Connecticut § 10-15k - Plan re state-wide remote learning school.

§ 10-15k. Plan re state-wide remote learning school.

Sec. 10-15k. Plan re state-wide remote learning school. (a) As used in this section:

(1) “Remote learning” means instruction by means of one or more Internet-based software platforms as part of a remote learning model; and

(2) “Eligible student” means a student who resides in the state, but is unable to attend school in person due to a medical diagnosis, including a psychological or physical condition or restriction, or medical exemption to required immunizations, documented by the child's health care provider.

(b) The Department of Education shall develop a plan for the creation and implementation of a state-wide remote learning school that offers grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, and provides remote learning to students. In the course of developing such plan, the department shall (1) consider the findings and recommendations of the report created by the Connecticut Remote Learning Commission pursuant to section 10-15j, (2) review remote learning schools and models being implemented in other states, and (3) estimate the number of eligible students. The department shall use, to the extent permissible under federal guidelines, funds received from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, P.L. 116-260, as amended from time to time, to develop such plan.

(c) Any state-wide remote learning school that may be created under such plan shall (1) be maintained by and under the direction and control of the State Board of Education, (2) provide in each school year not less than one hundred eighty days of actual school sessions and nine hundred hours of actual school work for grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, provided not more than seven hours of actual school work in any school day shall count toward the total required for the school year, (3) offer coursework and a curriculum that is rigorous, aligned with curriculum guidelines approved by the State Board of Education, and in accordance with the state-wide subject matter content standards, adopted by the state board pursuant to section 10-4, (4) grant a diploma, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-5, to any student enrolled in such state-wide remote learning school who has satisfactorily completed the high school graduation requirements described in section 10-221a, and (5) be created with consideration given to best practices in remote learning, technological capabilities of students throughout the state and equity.

(d) The department shall draft a request for proposals for any items required to create and implement a state-wide remote learning school.

(e) Not later than January 1, 2024, the department shall submit the plan, the draft request for proposals and any recommendations for legislation related to the implementation of such plan to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 388; P.A. 23-160, S. 5.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 23-160 amended Subsec. (a) by designating existing definition of “remote learning” as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) to define “eligible student”, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “students who reside in Connecticut that may be eligible to enroll in such state-wide remote learning school” with “eligible students”, and amended Subsec. (e) by replacing “July 1, 2023” with “January 1, 2024”, effective July 1, 2023.