HB 7035 - Education Budget Implementation

• Replaces "educational reform districts" with "opportunity districts" (defined as school districts in towns with ten lowest accountability index scores) and creates new "promise districts" for districts previously designated as alliance districts.

• Restructures alliance district designations: Commissioner designates up to 30 alliance districts for three-year terms (rather than five years) starting fiscal year 2018, with reallocation every four years within available appropriations.

• Requires promise districts to submit sustainability plans to the commissioner demonstrating how they will maintain academic performance and funding after their designation period ends.

• Extends grant reduction provisions through fiscal year 2019 (previously 2017) for special education, transportation, bilingual education, and other education funding programs if appropriations are exceeded.

• Enhances child care employee background check requirements to include comprehensive checks (not just criminal history) conducted at least once every five years, with no unsupervised child access until checks are completed.