The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 309, aims to enhance special education funding and services in Connecticut. It introduces a contingency special education grant to assist local or regional boards of education with unexpected costs exceeding twice the net current expenditures for students requiring special education services. This grant will be available starting July 1, 2027, and will be paid on a current basis for eligible students. Additionally, the bill repeals and replaces existing language regarding supplemental special education grants, adjusting the criteria for towns to qualify based on their net costs of special education compared to state averages.

Furthermore, the bill prohibits the State Board of Education from approving private providers of special education services that are owned or operated by private equity companies, thereby ensuring that such services are not influenced by profit motives. It also establishes a working group, convened by the Commissioner of Education, to explore innovative approaches to special education, including public-private partnerships and the expansion of eligibility for private providers. The working group is required to report its findings and recommendations by January 1, 2027. The overall intent of the bill is to improve the quality and accessibility of special education services while ensuring that funding mechanisms are responsive to the needs of school districts.