SB 231 Summary

• Changes the State Education Resource Center's support for early childhood education from discretionary ("may") to mandatory ("shall"), including collaboration with the Office of Early Childhood and closing opportunity gaps between socio-economic subgroups.

• Converts the Commissioner of Education's authority to allocate funds to the State Education Resource Center from discretionary ("may") to mandatory ("shall") in an amount sufficient for the center to operate and provide professional development services, technical assistance, and evaluation activities.

• Redirects up to $500,000 in nonlapsing funds from interdistrict public school attendance program grants to the State Education Resource Center for professional development of certified employees and training for school personnel in receiving districts, rather than supplemental grants to districts.

• Renumbers and clarifies the State Education Resource Center's powers, including adding authority to lease real property and establishing that the center shall support collaboration with other state agencies.

• Makes all changes effective July 1, 2022.