The proposed bill, sSB1512, establishes the School District Accountability Review Board (DARB) within the Department of Education to enhance financial management and accountability for local and regional boards of education identified as needing improvement. The DARB will consist of 13 members, including state officials and appointees with expertise in education and school district management, with initial appointments required by September 1, 2025. Members will serve six-year terms, and the board is tasked with submitting an annual report on its activities starting January 1, 2026. The bill also mandates the appointment of a superintendent or district improvement officer and requires the submission of an annual action plan to the Commissioner of Education.

Additionally, the bill amends existing law by repealing subsections (e) and (f) of section 10-223e and replacing them with provisions that empower the State Board of Education to require DARB to provide technical assistance and take control of financial operations in low-achieving districts that fail to show acceptable progress. The bill also mandates a forensic audit of the Bridgeport school district's financial operations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, with findings to be reported to the Education Committee, which must hold a hearing on the results. The estimated annual cost for implementing these provisions is at least $184,400, primarily for staffing the DARB and conducting the audit. The effective date for the DARB provisions is July 1, 2025, while the audit for Bridgeport is effective upon passage.