Substitute Senate Bill No. 1458 proposes significant reforms to Connecticut's educational framework, particularly concerning the Commissioner’s Network of Schools and the Alliance District Programs, which will now be referred to as Opportunity Districts. The bill establishes a new timeline for selecting schools for the Commissioner’s Network, allowing no new selections after July 1, 2025, and limiting current participants to a maximum of three years without extensions. It mandates that schools develop turnaround plans with specific guidelines and deadlines, supported by the State Board of Education. Additionally, the bill redefines terminology, replacing "Alliance district" with "Opportunity district" and introducing "Legacy alliance district" for those previously designated as alliance districts until June 30, 2025. The criteria for designating these districts will be modified, reducing the number of towns considered from thirty-three to fifteen based on accountability index scores.

Financially, the bill is expected to save the State Department of Education approximately $9.87 million annually starting in FY 28 due to the elimination of the Commissioner's Network program, although this will result in revenue losses for local school districts that previously received grants under this program. The bill also outlines new funding structures, allowing the Comptroller to withhold increases for towns designated as opportunity districts based on their funding levels from FY 2012. Furthermore, it establishes requirements for local boards of education in opportunity districts to apply for funding increases, which must include improvement plans focused on enhancing student achievement and addressing local education costs. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline educational oversight and support while targeting resources to the districts with the greatest need, with changes set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-262u, 10-4q, 10-14y
ED Joint Favorable: 10-262u, 10-4q, 10-14y
File No. 701: 10-262u, 10-4q, 10-14y