§ 10-252a — Choice program grants.

(a) As used in this section, sections 10-65, 10-252b and 10-264l: (1) “Choice program” means (A) an interdistrict magnet school program, or (B) a regional agricultural science and technology center. (2) “Foundation” has the same meaning as provided in section 10-262f . (3) “Resident students” has the same meaning as provided in section 10-262f . (4) “Resident choice program students” means the number of part-time and full-time students of a town enrolled or participating in a particular choice program. (5) “Total need students” has the same meaning as provided in section 10-262f . (6) “Total magnet school program need students” means the sum of (A) the number of part-time and full-time students enrolled in the interdistrict magnet school program of the interdistrict magnet school operator that is (i) not a local or regional board of education, (ii) the board of governors for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173 , or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent institution of higher education, or (iii) any other third-party, not-for-profit corporation approved by the Commissioner of Education, for the school year, and (B) for the school year commencing July 1, 2024, (i) thirty per cent of the number of part-time and full-time students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk, (ii) fifteen per cent of the number of such part-time and full-time students eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk in excess of the number of such part-time and full-time students eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk that is equal to sixty per cent of the total number of students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program, (iii) twenty-five per cent of the number of part-time and full-time students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program who are English language learners, and (iv) if such interdistrict magnet school program is assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the commissioner, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, thirty per cent of the number of part-time and full-time students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program. (7) “Sending town” means the town that sends resident choice program students, which it would otherwise be legally responsible for educating, to a choice program. (8) “Receiving district” has the same meaning as provided in section 10-266aa . (9) “Weighted funding amount per pupil” means the quotient of (A) the product of the foundation and a town's total need students for the fiscal year prior to the year in which the grant is to be paid, and (B) the number of resident students of the town. (10) “In-district student” means a student enrolled or participating in a choice program operated or maintained by a local or regional board of education and for whom such local or regional board of education is legally responsible for educating. (11) “Out-of-district student” means a student enrolled or participating in a choice program operated or maintained by a local or regional board of education and who does not reside in the town or a member town of such local or regional board of education. (12) “Total revenue per pupil” means the sum of (A) the per student amount of the grant for a choice program student for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, (B) the per student amount of any general education tuition for a student in such choice program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and (C) the per child amount of any tuition charged for a child enrolled in a preschool program offered by a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school preschool program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, pursuant to section 10-264 l . (13) “Adjusted total revenue per pupil” means the sum of (A) the per student amount of the grant for a choice program student for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, (B) the per student amount of any general education tuition for a student in such choice program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and (C) the per child amount of any tuition charged for a child enrolled in a preschool program offered by a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school preschool program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, pursuant to section 10-264 l . (14) “Sending town adjustment factor” means the product of (A) the weighted funding amount per pupil or the total revenue per pupil, whichever is greater, for a sending town, and (B) the number of its resident choice program students. (b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, an interdistrict magnet school program operator that is not a local or regional board of education shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of (A) forty-two per cent of the difference between (i) the product of the foundation and its total magnet school program need students, and (ii) the per student amount such operator received under section 10-264 l for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, multiplied by the number of students enrolled in such program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and (B) the amount described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of this subdivision. (2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, if (A) the quotient of the sum of the total revenue per pupil during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and the total number of such students enrolled in such program of such operator during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, is greater than (B) the quotient of the sum of the adjusted total revenue per pupil and the number of such students enrolled in such program of such operator during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, then such operator shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the amount described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, and (ii) the product of the difference between the amount described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision and the amount described in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision and the total number of students enrolled in such program of such operator during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. (c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, an interdistrict magnet school operator that is a local or regional board of education shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of (1) forty-two per cent of the difference between (A) the sum of (i) the sending town adjustment factors for each sending town, and (ii) the product of the number of in-district students enrolled in the interdistrict magnet school program of such board and the per student amount of the grant under section 10-264 l for an in-district student enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and (B) the appropriate per student amounts, for in-district students and out-of-district students, such operator received under section 10-264 l for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, multiplied by the appropriate numbers of in-district students and out-of-district students enrolled in such program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and (2) the amount described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection. (d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, a local or regional board of education that operates a regional agricultural science and technology center shall be entitled to a grant in an amount equal to the sum of (1) forty-two per cent of the difference between (A) the sum of (i) the sending town adjustment factors for each sending town, and (ii) the product of the number of in-district students enrolled in such center and five thousand two hundred, and (B) five thousand two hundred multiplied by the number of students enrolled in such center for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and (2) the amount described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection.

Legislative History

(P.A. 24-81, S. 112.) History: P.A. 24-81 effective July 1, 2024.