The proposed General Assembly Raised Bill No. 380 seeks to create an Office of Postsecondary Success within the Department of Education, effective July 1, 2026. This office will be tasked with supporting students in postsecondary education across Connecticut, led by an executive director appointed by the Governor. Key responsibilities include promoting promise programs, fostering collaborations between educational institutions and employers, and providing comprehensive information on scholarships and support programs. The office will also be responsible for collecting and reporting data on student enrollment, costs, and academic outcomes, segmented by various demographics. Additionally, the bill introduces a grant program for promise programs, allocating $3,000 annually per enrolled student, and mandates reporting on graduation and job placement rates.

Furthermore, the bill establishes the Scholar Success Grant Program, which offers financial assistance to qualifying students based on household income, with specific grant percentages tied to income brackets. For example, students with a household income of $30,000 or less would receive 20% of their tuition covered, while those with incomes above $110,000 would receive 8%. Grants are available for a maximum of six consecutive academic years or until graduation. Institutions must also meet certain criteria, such as enrolling students in first-year experience and financial literacy programs. The Office of Postsecondary Success is required to submit an annual report on grant distribution, and the bill allocates $4.8 million for promise programs and $30 million for the Scholar Success Grant Program from the General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. The provisions of the bill are designed to implement recommendations from a task force focused on enhancing support for promise programs in the state.