HB 5287 — AN ACT CONCERNING REMOTE LEARNING IN CONNECTICUT.

House of Representatives General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

5287129 February Session, 2022 LCOSubstitute House Bill No.

18605287 ReferredHouse toof Representatives, March 28, 2022 The Committee on EDUCATIONEducation Introducedreported by:through REP.

(ED)SANCHEZ, ANR. ACT CONCERNING REMOTE LEARNING IN CONNECTICUT.

of the 25th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING REMOTE LEARNING IN CONNECTICUT.

Section 10-15k of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022):

(a) As used in this section, "remote learning" means instruction by means of one or more Internet-based software platforms as part of a remote learning model.

(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 students who reside in Connecticut that may be eligible to enroll in such state-wide remote LCO No.

1860 1 of 3 Raised Bill No.5287 learning school.

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 section10-221a,and(5) becreatedwithconsiderationgiven 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 [July] January 1, 2023, 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 mattersrelatingtoeducationandappropriations,inaccordancewiththe provisions of section 11-4a.

Sec.

2.

LCO(a) No.As used in this section, "remote learning" means instruction by means of one or more Internet-based software platforms as part of a remote learning model.

1860 2 of 3 Raised Bill No.5287 (a) As used in this section, "remote learning" means instruction by means of one or more Internet-based software platforms as part of a remote learning model.

[The standards shall not be deemed to be regulations, as defined in section 4-166.] (c)(c)FortheschoolyearcommencingJuly1,2022, For[andeachschoolyear thethereafter,] school year commencing July 1, 2022, and each school year thereafter, a local or regional board of education may authorize remote learning to students in grades [nine]nine kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, provided such boardsHB5287 (1)/ providesFile suchNo. instruction in compliance with the standards developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and (2) adopts a policy regarding the requirements for student attendance during remote learning, which shall (A) be in compliance with the Department of Education's guidance on student attendance during remote learning, and (B) count the attendance of any student who spends not less than one-half of the school day during such instruction engaged in (i) virtual classes, (ii) virtual meetings, (iii) activities on time- logged electronic systems, and (iv) the completion and submission of assignments.

129 1 sHB5287 File No.

129 board (1) provides such instruction in compliance with the standards developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and (2) adopts a policyregardingtherequirementsforstudentattendanceduringremote learning, which shall (A) be in compliance with the Department of Education's guidance on student attendance during remote learning, and (B) count the attendance of any student who spends not less than one-half of the school day during such instruction engaged in (i) virtual classes, (ii) virtual meetings, (iii) activities on time-logged electronic systems, and (iv) the completion and submission of assignments.

(d)For theschoolyear commencing July 1,2023,andeachschoolyear thereafter, a local or regional board of education may authorize remote learning to students in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, provided such board (1) provides such instruction in compliance with the standards developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and (2) adopts a policy regarding the requirements for student attendance during remote learning, which shall (A) be in compliance with the Department of Education's guidance on student attendance during remote learning, and (B) count the attendance of any student who spends not less than one-half of the school day during such instruction engaged in (i) virtual classes, (ii) virtual meetings, (iii) activities on time- logged electronic systems, and (iv) the completion and submission of assignments.

Section 1 July 1, 2022 10-15k10-4w Sec.ED Joint Favorable Subst.

2sHB5287 July/ 1,File 2022No. 10-4w Statement of Purpose:

To129 move2 upsHB5287 theFile dateNo. that the plan for the state-wide remote learning school is due from July 1, 2023, to January 1, 2023, and to permit local and regional boards of education to authorize remote learning to students in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive.

[Proposed129 deletionsThe following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are enclosedprepared infor brackets.the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

ProposedIn additionsgeneral, arefiscal indicatedimpacts byare underline,based exceptupon underlined.]e entire text of a billvariety or resolution or a section of ainformational billsources, orincluding resolutionthe isanalyst’s new,professional itknowledge. is not LCO No.

1860Whenever 3applicable, agency data is consulted as part of 3the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

Municipalities Effect FY 23 $ FY 24 $ Local and Regional School Cost Potential Potential Districts Explanation The bill allows, beginning with the 2023-24 school year, students in grades kindergarten through twelve to attend class on-line or as part of a remote learning model.

This could result in a potential cost to local and regional school districts if additional virtual or on-line materials and equipment must be purchased to accommodate students opting to participate in a remote learning model.

However, the bill is permissive, and local and regional school districts are not mandated to participate.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.

sHB5287 / File No.

129 3 sHB5287 File No.

129 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5287 AN ACT CONCERNING REMOTE LEARNING IN CONNECTICUT.

SUMMARY This bill permits local or regional boards of education to authorize remote learning for students in grades kindergarten to 12 beginning with the 2023-24 school year.