HB 5038 Summary

• Increases grant payments to school districts receiving out-of-district students under the open choice program, with amounts ranging from $3,000 to $8,000 per student depending on enrollment percentages, and adds a $2,000 grant for Hartford region students starting fiscal year 2023.

• Redefines "alliance districts" as the 33 lowest-performing school districts (instead of 30) and creates a new "graduated alliance district" category for previously designated alliance districts that no longer rank in the lowest 33, with a 5-year phase-out of state funding withholding from 100% to 0%.

• Modifies the equalization aid grant formula for towns through fiscal year 2030 and beyond, with graduated increases in grant adjustments and special protections for alliance and graduated alliance districts.

• Transfers governance and operational control of the Technical Education and Career System from the State Board of Education to an independent executive director, while establishing a 13-member board to provide advisory guidance.

• Expands the definition of "public school" and "teacher" in retirement and employment statutes to explicitly include Technical Education and Career System personnel.