Sec. 10-266x. Development of innovative programs for educational improvement.
Sec. 10-266x. Development of innovative programs for educational improvement. (a) Within the limits of available appropriations, the Commissioner of Education
shall establish a program to encourage local and regional boards of education to develop
innovative programs for educational improvement. Local and regional boards of education may file an application to participate in the program in such form and at such time
as the commissioner requires. Each application shall include a plan developed by the
local or regional board of education, in consultation with the teachers employed in the
school or school system for which such application is being made. Proposed plans shall
provide for an evaluation process to measure academic progress and school improvement resulting from participation in the program. For purposes of the program, the
commissioner may waive requirements under chapters 163, 168, 170 to 173, inclusive,
and chapter 164, except for the provisions relating to special education required under
federal law, and regulations adopted pursuant to said chapters, provided each application
identifies (A) the specific statutes or regulations from which a waiver is requested, if
any, and (B) the manner in which each waiver is expected to assist in achieving specified
educational benefits. Local and regional boards of education may cooperate with businesses and nonprofit organizations in developing and implementing such plans and may
receive and expend private funds for purposes of this section.
(b) The Commissioner of Education may set aside up to ten per cent of the funds
appropriated for purposes of this section to provide, on a competitive basis, minigrants
to teachers in public schools for the development or use of innovative curricula, teaching
aids or teaching methods. The amount of a minigrant shall not exceed five hundred
dollars. The Department of Education may contract with a regional educational service
center for purposes of this subsection.
(c) The commissioner shall, annually, report, in accordance with the provisions of
section 11-4a, on the program to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly
having cognizance of matters relating to education.
(P.A. 91-285, S. 1, 3; P.A. 92-262, S. 6, 42; P.A. 95-182, S. 9, 11; P.A. 98-252, S. 24, 80.)
History: P.A. 92-262 increased the number of programs from three to six, added provision for increasing the number
of programs in a particular type of community, added references to chapters 163, 170, 171, this chapter and chapter 173,
and extended by one year the time frames for reports to the General Assembly; P.A. 95-182 made demonstration program
a permanent program, deleted limitations on the number and location of schools which could operate programs, changed
the way the plan is to be developed and the content of the plan, revised the list of requirements which the commissioner
may waive and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-252 added new Subsec. (b) re minigrants and
redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 1998.
Cited. 228 C. 699.