Connecticut 2021 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 977 — AN ACT CONCERNING VIRTUAL LEARNING.

Last action — FAV. CHG. OF REF. HOUSE TO COMM. ON Appropriations

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

199 added · 249 removed

199 line(s) added, 249 removed.

→
Previous
Latest
General Assembly Substitute Bill No.
General Assembly Raised Bill No.
977 January Session, 2021 AN ACT CONCERNING VIRTUAL LEARNING.
977 January Session, 2021 LCO No.
4303 Referred to Committee on EDUCATION Introduced by:
(ED) AN ACT CONCERNING VIRTUAL LEARNING.
Section 1.
Section1.
(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, "virtual learning" means the provision of instruction by means of one or more Internet-based software platforms as part of an in-person or remote learning model that is in accordance with the uniform virtual learningstandardsdevelopedbytheDepartmentofEducationpursuant to this section.
(NEW) (Effective from passage)(a)As usedinthissection and section 10-4 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, "virtual learning" means the provision of instruction on a virtual platform or as part of a remote learning model that is in accordance with the uniform virtual learning standards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to this section.
(b) (1) Not later than July 1, 2021, the Department of Education shall developuniformstandardsfor virtuallearning.Suchuniformstandards shall be used by local and regional boards of education for the authorized provision of virtual learning, and shall be developed with consideration given to best practices, technological capabilities and equity.
(b) Not later than July 1, 2021, the State Board of Education shall adopt uniform standards for virtual learning.
Such standards shall (A) include a requirement that any virtual learning provided by a local or regional board of education be in accordance withtheprovisionsofsections10-15and10-16ofthegeneral statutes, as amended by this act, (B) be 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 of the general statutes, and (C) require any local or regional board of education that LCO \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00977-R01 of 8 SB.docx Substitute Bill No.
Such uniform standards shall be used by local and regional boards of education for the authorized provision of virtual learning, and shall be developed, and updated as necessary, with consideration given to best practices, technological capabilities and equity.
977 wants to implement virtual learning when public school sessions may otherwise be cancelled for reasons of inclement weather or otherwise, to developaplanforhowandwhensuchvirtuallearningwillbeprovided.
(c) The state board shall make such uniform standards available on its Internet web site.
(2)Not later thanJuly 1,2022,thedepartmentshallrevise theuniform standards for virtual learning, developed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, to incorporate the findings of the comprehensive audit conducted pursuant to section 2 of this act.
(3) On and after July 1, 2023, the department shall annually review and may revise as necessary the uniform standards for virtual learning.
(c) The Department of Education shall periodically review whether the uniform standards for virtual learning are being satisfied by a local or regional board of education that is implementing virtual learning.
(d) Not later than July 1, 2021, the department shall develop guidelinesfor theprovisionoftraining invirtuallearning offeredaspart of a program of professional development, pursuant to section 10-148a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or as part of an in-service training program, pursuant to section 10-220a of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
Such guidelines shall be used by local and regional boards of education, and shall be developed, and updated as necessary, withconsiderationgivento best practices,technologicalcapabilities and equity.
(e) The department shall make the uniform standards for virtual learning and the guidelines for the provision of training in virtual learning available on its Internet web site.
(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section:
Subsection (a) of section 10-4 of the general statutes is repealed LCO No.
(1) "Virtual learning" has the same meaning as provided in section 1 of this act;
4303 1 of 7 Raised Bill No.
and (2) "COVID-19" means the respiratory disease designated by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, as coronavirus 2019, LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00972 of 8 R01-SB.docx } Substitute Bill No.
977 and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
977 and any related mutation thereof recognized by the World Health Organization as a communicable respiratory disease.
(a) Said board shall have general supervision and control of the educational interests of the state, which interests shall include preschool, elementary and secondary education, special education, vocational education and adult education;
(b) The Department of Education shall conduct a comprehensive audit of the virtual learning provided by local and regional boards of educationasa result of theCOVID-19pandemicduring the schoolyears commencing July 1, 2019, and July 1, 2020.
shall provide leadership and otherwise promote theimprovement of education in the state, including research, planning and evaluation and services relating to the provision and use of educational technology, including telecommunications, by school districts;
(c) Such comprehensive audit shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of (1) whether and how local and regional boards of educationinitially providedvirtuallearningduring thebeginning ofthe COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the technological capabilities or limitations at such time, (2) the curriculum used as part of virtual learning and whether students were able to complete the grade level curriculums, (3) the level of preparation or training in virtual learning that educators received prior to and during the provision of virtual learning during such school years, including the nature of such training and whether it was offered as part of a program of professional development, pursuant to section 10-148a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or as part of an in-service training program, pursuant to section 10-220a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and (4) the level of improvement, if any, of the provision of virtual learning from the school year commencing July 1, 2019, to the school year commencing July 1, 2020.
shall adopt state-wide subject matter content standards, provided such standards are reviewed and revised at least once every ten years;
(d) Following the completion of such comprehensive audit, the department shall develop a report that uses the results of such comprehensive audit to (1) evaluate the efficacy of virtual learning, and hybrid learning models, and the potential to leverage technology for teaching in other scenarios and rethinking the delivery of instruction, (2) identify a system of metrics to hold local and regional boards of education accountable for virtual learning access and equity, and (3) review and make recommendations regarding ongoing public education requirements, including what defines a "school day", by aligning technology and how virtual learning may be optimally integrated into the program of study and the provision of public LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00973 of 8 R01-SB.docx } Substitute Bill No.
shall prepare such courses of study and publish such curriculum guides including recommendationsfor textbooks,materials, instructional technological resources and other teaching aids as it determines are necessary to assist school districts to carry out the duties prescribed by law;
977 education.
shall adopt uniform standards for virtual learning, in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act;
(e) Not later than February 1, 2022, the department shall submit such comprehensive audit and report, and any recommendations for legislation, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
shall conduct workshops and related activities, including programs of intergroup relations training, to assist teachers in making effective use of such curriculum materials and in improving their proficiency in meeting the diverse needs and interests of pupils;
shall keep informed as to the condition, progress and needs of the schools in the state;
shall develop or cause to be developed evaluation and assessment programs designed to measure objectively the adequacy and efficacy of the educational programs offered by public schools and shall selectively conduct such assessment programs annually and report, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, on an annual basis;
and shall establish and keep an inventory account, in accordance with the provisions of section 4-36, of all property owned and in the custody of the Department of Education, secure such inventory to prevent theft or loss and establish controls over the disposal of such inventory.
(Effective from passage) (a) The Department of Education shall conduct a comprehensive audit of the virtual learning provided by local and regional boards of education as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic LCO No.
4303 2 of 7 Raised Bill No.977 during the school years commencing July 1, 2019, and July 1, 2020.
As used inthissection,"virtuallearning" meanstheprovisionofinstruction on a virtual platform or as part of a remote learning model.
(b) Such comprehensive audit shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of (1) whether and how local and regional boards of educationinitially providedvirtuallearningduring thebeginning ofthe COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the technological capabilities or limitations at such time, (2) the curriculum used as part of virtual learning and whether students were able to complete the grade level curriculums, (3) the level of preparation or training in virtual learning that educators received prior to and during the provision of virtual learning during such school years, including the nature of such training and whether it was offered as part of a program of professional development, pursuant to section 10-148a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or as part of in-service training program, pursuant to section 10-220a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and (4) the level of improvement, if any, of the provision of virtual learning from the school year commencing July 1, 2019, to the school year commencing July 1, 2020.
(c) Following the completion of such comprehensive audit, the department shall develop a report that uses the results of such comprehensive audit to (1) evaluate the efficacy of virtual learning, and hybrid learning models, and the potential to leverage technology for teaching in other scenarios and rethinking the delivery of instruction, (2) identify a system of metrics to hold local and regional boards of education accountable for virtual learning access and equity, and (3) review and make recommendations regarding ongoing public education requirements, including what defines a "school day", by aligning technology and how virtual learning may be optimally integrated into the program of study and the provision of public education.
(d) Not later than January 1, 2022, the department shall submit such comprehensive audit and report, and any recommendations for LCO No.
4303 3 of 7 Raised Bill No.977 legislation, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
Sec.
4.
(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section and sections 10-148a and 10-220a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, "virtual learning" means the provision of instruction on a virtual platform or as part of aremote learning modelthat is in accordance with the uniform virtual learning standards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to this section.
(b) Not later than July 1, 2021, the Department of Education shall develop guidelines for the provision of training in virtual learning offered as part of a program of professional development, pursuant to section 10-148a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or as part of in-service training program, pursuant to section 10-220a of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
Such guidelines shall be used by local and regional boards of education, and shall be developed, and updated as necessary, with consideration given to best practices, technological capabilities and equity.
(c) The department shall make such guidelines available on its Internet web site.
Show all 82 changed rows (42 more)
Previous
Latest
Sec.
5.
Such program of professional development shall (1) be a comprehensive, sustained and intensive approach to improving teacher and administrator effectiveness in increasing student knowledge achievement, (2) focus on refining and improving various effective teaching methods that are shared between and among educators, (3) foster collective responsibility for improved student performance, (4) be comprised of professional learning that (A) is aligned with rigorous state student academic achievement standards, (B) is conducted among educators at the school and facilitated by principals, coaches, mentors, distinguished educators, as described in section 10-145s, or other appropriate teachers, (C) occurs frequently on an individual basis or among groups of teachers in a job-embedded process of continuous improvement, and (D) includes a repository of best practices for teaching methods developed by educators within each school that is continuously available to such educators for comment and updating, [and] (5) include training in culturally responsive pedagogy andpractice,and(6)includetrainingintheprovisionofvirtuallearning, in accordance with the guidelines developed pursuant to section 1 of LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00974 of 8 R01-SB.docx } Substitute Bill No.
Such program of professional development shall (1) be a comprehensive, sustained and intensive approach to improving teacher and administrator effectiveness in LCO No.
977 this act.
4303 4 of 7 Raised Bill No.977 increasing student knowledge achievement, (2) focus on refining and improving various effective teaching methods that are shared between and among educators, (3) foster collective responsibility for improved student performance, (4) be comprised of professional learning that (A) is aligned with rigorous state student academic achievement standards, (B) is conducted among educators at the school and facilitated by principals, coaches, mentors, distinguished educators, as described in section 10-145s, or other appropriate teachers, (C) occurs frequently on an individual basis or among groups of teachers in a job-embedded process of continuous improvement, and (D) includes a repository of best practices for teaching methods developed by educators within each school that is continuously available to such educators for comment and updating, [and] (5) include training in culturally responsive pedagogy andpractice,and(6)includetrainingintheprovisionofvirtuallearning, in accordance with the guidelines developed pursuant to section 4 of this act.
4.
6.
Such program shall provide such teachers, administrators and pupil personnel with information on (1) the nature and the relationship of alcohol and drugs, as defined in subdivision (17) of section 21a-240, to health and personality development, and procedures for discouraging their abuse, (2) health and mental health risk reduction education that includes, but need not be limited to, the prevention of risk-taking behavior by children and the relationship of such behavior to substance abuse, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-infection and AIDS, as defined in section 19a-581, violence, teen dating violence, domestic violence and child abuse, (3) school violence prevention, conflict resolution, the prevention of and response to youth suicide and the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10-222d, except that those boards of education that implement any evidence-based model approach that is approved by the Department of Education and is consistent with subsection (c) of section 10-145a, sections 10-222d, 10-222g and 10-222h, subsection (g) of section 10-233c and sections 1 and 3 of public act 08-160, shall not be required to provide in-service training on the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, (4) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency life saving procedures, (5) the requirements and obligations of a mandated reporter, (6) the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for, students with dyslexia, as defined in section 10-3d, [and] (7) culturally responsive LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00975 of 8 R01-SB.docx } Substitute Bill No.
Such program shall provide such teachers, administrators and pupil personnel with information on (1) the nature and the relationship of alcohol and drugs, as defined in subdivision (17) of section 21a-240, to health and personality development, and procedures for discouraging their abuse, (2) health and mental health risk reduction education that includes, but need not be limited to, the prevention of risk-taking behavior by children and the relationship of such behavior to substance abuse, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-infection and AIDS, as defined in section 19a-581, violence, teen dating violence, domestic violence and LCO No.
977 pedagogy and practice, and (8) include training in the provision of virtual learning, in accordance with the guidelines developed pursuant to section 1 of this act.
4303 5 of 7 Raised Bill No.
977 child abuse, (3) school violence prevention, conflict resolution, the prevention of and response to youth suicide and the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10-222d, except that those boards of education that implement any evidence-based model approach that is approved by the Department of Education and is consistent with subsection (c) of section 10-145a, sections 10-222d, 10-222g and 10-222h, subsection (g) of section 10-233c and sections 1 and 3 of public act 08-160, shall not be required to provide in-service training on the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, (4) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency life saving procedures, (5) the requirements and obligations of a mandated reporter, (6) the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for, students with dyslexia, as defined in section 10-3d, [and] (7) culturally responsive pedagogy and practice, and (8) include training in the provision of virtual learning, in accordance with the guidelines developed pursuant to section 4 of this act.
Sec.
5.
Section 10-16 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Each school district shall provide in each school year no less than one hundred and eighty days of actual school sessions for grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, nine hundred hours of actual school work for full-day kindergarten and grades one to twelve, inclusive, and four hundred and fifty hours of half-day kindergarten, provided school districts shall not count more than seven hours of actual school work in any school day towards the total required for the school year.
Virtual learning, as defined in section 1 of this act, shall be considered an actual school session for purposes of this section.
If weather conditions result in an early dismissal or a delayed opening of school, a school district which maintains separate morning andafternoonhalf-day kindergarten sessions may provide either a morning or afternoon half-day kindergarten session on such day.
Sec.
6.
Section 10-15 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Public schools including kindergartens shall be maintained in each town for at least one hundred eighty days of actual school sessions during each year, and for the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year thereafter, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-66q.
Virtual learning, as defined in section 1 of this act, shall be considered an actual school session for purposes of this section.
When public school sessions are cancelled for reasons of inclement weather or otherwise, the rescheduled sessions shall not be held on Saturday or Sunday.
Public schools may conduct weekend education programs to LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00976 of 8 R01-SB.docx } Substitute Bill No.
977 provide supplemental and remedial services to students.
A local or regional board of education for a school that has been designated as a low achieving school pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 10-223e, or a category four school or a category five school pursuant to said section 10-223e, may increase the number ofactualschoolsessions during each year,andmay increase the number of hours of actual school work per school session in order to improve student performance and remove the school from the list of schools designated as a low achieving school maintained by the State Board of Education.
The State Board of Education (1) may authorize the shortening of any school year for a school district, a school or a portion of a school on account of an unavoidable emergency, and (2) may authorize implementationofscheduling ofschoolsessionsto permit full year use of facilities which may not offer each child one hundred eighty days of school sessions within a given school year, but which assures an opportunity for eachchildto average aminimumofonehundredeighty days of school sessions per year during thirteen years of educational opportunity in the elementary and secondary schools.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and section 10-16, as amended by this act, the State Board of Education may, upon application by a local or regional board of education, approve for any single school year, in whole or in part, a plan to implement alternative scheduling of school sessions which assures at least four hundred fifty hours of actual school work for nursery schools and half-day kindergartens and at least nine hundred hours of actual school work for full-day kindergartens and grades one to twelve, inclusive.
Sec.
7.
Section 10-198b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
On or before July 1, 2012, the State Board of Education shall define "excused absence" and "unexcused absence", and on or before January 1, 2016, the State Board of Education shall define "disciplinary absence" for use by local and regional boards of education for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of section 10-198a, reporting truancy, LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00977 of 8 R01-SB.docx } Substitute Bill No.
977 pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-220, and calculating the district chronic absenteeism rate and the school chronic absenteeism rate pursuant to section 10-198c.
On or before July 1, 2021, the State Board of Education shall amend the definition of "excused absence" and "unexcused absence" to address virtual learning, as defined in section 1 of this act, school sessions.
2 from passage New section Sec.
2 from passage 10-4(a) Sec.
3 from passage 10-148a(a) Sec.
3 from passage New section Sec.
4 from passage 10-220a(a) Sec.
4 from passage New section Sec.
5 from passage 10-16 Sec.
5 from passage 10-148a(a) Sec.
6 from passage 10-15 Sec.
6 from passage 10-220a(a) Statement of Purpose:
7 from passage 10-198b ED Joint Favorable Subst.
To require the Department of Education to develop uniform standards for the provision of virtual learning in public schools, conduct a comprehensive audit of virtual learning programs in the state and develop guidelines for training educators in the provision of virtual learning.
C/R APP LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00977- 8 of 8 R01-SB.docx }
LCO No.
4303 6 of 7 Raised Bill No.
977 [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.
Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.
4303 7 of 7
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. FAV. CHG. OF REF. HOUSE TO COMM. ON Appropriations

  2. FAV. CHG. OF REF., SEN. TO COMM. ON Appropriations

  3. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  4. FILED WITH LCO

  5. Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference APP

  6. PUBLIC HEARING 0308

  7. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Education

Sponsors

  • Harry Arora · Primary
  • Kimberly Fiorello · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 185 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

  • Arora, Harry
  • Fiorello, Kimberly

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (185)

185 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 185 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 977?
SB 977 is sponsored by Arora, Harry and Fiorello, Kimberly.
What is the current status of SB 977?
This bill died with 2021 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 977?
Track SB 977 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 977

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 977

Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →