Connecticut Statutes
§ 10-220 — Duties of boards of education.
Connecticut § 10-220
This text of Connecticut § 10-220 (Duties of boards of education.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Bluebook
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-220 (2026).
Text
(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, fa
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
Related
Vega v. Semple
963 F.3d 259 (Second Circuit, 2020)
Rosa R. v. Connelly
889 F.2d 435 (Second Circuit, 1989)
Smith v. Guilford Board of Education
226 F. App'x 58 (Second Circuit, 2007)
Dighello v. Thurston Foods, Inc.
307 F. Supp. 3d 5 (D. Connecticut, 2018)
Bass Ex Rel. Bass v. Miss Porter's School
738 F. Supp. 2d 307 (D. Connecticut, 2010)
Munn v. Hotchkiss School
24 F. Supp. 3d 155 (D. Connecticut, 2014)
Leichter v. Lebanon Board of Education
917 F. Supp. 2d 177 (D. Connecticut, 2013)
Cromwell Property Owners Ass'n v. Toffolon
495 F. Supp. 915 (D. Connecticut, 1979)
Grasson v. Board of Education
24 F. Supp. 3d 136 (D. Connecticut, 2014)
Ortolaza ex rel. E. v. Capitol Region Educ. Council
388 F. Supp. 3d 109 (D. Connecticut, 2019)
Meyers v. Kishimoto
217 F. Supp. 3d 563 (D. Connecticut, 2016)
Lumpkin v. Meskill
64 F.R.D. 673 (D. Connecticut, 1974)
M.A. v. Torrington Board of Education
980 F. Supp. 2d 279 (D. Connecticut, 2014)
Byars v. City of Waterbury, No. X01-Cv-99-0152489s (Nov. 19, 2001)
2001 Conn. Super. Ct. 15636 (Connecticut Superior Court, 2001)
Seymour B. of E. v. Seymour Ed. Assn., No. Cv00 07 10 43s (Jan. 18, 2001)
2001 Conn. Super. Ct. 1276 (Connecticut Superior Court, 2001)
Rondini v. Town of Hamden, No. Cc 00443854s (Sep. 4, 2001)
2001 Conn. Super. Ct. 12386 (Connecticut Superior Court, 2001)
Winchester Bd. v. W. L. Gilbert Sch., No. Cv 97 0073312 (Sep. 10, 1997)
1997 Conn. Super. Ct. 9244 (Connecticut Superior Court, 1997)
Sheff v. O'neill, No. X03 Cv890492119s (Mar. 3, 1999)
1999 Conn. Super. Ct. 2900 (Connecticut Superior Court, 1999)
Cardona v. City of Bridgeport, No. Cv95 03 26 40 2s (Aug. 7, 1998)
1998 Conn. Super. Ct. 8962 (Connecticut Superior Court, 1998)
Byars v. City of Waterbury, No. Cv99-0152489s (Jun. 3, 1999)
1999 Conn. Super. Ct. 7511 (Connecticut Superior Court, 1999)
Legislative History
(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; P.A. 21-46, S. 13; 21-95, S. 11; P.A. 22-25, S. 12; 22-47, S. 20; 22-118, S. 369; P.A. 23-159, S. 7; 23-160, S. 3, 6; 23-167, S. 9, 44, 76; P.A. 24-74, S. 7; 24-151, S. 131.) 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; P.A. 21-46 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re integration of principles and practices of social-emotional learning in program of professional development, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 21-95 made identical changes as P.A. 21-46 and added “and restorative practices”, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-25 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subpara. designator (A) re 5 years and adding Subpara. (B) re 10 years if contract includes transportation by at least 1 zero-emission school bus; P.A. 22-47 amended Subsec. (c)(1) by adding provision re needs assessment that identifies resources necessary to address student trauma and adequately respond to students with mental, emotional or behavioral health needs, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 22-118 amended Subsec. (d) by adding new Subdiv. (1) re definitions of “certified testing, adjusting and balancing technician”, “heating, ventilation and air conditioning system” and “indoor air quality”, designating existing provisions re uniform inspection and evaluation program of indoor air quality as Subdiv. (2) and amended same by redesignating existing Subdivs. (1) to (14) as Subparas. (A) to (N), adding Subdiv. (3) re uniform inspection and evaluation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 23-159 amended Subsec. (c) by adding Subdiv. (9) re teacher attrition rates, effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 23-160 amended Subsec. (e) by adding provision re boards to make all approved curriculum and associated curriculum materials available in accordance with the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment and added Subsec. (g) re boards to make agenda and any associated documents for regular or special meeting of board available on Internet web site, effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 23-167 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “plan for minority educator recruitment” with “increasing educator diversity plan”, amended Subsec. (d)(2) by replacing “Prior to January 1, 2008, and every three years thereafter, for every school building that is or has been constructed, extended, renovated or replaced on or after January 1, 2003” with “On and after January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter”, replacing “such buildings, such as” with “each school building using” and designating existing provision re make results of inspection and evaluation available for public inspection at board meeting and on board's and school's Internet web site as Subdiv. (2)(i) and adding Subdiv. (2)(ii) re submission of report of inspection and evaluation to Department of Administrative Services using form developed pursuant to Sec. 10-231h, amended Subsec. (d)(3) by replacing “January 1, 2024” with “January 1, 2025”, designating existing provision re make results of inspection and evaluation available for public inspection at board meeting and on board's and school's Internet web site as Subdiv. (2)(i) and adding Subdiv. (2)(ii) re submission of report of inspection and evaluation to Department of Administrative Services using form developed pursuant to Sec. 10-231h and adding provision re use of inspections performed in different format and granting of waivers of uniform inspections and evaluations, effective July 1, 2023, and added Subsec. (g), codified by the Revisors as Subsec. (h), re strategies to reduce the number of suspensions and expulsions for boards of education with rate of suspensions and expulsions deemed high or disproportionate, effective January 1, 2024; P.A. 24-74 amended Subsec. (d)(3) by designating existing provision re boards of education to provide for uniform inspection and evaluation as Subpara. (A) and amending same to replace “Prior to January 1, 2025, and every five years thereafter, a” with “For the period commencing July 1, 2026, and ending and including June 30, 2031, each”, to add provisions re inspection for at least 20 per cent of schools each year and each school to be inspected every 5 years thereafter and to make a conforming change, and designating existing provision re inspections and evaluations as Subpara. (B) and amending same to redesignate existing Subparas. (A) to (H) as clauses (i) to (viii) and existing clauses (i) and (ii) as new subclauses (I) and (II) and making a conforming change, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 24-151 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re prohibition on delegating authority to schedule interscholastic football games on Thanksgiving Day to any nonprofit organization or entity and prohibition against adopting a policy or prohibition against scheduling an interscholastic football game on Thanksgiving Day, effective July 1, 2024. Powers conferred and duties imposed by former statute construed. 65 C. 183. Former statute cited. 77 C. 195. Town may defend action brought against committee for official acts under former statute; duties as to moral fitness of teachers. 79 C. 240. Former statute held not to repeal provision in city charter. 82 C. 124. Control of town over committee under former statute. Id., 566. Former “school committee” was agent of law and not of the town. 99 C. 695. Cited. 129 C. 191; 134 C. 616; 143 C. 488. Actions of board, within confines of its powers, not subject to control of city common council or officers; if land devoted to school purposes, held city could not condemn it for a highway without approval of school committee. 147 C. 478. Section must be read with Sec. 10-186 re furnishing of transportation for school children, and it comprehends not only distance but safety factors. 148 C. 238. Number of teaching positions, need of curriculum coordinator and maintenance of school properties were matters within discretion of school board. 151 C. 1. Cited. 152 C. 148–150. Ability of board to perform its statutory duties not destroyed by requirement of town charter that it select nonprofessional employees under civil service requirements. Id., 568. Cited. 153 C. 283; 162 C. 568. Town boards of education, in matters not involving strictly budgetary concerns, act as agents of the state; under powers to “employ and dismiss” teachers, town boards of education can determine contested cases. 167 C. 368. Town, by referendum, could delegate its power of eminent domain to board of education which had authority to exercise it. 168 C. 135. Cited. 170 C. 38; Id., 318; 174 C. 522; 180 C. 96; 182 C. 93; Id., 253; 187 C. 187; 193 C. 93; 195 C. 24; 205 C. 116; 217 C. 110; 228 C. 640; Id., 699; 237 C. 169; 238 C. 1. Cited. 6 CA 212; 44 CA 179. There is no statutorily mandated exception to residency requirement for displacement due to natural disaster, however board has discretion to interpret this section and Sec. 10-186 in such manner. 138 CA 677. Elements justifying indemnification of a board member. 9 CS 442. Cited. 15 CS 370. Boards of education may discontinue or unite schools; history of section reviewed. 16 CS 339. Board as agent of the state. 19 CS 158. Boards of education may accord problem of racial imbalance relevance in making decisions. 26 CS 124. Cited. 27 CS 339. Extension of a “project concern” contract made by board of education of Milford with board of New Haven is an administrative decision to be made by board as agency of the state under its authority set out in Secs. 10-220 to 10-239 and board of aldermen was enjoined from holding an advisory referendum of voters as this would be an unlawful expenditure of city funds. 28 CS 207. School boards are agents of the state, not subject to recall under a municipal charter. 29 CS 201. Cited. 30 CS 63. The Connecticut education system violates Art. I, Sec. 20 and Art. VIII, Sec. 1 of the Connecticut Constitution. 31 CS 379. Relationship between boards of education and municipal budget authorities; extent of municipal obligation to finance education. 32 CS 132. Cited. 34 CS 115; 35 CS 55; 36 CS 293. Local board of education is not acting as agent of the state and not entitled to sovereign immunity when acting to recover damages arising from construction of school building. 40 CS 141. Cited. 44 CS 527. Subsec. (a): Town charter that allows for separate referenda for town's operating budget and education budget and that allows voters to reject the budgets three times does not rise to the level of a veto and does not violate state statute and policy concerning education. 268 C. 295. Context of community orientation of family discussed in determining place of residence for purposes of school attendance. 34 CA 567.
Nearby Sections
15
§ 10-10i
Report on student data.Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
Bluebook (online)
Connecticut § 10-220, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/ct/10-220.