HB 7253 Summary

• Extends deadline for teachers to obtain master's degrees for professional educator certification from July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2018, allowing those with provisional certificates more time to meet the requirement.

• Modifies mastery examination scoring provisions to exclude English language learners with fewer than twenty school months of enrollment from accountability index calculations and requires Department of Education to notify boards of education of student test scores by August 15 annually.

• Changes audit requirements for private special education service providers from a fixed seven-year cycle to a risk-based approach with no more than one audit per five-year period, unless problems are identified.

• Establishes a task force to study high school interscholastic athletics governance, financing, participation barriers, and related issues, with findings due January 1, 2018.

• Authorizes school boards to establish "Pipeline for Connecticut's Future" programs partnering with local businesses to provide on-site training and course credit, allows acting superintendents probationary period extensions for hardship cases, and adds Chief Court Administrator to the Interagency Council for Ending the Achievement Gap.