the unpaid tuition to the magnet school and pay such 613
money to the fiscal agent for the magnet school as a supplementary 614
grant for the operation of the interdistrict magnet school program. In no 615
case shall the sum of such tuitions exceed the difference between (i) the 616
total expenditures of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (ii) 617
the total per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of 618
section 10-264l, plus any revenue from other sources. The commissioner 619
may conduct a comprehensive review of the operating budget of a 620
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magnet school to verify such tuition rate. For the fiscal year ending June 621
30, 2030, and each fiscal year thereafter, a regional educational service 622
center or Goodwin University Magnet Schools operating an interdistrict 623
magnet school shall not charge tuition under this subsection, except for 624
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2031, and each fiscal year thereafter, such 625
operator may charge tuition to a local or regional board of education if 626
the grant to which such operator is entitled to under section 10-252a, as 627
amended by this act, is not calculated using a foundation amount that is 628
adjusted by the greater of either the percentage increase in personal 629
income, as defined in section 2 -33a, or the percentage increase in 630
inflation, as defined in section 2-33a, provided such tuition charged shall 631
not exceed the difference between the amount of the grant such operator 632
would have been entitled to receive for the fiscal year if such grant was 633
calculated using the foundation, as defined in section 10 -252a, as 634
amended by this act, and the amount of the grant that such operator will 635
receive for such fiscal year. 636
(c) For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2016, [and each fiscal 637
year thereafter] to June 30, 2029, inclusive, a regional educational service 638
center or Goodwin University Magnet Schools operating an interdistrict 639
magnet school assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to 640
the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related 641
stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of 642
Education, and offering a preschool program shall charge tuition to the 643
parent or guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool program (1) for 644
the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, in an amount 645
not to exceed fifty-eight per cent of the per child tuition charged during 646
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, (2) for the fiscal year ending June 647
30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed forty-four per cent of the per child 648
tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, (3) for the 649
fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed thirty per 650
cent of the per child tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 651
30, 2024, and (4) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, in an amount 652
not to exceed fifteen per cent of the per child tuition charged during the 653
fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, except such regional educational service 654
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center or Goodwin University Magnet Schools shall [(1)] (A) not charge 655
tuition to such parent or guardian with a family income at or below 656
seventy-five per cent of the state median income, and [(2)] (B) for an 657
interdistrict magnet school preschool program that is authorized to 658
charge tuition to a parent or guardian under this subsection and 659
commences operations on or after July 1, 2024, charge tuition to such 660
parent or guardian in an amount not to exceed the per child average 661
tuition charged by interdistrict magnet school preschool programs in 662
the same region as determined by the commissioner. The Department 663
of Education shall, within available appropriations, be financially 664
responsible for any unpaid tuition charged to such parent or guardian 665
with a family income at or below seventy -five per cent of the state 666
median income. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive 667
financial review of the operating budget of any such magnet school 668
charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate. For the fiscal year 669
ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year thereafter, a regional 670
educational service center and Goodwin University Magnet Schools 671
operating an interdistrict magnet school and offering a preschool 672
program shall not charge tuition under this subsection. 673
(d) For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2025, [and each fiscal 674
year thereafter ] to June 30, 2029, inclusive , any interdistrict magnet 675
school operator described in section 10 -264s that offers a preschool 676
program shall charge tuition to the parent or guardian of a child 677
enrolled in such preschool program (1) for the fiscal years ending June 678
30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed fifty -eight per 679
cent of the per child tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 680
30, 2024, (2) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, in an amount not to 681
exceed forty-four per cent of the per child tuition charged during the 682
fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, (3) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 683
2028, in an amount not to exceed thirty per cent of the per child tuition 684
charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and (4) for the fiscal 685
year ending June 30, 2029, in an amount not to exceed fifteen per cent of 686
the per child tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, 687
except [(1)] (A) such interdistrict magnet school operator shall not 688
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charge tuition to such parent or guardian with a family income at or 689
below seventy-five per cent of the state median income, and [(2)] (B) for 690
an interdistrict magnet school preschool program that is authorized to 691
charge tuition to a parent or guardian under this subsection and 692
commences operations on or after July 1, 2024, shall not charge tuition 693
to such parent or guardian in an amount not to exceed the per child 694
average tuition charged by interdistrict magnet school preschool 695
programs in the same region as determined by the commissioner. The 696
Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, be 697
financially responsible for any unpaid tuition charged to such parent or 698
guardian with a family income at or below seventy -five per cent of the 699
state median income. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive 700
financial review of the operating budget of any such interdistrict magnet 701
school operator charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate. For the 702
fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year thereafter, any 703
interdistrict magnet school operator described in section 10 -264s that 704
offers a preschool program shall not charge tuition to the parent or 705
guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool program. 706
Sec. 7. Subsection (d) of section 10 -66ee of the general statutes is 707
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 708
2026): 709
(d) (1) As used in this subsection: 710
(A) "Total charter need students" means the sum of (i) the number of 711
students enrolled in state charter schools under the control of the 712
governing authority for such state charter schools for the school year, 713
and (ii) for the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school 714
year thereafter, (I) thirty per cent of the number of children enrolled in 715
such state charter schools eligible for free or reduced price meals or free 716
milk, (II) fifteen per cent of the number of such children eligible for free 717
or reduced price meals or free milk in excess of the number of such 718
children eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk that is equal 719
to sixty per cent of the total number of children enrolled in such state 720
charter schools, and (III) twenty-five per cent of the number of students 721
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enrolled in such state charter schools who are multilingual learners, as 722
defined in section 10-76kk. 723
(B) "Foundation" has the same meaning as provided in section 10 -724
262f, as amended by this act. 725
(C) "Charter full weighted funding per student" means the quotient 726
of (i) the product of the total charter need students and the foundation, 727
and (ii) the number of students enrolled in state charter schools under 728
the control of the governing authority for such state charter schools for 729
the school year. 730
(D) "Charter grant adjustment" means the absolute value of the 731
difference between the foundation and charter full weighted funding 732
per student for state charter schools under the control of the governing 733
authority for such state charter schools for the school year. 734
[(2) For the fiscal year ending July 1, 2022, the state shall pay in 735
accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter 736
school for each student enrolled in such school, the foundation plus four 737
and one-tenth per cent of its charter grant adjustment. 738
(3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the state shall pay in 739
accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter 740
school for each student enrolled in such school, the foundation plus 741
twenty-five and forty-two-one-hundredths per cent of its charter grant 742
adjustment. 743
(4) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, the state shall pay in 744
accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter 745
school for each student enrolled in such school, the foundation plus 746
thirty-six and eight -one-hundredths per cent of its charter grant 747
adjustment.] 748
(E) "Fully funded grant" means the product of (i) the foundation, and 749
(ii) the total charter need students. 750
[(5)] (2) For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2025, [and each 751
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fiscal year thereafter] and June 30, 2026, inclusive, the state shall pay in 752
accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter 753
school for each student enrolled in such school, the foundation plus 754
fifty-six and seven tenths per cent of its charter grant adjustment. 755
(3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the state shall pay in 756
accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter 757
school for each student enrolled in such school, the foundation plus 758
sixty-seven per cent of its charter grant adjustment. 759
(4) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, the state shall pay in 760
accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter 761
school for each student enrolled in such school, the foundation plus 762
seventy-eight per cent of its charter grant adjustment. 763
(5) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, the state shall pay in 764
accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter 765
school for each student enrolled in such school, the foundation plus 766
eighty-nine per cent of its charter grant adjustment. 767
(6) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 768
thereafter, the state shall pay in accordance with this subsection, to the 769
fiscal authority for a state charter school its fully funded grant. 770
[(6)] (7) Payments under subdivisions (2) to [(5)] (6), inclusive, of this 771
subsection shall be paid as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the amount 772
not later than July fifteenth and September first based on estimated 773
student enrollment on May first, and twenty-five per cent of the amount 774
not later than January first and the remaining amount not later than 775
April first, each based on student enrollment on October first. 776
[(7)] (8) In the case of a student identified as requiring special 777
education, the school district in which the student resides shall: (A) 778
Hold the planning and placement team meeting for such student and 779
shall invite representatives from the charter school to participate in such 780
meeting; and (B) pay the state charter school, on a quarterly basis, an 781
amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of educating 782
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such student and the sum of the amount received by the state charter 783
school for such student pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection 784
and amounts received from other state, federal, local or private sources 785
calculated on a per pupil basis. Such school district shall be eligible for 786
reimbursement pursuant to section 10-76g. The charter school a student 787
requiring special education attends shall be responsible for ensuring 788
that such student receives the services mandated by the student's 789
individualized education program whether such services are provided 790
by the charter school or by the school district in which the student 791
resides. 792
Sec. 8. Section 10 -76ddd of the 2026 supplement to the general 793
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 794
(Effective July 1, 2026): 795
For purposes of determining the reasonable costs associated with the 796
provision of special education and related services pursuant to 797
subdivision [(7)] (8) of subsection (d) of section 10-66ee, as amended by 798
this act, subsection (d) of section 10 -76d, section 10 -76g, subsection (a) 799
of section 10 -76i, subsection (b) of section 10 -253, subsection (h) of 800
section 10-264l and subsection (i) of section 10 -266aa, (1) on and after 801
July 1, 2026, "reasonable costs" means the amount allowed to be charged 802
to a local or regional board of education by a charging entity, as defined 803
in section 10-76a, under the individualized special education and related 804
services rate schedule established pursuant to section 10 -76aaa, as 805
amended by this act, for the provision of special education and related 806
services pursuant to a student's individualized education program, and 807
(2) on and after July 1, 2025, there shall be no presumption that 808
"reasonable costs" means the actual cost incurred for the provision of 809
special education and related services pursuant to a student's 810
individualized education program. 811
Sec. 9. Subsection (f) of section 10-76aaa of the 2026 supplement to the 812
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 813
thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 814
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(f) The Commissioner of Education shall consult with (1) ConnCase, 815
(2) the Connecticut Association of Private Special Education Facilities, 816
(3) the Children's League of Connecticut, and (4) any other approved 817
nonprofit private providers of special education services and approved 818
for-profit private providers of special education services as the 819
commissioner deems necessary, for the purpose of developing proposed 820
rates for special education services, excluding transportation services, 821
for all approved private providers of special education services. Not 822
later than December 31, 2027, the commissioner shall develop proposed 823
individual rates for each special education service, excluding 824
transportation services, for all approved private providers of special 825
education services, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) 826
of this section, except for the period commencing July 1, 2025, until 827
December 31, 2027, the commissioner may develop such individual 828
rates for each special education service, in accordance with the 829
provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Following the development 830
of any such proposed rates, the commissioner shall submit all such 831
proposed rates not later than January first following such development 832
to the General Assembly for approval or disapproval. If the General 833
Assembly fails to approve or disapprove such proposed rates on or 834
before the March fifteenth after such submission, such proposed rates 835
shall be deemed approved. Any such proposed rate that is approved by 836
the General Assembly or deemed approved shall become effective on 837
the July first following such approval. 838
Sec. 10. Subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 10 -76ggg of the 839
2026 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 840
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 841
(e) (1) All aid distributed to a board of education pursuant to the 842
provisions of this section shall be expended for special education 843
purposes only. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal 844
year thereafter, if a board receives an increase in funds pursuant to this 845
section over the amount it received for the prior fiscal year, such 846
increase shall not be used to supplant funding for special education 847
purposes. The budgeted appropriation for special education for any 848
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board receiving an increase in funds pursuant to this section shall be not 849
less than the amount appropriated for special education for the prior 850
year plus such increase in funds. For purposes of this subsection, 851
"special education purposes" means the direct provision of special 852
education and related services to students, Tier 2 interventions, 853
academic and behavioral interventions, the hiring and salaries of special 854
education teachers, paraeducators and behavioral and reading 855
specialists who work directly with students, equipment purchases and 856
maintenance and curriculum materials. "Special education purposes" 857
does not include any [(A)] administrative functions or operating 858
expenses related to the provision of special education and related 859
services. [, or (B) special education and related services provided by any 860
third-party contractor.] 861
Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 10 -550b of the 2026 supplement to 862
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 863
thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 864
(a) As part of Early Start CT, the state, acting by and in the discretion 865
of the Commissioner of Early Childhood, may enter into direct or third-866
party contracts to provide financial assistance to municipalities, local 867
and regional boards of education, regional educational service centers, 868
family resource centers, Head Start programs, preschool programs, 869
nonprofit organizations, child care centers, group child care homes, 870
family child care homes, as such terms are described in section 19a -77, 871
and any other programs that meet standards established by the 872
commissioner for the purpose of operating early care and education 873
programs that focus on providing early childhood services based on 874
economic, social or environmental conditions, including in regions with 875
insufficient access to child care. [At least sixty per cent of the eligible 876
children enrolled in an] Any early care and education program receiving 877
financial assistance under Early Start CT shall [be] (1) ensure that at least 878
sixty per cent of the children enrolled in such early care and education 879
program are members of a family that is at or below seventy -five per 880
cent of the state median income , and (2) give priority for child care 881
spaces in such early care and education program to those families who 882
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were previously receiving a child care subsidy under the child care 883
subsidy program, established pursuant to section 17b -749, but who no 884
longer meet the income eligibility standards established by the 885
commissioner for the child care subsidy program pursuant to subsection 886
(b) of section 17b-749. No such financial assistance shall be available to 887
[(1)] (A) any such child care center, group child care home or family 888
child care home unless such center or home has been licensed by the 889
Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 19a -80 or 19a -890
87b, or [(2)] (B) any such local or regional board of education or regional 891
educational service center unless the preschool program is approved by 892
the Department of Education. The commissioner shall ensure that the 893
majority of such early care and education programs receiving such 894
financial assistance shall serve children that reside in or attend early care 895
and education programs located in priority school districts pursuant to 896
section 10-266p, former priority school districts or towns with schools 897
deemed severe need schools because forty per cent or more of the 898
lunches served are served to students who are eligible for free or 899
reduced price lunches pursuant to federal law. In determining whether 900
to enter into a contract for financial assistance under this section, the 901
commissioner may consider [(A)] (i) a community's participation in the 902
state's subsidized child care subsidy program established pursuant to 903
section 17b -749, and [(B)] (ii) the Centers for Disease Control and 904
Prevention's social vulnerability index determined by census tract. 905
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2026 10-262f(9)
Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 10-252a
Sec. 3 July 1, 2026 10-65(b)(2)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2026 10-264l(k)(1) and (2)
Sec. 5 July 1, 2026 10-264l(m)(2)
Sec. 6 July 1, 2026 10-264o(b) to (d)
Sec. 7 July 1, 2026 10-66ee(d)
Sec. 8 July 1, 2026 10-76ddd
Sec. 9 July 1, 2026 10-76aaa(f)
Sec. 10 July 1, 2026 10-76ggg(e)(1)
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Sec. 11 July 1, 2026 10-550b(a)

ED Joint Favorable Subst.
APP Joint Favorable