(a)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, on and after July 1, 2012, the local or regional board of education for a school that has been identified as in need of improvement pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223 may establish, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, a school governance council for each school so identified.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, on and after July 1, 2012, the local or regional board of education for a school that has been designated as a low achieving school, pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 10-223e due to such school failing to make adequate yearly progress in mathematics and reading at the whole school level shall establish, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, a school governance council for each school so designated.
(3) Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, on and after July 1, 2012, the local or regional board of education for a school that has been classified as a category four school or a category five school, pursuant to section 10-223e, shall establish, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, a school governance council for each school so designated.
(4) The provisions of subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of this subsection shall not apply to a school described in said subdivisions if (A) such school consists of a single grade level, or (B) such school is under the jurisdiction of a local or regional board of education that has adopted a similar school governance council model on or before July 1, 2011, that consists of parents, teachers from each grade level or subject area, administrators and paraprofessionals and such school governance council model is being administered at such school at the time such school is so identified as in need of improvement or so designated as a low achieving school.
(b) (1) The school governance council for a high school shall consist of (A) seven members who are a parent or guardian of a student attending the school, regardless of such parent or guardian's status as a public official, (B) two members who are community leaders within the school district, (C) five members who are teachers at the school, (D) one nonvoting member who is the principal of the school, or his or her designee, and (E) two nonvoting student members who are students at the school. The parent or guardian members shall be elected by the parents or guardians of students attending the school, provided, for purposes of the election, each household with a student attending the school shall have one vote. The community leader members shall be elected by the parent or guardian members and teacher members of the school governance council. The teacher members shall be elected by the teachers of the school. The nonvoting student members shall be elected by the student body of the school.
(2) The school governance council for an elementary or a middle school shall consist of (A) seven members who are a parent or guardian of a student attending the school, regardless of such parent or guardian's status as a public official, (B) two members who are community leaders within the school district, (C) five members who are teachers at the school, and (D) one nonvoting member who is the principal of the school, or his or her designee. The parent or guardian members shall be elected by the parents or guardians of students attending the school, provided, for purposes of the election, each household with a student attending the school shall have one vote. The community leader members shall be elected by the parent or guardian members and teacher members of the school governance council. The teacher members shall be elected by the teachers of the school.
(3) Terms of voting members elected pursuant to this subsection shall be for two years and no members shall serve more than four terms on the council. The nonvoting student members shall serve one year and no student member shall serve more than two terms on the council.
(c) (1) Except for those schools described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, schools that have been designated as a low achieving school pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 10-223e due to such school failing to make adequate yearly progress in mathematics and reading at the whole school level prior to July 1, 2012, and are among the lowest five per cent of schools in the state based on achievement shall establish a school governance council for the school.
(2) Except for those schools described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, schools that have been designated as a low achieving school, pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 10-223e, due to such school failing to make adequate yearly progress in mathematics and reading at the whole school level prior to July 1, 2012, but are not among the lowest five per cent of schools in the state based on achievement, shall establish a school governance council for the school.
(d) The school governance council shall have the following responsibilities: (1) Analyzing school achievement data and school needs relative to the improvement plan for the school prepared pursuant to this section; (2) reviewing the fiscal objectives of the draft budget for the school and providing advice to the principal of the school before such school's budget is submitted to the superintendent of schools for the district; (3) participating in the hiring process for the school principal or other administrators of the school by conducting interviews of candidates and reporting on such interviews to the superintendent of schools for the school district and the local and regional board of education; (4) assisting the principal of the school in making programmatic and operational changes for improving the school's achievement, including program changes, adjusting school hours and days of operation, and enrollment goals for the school; (5) working with the school administration to develop and approve a school compact for parents, legal guardians and students that includes an outline of the criteria and responsibilities for enrollment and school membership consistent with the school's goals and academic focus, and the ways that parents and school personnel can build a partnership to improve student learning; (6) developing and approving a written parent involvement policy that outlines the role of parents and legal guardians in the school; (7) utilizing records relating to information about parents and guardians of students maintained by the local or regional board of education for the sole purpose of the election described in subsection (b) of this section. Such information shall be confidential and shall only be disclosed as provided in this subdivision and shall not be further disclosed; and (8) if the council determines it necessary and subject to the provisions of subsection (i) of this section recommending reconstitution of the school in accordance with the provisions of subsection (g) of this section.
(e) The school governance council or a similar school governance council model, described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, at a school that has been identified as in need of improvement pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e may: (1) In those schools that require an improvement plan, review the annual draft report detailing the goals set forth in the state accountability plan prepared in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e and provide advice to the principal of the school prior to submission of the report to the superintendent of schools; (2) in those schools where an improvement plan becomes required pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e, assist the principal of the school in developing such plan prior to its submission to the superintendent of schools; (3) work with the principal of the school to develop, conduct and report the results of an annual survey of parents, guardians and teachers on issues related to the school climate and conditions; and (4) provide advice on any other major policy matters affecting the school to the principal of the school, except on any matters relating to provisions of any collective bargaining agreement between the exclusive bargaining unit for teachers pursuant to section 10-153b and local or regional boards of education.
(f) The local or regional board of education shall provide appropriate training and instruction to members of the school governance council or a similar school governance council model, described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, at a school that has been identified as in need of improvement pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e to aid the members in the execution of their duties.
(g) (1) The school governance council or a similar school governance council model, described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, at a school that has been designated as a low achieving school, pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 10-223e may, by an affirmative vote of the council, recommend the reconstitution of the school into one of the following models: (A) The turnaround model, as described in the Federal Register of December 10, 2009; (B) the restart model, as described in the Federal Register of December 10, 2009; (C) the transformation model, as described in the Federal Register of December 10, 2009; (D) any other model that may be developed by federal law; (E) a CommPACT school, pursuant to section 10-74g; or (F) an innovation school, pursuant to section 10-74h. Not later than ten days after the school governance council informs the local or regional board of education of its recommendation for the school, such board shall hold a public hearing to discuss such vote of the school governance council and shall, at the next regularly scheduled meeting of such board or ten days after such public hearing, whichever is later, conduct a vote to accept the model recommended by the school governance council, select an alternative model described in this subdivision or maintain the current school status. If the board selects an alternative model, the board shall meet with such school governance council to discuss an agreement on which alternative to adopt not later than ten days after such vote of the board. If no such agreement can be achieved, not later than forty-five days after the last such meeting between the board and the school governance council, the Commissioner of Education shall decide which of the alternatives to implement. If the board votes to maintain the current school status, not later than forty-five days after such vote of the board, the Commissioner of Education shall decide whether to implement the model recommended by the school governance council or to maintain the current school status. If the final decision pursuant to this subdivision is adoption of a model, the local or regional board of education shall implement such model during the subsequent school year in conformance with the general statutes and applicable regulations, and the provisions specified in federal regulations and guidelines for schools subject to restructuring pursuant to Section 1116(b)(8) of the No Child Left Behind Act, P.L. 107-110 or any other applicable federal laws or regulations.
(2) Any school governance council for a school or any similar school governance council model, described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, at a school that has been identified as in need of improvement pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e may recommend reconstitution, pursuant to subdivision (8) of subsection (d) of this subsection, during the third year after such school governance council or such similar school governance council model was established if the school for such governance council has not reconstituted as a result of receiving a school improvement grant pursuant to Section 1003(g) of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 USC 6301 et seq., or such reconstitution was initiated by a source other than the school governance council.
(h) A school governance council or any similar school governance council model, described in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, at a school that has been identified as in need of improvement pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-223e shall be considered a component of parental involvement for purposes of federal funding pursuant to Section 1118 of the No Child Left Behind Act, P.L. 107-110.
(i) The Department of Education shall allow not more than twenty-five schools per school year to reconstitute pursuant to this section. The department shall notify school districts and school governance councils when this limit has been reached. For purposes of this subsection, a reconstitution shall be counted towards this limit upon receipt by the department of notification of a final decision regarding reconstitution by the local or regional board of education.
(P.A. 12-116, S. 23; P.A. 13-31, S. 19–21; P.A. 18-42, S. 8; P.A. 19-31, S. 2; 19-91, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 12-116 effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-31 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b)(3), (d) and (i), effective May 28, 2013; P.A. 18-42 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re parent or guardian of student to serve as student governance council member regardless of parent's or guardian's status as public official, and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 19-31 made technical changes in Subsec. (b)(1) and (2), effective June 26, 2019; P.A. 19-91 amended Subsec. (b)(3) by replacing “two terms” with “four terms”, effective July 1, 2019.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 10 - Education and Culture
Chapter 170 - Boards of Education
Section 10-218. - Officers. Meetings.
Section 10-218a. - Oath of office.
Section 10-219. - Procedure for filling vacancy on local board of education.
Section 10-220. - Duties of boards of education.
Section 10-220b. - Policy statement on drugs.
Section 10-220c. - Transportation of children over private roads. Immunity from liability.
Section 10-220e. - Foster children count.
Section 10-220f. - Safety committee.
Section 10-220g. - Policy on calculation of students' grade point averages.
Section 10-220i. - Transportation of students carrying cartridge injectors.
Section 10-220j. - Blood glucose self-testing by children. Guidelines.
Section 10-220k. - Disclosure of educational records re student confined in residential facility.
Section 10-220m. - Review of transportation arrangements of special needs students.
Section 10-220p. - Materials provided to students when discussing career options.
Section 10-221. - Boards of education to prescribe rules, policies and procedures.
Section 10-221e. - Intradistrict student assignment programs.
Section 10-221f. - School uniforms.
Section 10-221g. - Instructional time and facility usage assessment.
Section 10-221j. - Early Reading Success Panel.
Section 10-221l. - State-Wide Early Reading Success Institute.
Section 10-221n. - Independent evaluation.
Section 10-221p. - Boards to make available for purchase nutritious and low-fat foods.
Section 10-221q. - Sale of beverages.
Section 10-221r. - Advanced placement course program. Guidelines.
Section 10-221t. - Alignment of common core standards with college level programs.
Section 10-221u. - Boards to adopt policies addressing the use of physical activity as discipline.
Section 10-221v. - Confidential rapid response team re suspected abuse or neglect.
Section 10-221w. - Policy re eligibility criteria for enrollment in advanced course or program.
Section 10-221x. - Challenging curriculum policy.
Section 10-222. - Appropriations and budget.
Section 10-222b. - Board to have use of funds from the Manville property damage settlement trust.
Section 10-222d. - Safe school climate plans. Definitions. School climate assessments.
Section 10-222e. - Policy on evaluation and termination of athletic coaches.
Section 10-222f. - College informational forums.
Section 10-222g. - Prevention and intervention strategy re bullying and teen dating violence.
Section 10-222i. - State-wide safe school climate resource network.
Section 10-222m. - School security and safety plans. School security and safety committees.
Section 10-222n. - School security and safety plan standards.
Section 10-222o. - Information re aggregate spending for education to be made available.
Section 10-222q. - Social and Emotional Learning and School Climate Advisory Collaborative.
Section 10-222r. - Publication of plain language explanation of rights and remedies.
Section 10-222t. - Administration of social-emotional learning assessment.
Section 10-222u. - State-wide social-emotional support strategy.
Section 10-222v. - Social-emotional learning standards for grades four to twelve.
Section 10-222w. - Working group re bullying and safe school climate plans.
Section 10-223. - Separate high school accounts.
Section 10-223g. - On-line credit recovery program. On-line learning coordinator.
Section 10-223j. - School governance councils.
Section 10-223k. - Department of Education to publish certain plans, rankings and formulas.
Section 10-223l. - Model school district responsibilities agreement.
Section 10-223n. - Publication of completion rates of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Section 10-224. - Duties of the secretary.
Section 10-225. - Salaries of secretary and attendance officers.
Section 10-226. - Reports to Commissioner of Education.
Section 10-226b. - Existence of racial imbalance.
Section 10-226c. - Plan to correct imbalance.
Section 10-226d. - Approval of plan by state board.
Section 10-226e. - Regulations.
Section 10-226f. - Coordinator of intergroup relations.
Section 10-226g. - Intergroup relations training for teachers.
Section 10-226h. - Programs and methods to reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation.
Section 10-228. - Free textbooks, supplies, material and equipment.
Section 10-228a. - Free textbook loans to pupils attending nonpublic schools.
Section 10-228b. - Tax credits for donation of computers to schools.
Section 10-229. - Change of textbooks.
Section 10-230a. - Employment of instructors of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs.
Section 10-230b. - Exemplary veterans education program distinction.
Section 10-231. - Fire drills. Crisis response drills.
Section 10-231a. - Pesticide applications at schools: Definitions.
Section 10-231b. - Pesticide applications at schools: Authorized applications. Ban. Exceptions.
Section 10-231e. - Maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
Section 10-231f. - Indoor air quality committee.
Section 10-231g. - Green cleaning program at schools: Definitions. Implementation. Notice.
Section 10-232. - Restrictions on employment of members of board of education.
Section 10-233. - Suspension of pupils.
Section 10-233a. - Definitions.
Section 10-233b. - Removal of pupils from class.
Section 10-233c. - Suspension of pupils.
Section 10-233d. - Expulsion of pupils.
Section 10-233e. - Notice as to disciplinary policies and action.
Section 10-233f. - In-school suspension of pupils. Reassignment.
Section 10-233i. - Students placed on probation by a court.
Section 10-233j. - Student possession and use of telecommunication devices.
Section 10-233l. - Expulsion and suspension of children in preschool programs.
Section 10-233m. - Memorandum of understanding re school resource officers.
Section 10-233n. - Report re disaggregated school discipline data.
Section 10-233o. - Standards re alternative educational opportunities.
Section 10-234. - Expulsion of pupils.
Section 10-234aa. - Definitions.
Section 10-234cc. - Requirements for operators re student data.
Section 10-234dd. - Duties re unauthorized release, disclosure or acquisition of student data.
Section 10-234ff. - Uniform student data privacy terms-of-service agreement addendum.
Section 10-235a. - Immunity from liability of internship providers.
Section 10-236. - Liability insurance.
Section 10-236a. - Indemnification of educational personnel assaulted in the line of duty.
Section 10-236b. - Physical restraint and seclusion of students by school employees.
Section 10-236c. - Behavior intervention meetings for certain students.
Section 10-237. - School activity funds.
Section 10-239. - Use of school facilities for other purposes.
Section 10-239a. - Demonstration scholarship program. Short title. Legislative intent.
Section 10-239b. - Definitions.
Section 10-239c. - Contract with federal agency for funds.
Section 10-239d. - Demonstration board and staff. Scholarships.
Section 10-239e. - Use of scholarships. Eligibility of schools.
Section 10-239f. - Collective bargaining by teachers.
Section 10-239g. - Evaluation of quality of education and satisfaction with schools under program.
Section 10-239h. - Liberal construction.
Section 10-239j. - Disclosure of accreditation reports. Notification requirements.