Month: June 2023

SEN. KUSHNER VOTES FOR BILL TO CREATE FIRST-EVER BIRTHING CENTER LICENSE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, June 1, 2023

SEN. KUSHNER VOTES FOR BILL TO CREATE FIRST-EVER BIRTHING CENTER LICENSE

Tour of the Connecticut Childbirth & Women’s Center in Danbury Cements the Need for Birthing Center Licenses

HARTFORD – Just two weeks after touring the Connecticut Childbirth & Women’s Center in Danbury with the state public health commissioner, state Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today joined a unanimous state Senate vote to create a new and separate licensing category for stand-alone, private birthing centers staffed by midwives.

Senate Bill 986, “AN ACT PROTECTING MATERNAL HEALTH,” seeks to increase access to maternal health services for women across Connecticut. It passed the Senate on a 36-0 vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Founded in 1997, the Connecticut Childbirth & Women’s Center is located across the street from Danbury Hospital and is one of the nearly 250 accredited birthing centers in the United States and the only one in Connecticut. Staffed by a team of midwives, its homelike atmosphere meets all local, state, and federal health, fire and safety regulations and is licensed by the state Department of Public Health. Sen. Kushner toured the facility on May 18.

“I first visited the Connecticut Childbirth & Women’s Center four years ago, and that was the beginning of my desire to see legislation that would help women statewide have more and better access to different birthing options other than an expensive trip to a traditional hospital,” Sen. Kushner said.  “For example, 20 percent of the people who deliver at the women’s center are on Medicaid. Having this as an option for them and creating more options like this for other women all across Connecticut, is incredibly important. It also gives women a choice of where they want to have their baby, either at home or in a hospital or in a birthing center like this.”

Sen. Kushner (right) in a room at the Connecticut Childbirth & Women’s Center on May 18, 2023.

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State Senator MD Rahman Joins Senate Passage of Bill Promoting Student Success, Financial Transparency

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State Senator MD Rahman Joins Senate Passage of Bill Promoting Student Success, Financial Transparency

Today, State Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester) voted for the State Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 1, a priority bill for Senate Democrats this year focused on educational improvements. Senate Bill 1 would advance several measures to promote student academic success and well-being including increasing transparency in how school districts spend funding, improving air quality in schools, and identifying strategies to improve school climate and prevent bullying.

“Education is the lifeblood of our communities and our society, and we need to continue strengthening it across Connecticut,” said Sen. Rahman. “This bill is a wide-ranging, important step forward. It brings food from local farms into schools. It provides new resources to aid Alliance Districts. It supports financial responsibility for boards of education around the state. It’s valuable, useful legislation and I look forward to seeing it become law.”

Municipalities in Connecticut spent about $9.3 billion on education, not including school construction expenses paid for by the State of Connecticut, in fiscal year 2021. School districts are required to report financial data on certain expenditures to the Connecticut Department of Education. However, the nine categories to report data on are vague and broad, such as “Support Services – school based administration” (supplies), “Support Services – students” (employee benefits), and “Enterprise operations.” Senate Bill 1 will require greater information sharing and clear reports by school districts on spending to better target state investments in education.

In addition, SB 1 will develop guidelines for the improvement of air quality in classrooms. Poor indoor environmental quality in schools is a public health issue and with new guidelines put in place, students will have a better learning experience.

Furthermore, Senate Bill 1 addresses strategies to improve school climate and prevent bullying. School leaders will be required to implement evidence and research-based interventions, including, but not limited to, restorative practices, in the school community.

Under Senate Bill 1, there are several sections to help improve each school district around Connecticut.

Ensuring Fiscal Responsibility:

The State Department of Education (SDE) will be required to:

Publish data from the education financial system (EFS) reports and returns online sorted by EFS codes along with a guide to understand the codes.
Develop and publish the data in a way that allows comparison between districts and schools; Offer a training program for newly elected Board of Education members related to their responsibilities, duties, and obligations about school budgets and finance; Study virtual reality in instruction, including safety and responsible investment in tech and submit a report by January 2025; Establish an educator apprenticeship initiative to enable and pay students in educator preparation programs, residency programs, or alternate routes to gain classroom teaching experience; Require each school board to (1) submit its increasing educator diversity plan (referred to in current law as the minority educator recruitment plan) to the education commissioner by March 15, 2024, for review and approval and (2) implement its approved plan beginning with the 2024-25 school year.

Alliance Districts:

All alliance districts must have family resource center programs in each elementary school. Each alliance Board of Education member must submit an improvement plan to the department; The SDE must administer a grant for an alliance district to embed a professional chef to assist school meal programs in improving meal quality, diner satisfaction, and streamlining operations for a financially viable program. They will grant 5 of these awards at $150K each.

Aspiring Educators Diversity Scholarship Program:

Under this bill, the Minority Teacher Candidate Scholarship Program will be changed to the Aspiring Educators Diversity Scholarship Program and reduces the maximum annual grant amount from $20,000 to $10,000; This program will also establish an incremental scholarship repayment schedule if a recipient is not employed as a certified teacher and requires SDE to hire four staff members to administer the program.

Curriculums:

Adds cursive writing and world language to the K-8 model curriculum that SDE is currently developing; Allows school boards to award high school graduation credit for completing LEAP and other approved credit recovery programs.

Local Foods for Local Schools Program:

A program called, ‘Local Foods for Local Schools’ will be established which will reimburse schools for food that is bought from local farms.

Workforce Development:

Aerospace and Aviation Apprenticeship — allows local or regional boards of education (i.e., “boards of education”) to partner with local businesses to provide aerospace and aviation apprenticeship training programs to students; Pre-apprenticeship Grant — requires SDE, by January 1, 2024, to establish a preapprenticeship grant program for boards of education that include Department of Labor (DOL)-registered pre-apprenticeship programs in their high school curriculum; Dual Credit and Enrollment (esp. healthcare) — requires SDE, in partnership with boards of education and public higher education institutions, to expand opportunities for dual credit and dual enrollment for high school students, including courses required for health care occupations.

School Nurses:

Requires each school nurse to biennially complete at least 15 hours of school board-approved professional development programs or activities.

School Climate:

For school years 2023-24 and 2024-45, each BOE may adopt school climate policy. For school year 2025-2026 and beyond, they will need to adopt and implement school climate policy. For the school year 2025-2026 and beyond, the superintendent of schools or an administrator appointed by the superintendent will be each school’s school climate coordinator. They will need to:
provide district-level leadership and support for the implementation of the school climate improvement plan for each school; collaborate with the school climate specialist to develop a continuum of strategies to prevent, identify and respond to challenging behavior like bullying, and communicate strategies via tools like the school handbook; collect and maintain data regarding school climate improvement; meet with the school climate specialist for each school at least twice during the school year to: identify strategies to improve school climate, propose recommendations for revisions to the school climate improvement plan, and assist with the completion of the school climate survey

Principals of each school or their qualified designees will need to:
lead in the prevention, identification and response to challenging behavior, including, but not limited to, reports of alleged bullying and harassment,
implement evidence and research-based interventions; schedule meetings for and leading the school climate committee; lead the implementation of the school climate improvement plan

The school climate specialist will appoint members to the school climate committee who are racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse. The committee will be responsible for:
assisting in the development, annual scheduling and administration of the school climate survey; using the school climate survey data to identify strengths and challenges to improve school climate, and to create or propose revisions to the school climate improvement plan; assisting in the implementation of the school climate improvement plan and recommending any improvements or revisions to the plan; advising on strategies to improve school climate and implementing evidence and research-based interventions, including, but not limited to, restorative practices, in the school community; annually providing notice of the uniform bullying complaint form; engaging the school community, at community meetings at least twice during the school year

The school climate committee will administer a school climate survey to students, school employees and families of students. The school climate specialist and school climate coordinator will develop a school climate improvement plan, which will be submitted to the school climate coordinator for review. It will then be used to mitigate and respond to challenging behavior.

Air Quality:

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) will need to develop an air quality reporting form to be used by BOEs during inspections. They will also need to develop a heating and A/C reporting form; Each BOE will have to inspect air quality in each building in addition to heat and A/C and be published on the DAS website; The Department of Public Health (DPH) will need to develop guidelines regarding an optimal thermal comfort range between 65-80 degrees for schools, except gyms and natatoriums which can have a wider range.

Senator Hartley Welcomes Students from Bais Yaakov School for Holocaust Remembrance Exhibit

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Senator Hartley Welcomes Students from Bais Yaakov School for Holocaust Remembrance Exhibit

HARTFORD, CT – Sen. Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury) welcomed students from Bais Yaakov of Waterbury High School in Naugatuck to the state Capitol. Bais Yaakov is an all-girls school which is part of the Yeshiva Katana.

In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, the students shared their Holocaust exhibit, shining a light on the horrific events of that era. The student constructed displays consisted of mutli-media projects, diagrams, poetry and art projects whose purpose was to engage viewers’ audio, visual and physical senses.

“It was an honor to host these amazing students at the Capitol this week,” said Sen. Hartley. “Their display was riveting and allowed us to learn and ponder the gravity of the Holocaust.”

The students were introduced in the House and Senate Chambers during the visit. Yael Gross, a tenth grader, delivered a powerful poem from the Senate Chamber Dais.

SEN. HARTLEY APPLAUDS AS BILL TO HELP STONE ACADEMY STUDENTS TAKES SHAPE IN SENATE

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SEN. HARTLEY APPLAUDS AS BILL TO HELP STONE ACADEMY STUDENTS TAKES SHAPE IN SENATE

HARTFORD, CT – State Senator Joan Harley (D-Waterbury), worked alongside State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) and Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) in progressing legislation that would provide direct relief to Stone Academy students after that nursing school’s three campuses across the state shut down without warning earlier in the winter of 2023.

A new amendment to the bill, which passed today before being referred to the Appropriations Committee to review its potential cost, would make several changes to legislation in question, directly supporting former students and graduates of Stone Academy.

“When Stone Academy abruptly closed their campuses in Waterbury, East Hartford and West Haven, they left so many students stranded in the middle of their education with no alternate paths,” said Sen. Hartley. “Especially now as we face a dire nurse shortage, it is essential that we help these students get their careers back on track. I’m hopeful that this bill will make it through the finish line in these final days of session, and Stone Academy will be held liable for not fulfilling their promise to their students.”

With new amendments incorporated, Senate Bill 936, “An Act Concerning Workforce Development,” would:

Direct the Office of Higher Education to ensure that students who graduated from Stone Academy in the last two years, but need to take additional clinical work as required by the Department of Public Health, will receive the costs of the additional clinical classes and stipends of up to $1,000. As many as 150 students would be eligible for this support; under current law, someone who did not graduate from Stone Academy but completed classes later deemed invalid by the Department of Public Health for substandard educational quality would not be eligible for reimbursement. This bill would change that and allow the Office of Higher Education to reimburse out-of-pocket costs for such students; allow the Office of Higher Education within its available student protection account’s balance to give additional grants and support to students of Stone Academy; upon its progression today, the amended bill would now need to receive approval by the Appropriations Committee, then receive approval in both the House and Senate.

SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION DEFENDING MATERNAL HEALTH

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SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION DEFENDING MATERNAL HEALTH

Today, the Connecticut State Senate passed legislation that will defend maternal health in Connecticut. One of Governor Ned Lamont’s priority bills for the 2023 legislative session, the legislation is intended to increase access to maternal health services for women around the state, specifically designed to improve problems with geographic and financial access to such services. The bill comes in response to several hospitals in the state having pending requests to close their labor and delivery facilities, reducing such services around the state overall and especially impacting residents of the state in areas with limited maternal health resources.

“With Connecticut seeing increased birth rates and increased pressure on health systems, not to mention threats of maternal care deserts in parts of the state, we have a responsibility to act and protect pregnancies across our state,” said State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, in approving the legislation. “Birth centers will provide important and necessary care, easing access for many parents. Doulas, midwives and home visiting services will all provide additional and important resources for families both before and after birth. This legislation plays a key role in supporting pregnancies and maternal health across Connecticut; when Governor Lamont signs it into law, I’ll be celebrating.”

Senate Bill 986, “An Act Protecting Maternal Health,” would take actions upon becoming law including:

Officially recognizing birth centers as medical institutions; “birth centers” are freestanding facilities licensed to provide perinatal, labor, delivery and postpartum care during and after delivery and that are not licensed, attached to or located in hospitals. Beginning in 2024, these centers will require licensing for operation. Birth centers are intended for low-risk pregnancies which will have low risk of complication during labor and birth.
Biennial licensing and inspection of institutions by the Department of Public Health will include “birth centers,” with a cost of $940 per site and $7.50 per bed; birth centers will be required to report adverse events to the Department of Public Health similar to hospitals. The DPH will not grant or renew maternity hospital licenses after the end of 2023; birthing centers are exempt from requiring certificates of need, and the Office of Health Strategy will study whether the exemption should be extended beyond 2027; the DPH will establish an infant mortality review program to study medical records and data related to infant deaths.
The DPH will also establish an infant mortality review committee to review infant deaths with the purpose of reducing disparities and making recommendations to reduce infant deaths; the DPH would establish a Doula Advisory Committee to study recommendations for requirements for certification and renewal for doulas and standards for training program curricula. The committee would also make recommendations on matters including access and promotion of education and resources for pregnancies, recommendations to improve access to doula care, and furthering efforts to counter maternal health disparities; A midwifery working group would also be established in the DPH, further studying ways to address racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes; state-wide program would be developed offering universal nurse home visiting services to all families with newborns in Connecticut, intended to improve child safety, health, development and parenting among many others.

Birth centers are a high-value alternative to hospitals for parents with low-risk pregnancies, saving more than $2,000 per infant and decreasing the rate of cesareans births among families. Birth centers also reduce pre-term births. According to the New York Times, from 2006 to 2016, there was an 83% increase in births at free-standing birth centers, and parents in birth center care see c-section rates of about 6%, compared to an overall rate of 26%.

Doulas serve valuable roles in supporting maternal childbirth. According to the American Pregnancy Association, doulas made parents less likely to have pain-relief medications and less likely to have cesarean births; some studies show that their presence can even decrease length of labor and requests for epidurals.

Universal home visiting, according to the Office of Early Childhood, can generate $3 in savings for every $1 spent on program costs. Nurse visits can provide responses to health impacts, reduce stigma for services and enhance referrals to needed resources for high-risk families.

Prior to its passage by the Senate today, this bill passed the Public Health Committee by a 26-11 tally in March.

State Senator Martha Marx Leads Senate Passage To Exempt Military Family Child Care From Licensing

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State Senator Martha Marx Leads Senate Passage To Exempt Military Family Child Care From Licensing

Today, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London), Senate Chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, led the Senate’s passage of legislation that will ease child care licensing requirements for care programs exclusively serving children of military members. This legislation is designed to make it easier for military families to provide such services on federal property, exempting families who already experience rigorous federal certifications from having to receive further licensure.

“This bill makes a simple fix that will make life easier for countless military families in Connecticut, cutting through regulations preventing organizations from providing child care to other families,” said Sen. Marx. “The exemption in question is for programs only serving children of military members administered on federal government or already certified by the military. It’s not a major legislative change, but it will provide major relief in making child care easier to access. That’s a win.”

House Bill 5049, “An Act Exempting From Licensing Requirements Certain Child Care Services For Children Of Members Of The United States Military,” exempts child care programs only serving military members’ children from state licensing requirements. Programs receiving exemptions are only those administered by the federal government or on federal property, or family child care providers certified by the Coast Guard or a Department of Defense military branch. Any exempted program must inform parents and guardians of children that it is not licensed to provide child care services.

The bill previously received support from the Office of Early Childhood, whose Commissioner Beth Bye said it would be “duplicative and burdensome” for care providers to require dual licensing from the military and state, adding that military spouses often lose money, time and opportunities to build careers due to frequent moves and that this would provide inroads for more child care infrastructure capacity in the state. The Department of Defense’s State Liaison Office also supported the bill, noting that spousal unemployment is a leading cause of active-duty decreased readiness and retention.

Before its passage in the Senate today, this bill passed the House unanimously in April and the Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee unanimously in February. It now heads to the Governor’s office to be signed into law.

SENATOR RAHMAN LEADS PASSAGE OF BILL TO FIGHT BLIGHT

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SENATOR RAHMAN LEADS PASSAGE OF BILL TO FIGHT BLIGHT

Today, State Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester), Senate Chair of the Planning and Development Committee, led the Senate’s passage of legislation seeking to fight blight. The bill expands communities in which blighted property receiverships can be used; expands state and local authority to regulate blight; and increases fines for blight, as well as littering, among a number of other changes.

“There are a number of communities in our state with significant and serious blight. This bill will help expand their abilities to treat and mediate these properties,” said Sen. Rahman. “Commercial blight is a serious issue that can limit local economies and negatively impact property owners. I’m glad we’re taking action and passing legislation to aid them.”

House Bill 6892, “An Act Concerning Municipal Blight Ordinances And The Fine For Littering,” makes changes including: Expanding the communities in which abandoned and blighted property receiverships can be used by including any community with a population of at least 15,000; Expanding state and local authority to regulate blighted commercial properties in addition to residential ones; Increasing maximum daily penalties municipalities can assess for blight from $100 to $1,000 for repeat offenders; Increasing maximum state littering fine from $199 to $500; Eliminating certain notice requirements to lienholders when a municipality remediates or orders a property to be remediated under certain maintenance-related violations if that property has been cited at least three times in a year; Eliminating a requirement that mortgagees and lienholders participate in rent receivership proceedings to determine whether a receiver should be appointed.

Prior to this bill’s passage, current law provides a judicial process to appoint receivership to rehabilitate and dispose of abandoned properties in municipalities with populations of at least 35,000.

The bill previously passed the House by a vote of 108-43 in May, the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 30-7 in May, and the Planning and Development Committee by a 20-1 vote in March. It now heads to Governor Lamont’s desk to be signed into law.

SENATOR MARX JOINS PASSAGE OF BILL TO FIGHT BLIGHT

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SENATOR MARX JOINS PASSAGE OF BILL TO FIGHT BLIGHT

Tonight, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London), joined the Senate’s passage of legislation seeking to fight blight. The bill expands communities in which blighted property receiverships can be used; expands state and local authority to regulate blight; and increases fines for blight, as well as littering, among a number of other changes.

In February, Sen. Marx testified in front of the Planning and Development Committee in support of the legislation alongside New London Mayor Michael Passero, noting that the bill would provide direct aid to New London in addressing vacant and blighted buildings. The bill was also introduced with the support of New London State Representatives Christine Conley and Anthony Nolan.

“New London is booming, but we have issues with vacant, condemned and blighted buildings in our main downtown areas,” said Sen. Marx. “This bill won’t just help New London with this issue, but communities around the state. It’s going to help clear up blight that’s holding back local economies, Main Streets and businesses. I’m excited to see it become law.”

House Bill 6892, “An Act Concerning Municipal Blight Ordinances And The Fine For Littering,” makes changes including: Expanding the communities in which abandoned and blighted property receiverships can be used by including any community with a population of at least 15,000; Expanding state and local authority to regulate blighted commercial properties in addition to residential ones; Increasing maximum daily penalties municipalities can assess for blight from $100 to $1,000 for repeat offenders; Increasing maximum state littering fine from $199 to $500; Eliminating certain notice requirements to lienholders when a municipality remediates or orders a property to be remediated under certain maintenance-related violations if that property has been cited at least three times in a year; Eliminating a requirement that mortgagees and lienholders participate in rent receivership proceedings to determine whether a receiver should be appointed.

Prior to this bill’s passage, current law provides a judicial process to appoint receivership to rehabilitate and dispose of abandoned properties in municipalities with populations of at least 35,000.

The bill previously passed the House by a vote of 108-43 in May, the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 30-7 in May, and the Planning and Development Committee by a 20-1 vote in March. It now heads to Governor Lamont’s desk to be signed into law.

State Senator Doug McCrory Leads Senate Passage of Bill Promoting Transparency in School Spending

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State Senator Doug McCrory Leads Senate Passage of Bill Promoting Transparency in School Spending

Today, state Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford), Senate Chair of the Education Committee, lead state senate passage of Senate Bill 1, one of the Senate Democrats priority bills. Senate Bill 1 would advance several measures to promote student academic success and well-being including increasing transparency in how school districts spend funding, improving air quality in schools, and identifying strategies to improve school climate and prevent bullying.

“We need to create a positive learning environment for all our students that promotes healthy and safe learning,” said Sen. McCrory. “You have to keep children in their communities and provide support and resources to them. With this legislation we are going to give support to students and their teachers so they are properly trained.”

Municipalities in Connecticut spent about $9.3 billion on education, not including school construction expenses paid for by the State of Connecticut, in fiscal year 2021. School districts are required to report financial data on certain expenditures to the Connecticut Department of Education. However, the nine categories to report data on are vague and broad, such as “Support Services – school based administration” (supplies), “Support Services – students” (employee benefits), and “Enterprise operations.” Senate Bill 1 will require greater information sharing and clear reports by school districts on spending to better target state investments in education.

In addition, SB 1 will develop guidelines for the improvement of air quality in classrooms. Poor indoor environmental quality in schools is a public health issue and with new guidelines put in place, students will have a better learning experience.

Furthermore, Senate Bill 1 addresses strategies to improve school climate and prevent bullying. School leaders will be required to implement evidence and research-based interventions, including, but not limited to, restorative practices, in the school community.

Under Senate Bill 1, there are several sections to help improve each school district around Connecticut.

Ensuring Fiscal Responsibility:

The State Department of Education (SDE) will be required to:

Publish data from the education financial system (EFS) reports and returns online sorted by EFS codes along with a guide to understand the codes.
Develop and publish the data in a way that allows comparison between districts and schools; Offer a training program for newly elected Board of Education members related to their responsibilities, duties, and obligations about school budgets and finance; Study virtual reality in instruction, including safety and responsible investment in tech and submit a report by January 2025; Establish an educator apprenticeship initiative to enable and pay students in educator preparation programs, residency programs, or alternate routes to gain classroom teaching experience; Require each school board to (1) submit its increasing educator diversity plan (referred to in current law as the minority educator recruitment plan) to the education commissioner by March 15, 2024, for review and approval and (2) implement its approved plan beginning with the 2024-25 school year.

Alliance Districts:

All alliance districts must have family resource center programs in each elementary school. Each alliance Board of Education member must submit an improvement plan to the department; The SDE must administer a grant for an alliance district to embed a professional chef to assist school meal programs in improving meal quality, diner satisfaction, and streamlining operations for a financially viable program. They will grant 5 of these awards at $150K each.

Aspiring Educators Diversity Scholarship Program:

Under this bill, the Minority Teacher Candidate Scholarship Program will be changed to the Aspiring Educators Diversity Scholarship Program and reduces the maximum annual grant amount from $20,000 to $10,000; This program will also establish an incremental scholarship repayment schedule if a recipient is not employed as a certified teacher and requires SDE to hire four staff members to administer the program.

Curriculums:

Adds cursive writing and world language to the K-8 model curriculum that SDE is currently developing; Allows school boards to award high school graduation credit for completing LEAP and other approved credit recovery programs.

Local Foods for Local Schools Program:

A program called, ‘Local Foods for Local Schools’ will be established which will reimburse schools for food that is bought from local farms.

Workforce Development:

Aerospace and Aviation Apprenticeship — allows local or regional boards of education (i.e., “boards of education”) to partner with local businesses to provide aerospace and aviation apprenticeship training programs to students; Pre-apprenticeship Grant — requires SDE, by January 1, 2024, to establish a preapprenticeship grant program for boards of education that include Department of Labor (DOL)-registered pre-apprenticeship programs in their high school curriculum; Dual Credit and Enrollment (esp. healthcare) — requires SDE, in partnership with boards of education and public higher education institutions, to expand opportunities for dual credit and dual enrollment for high school students, including courses required for health care occupations.

School Nurses:

Requires each school nurse to biennially complete at least 15 hours of school board-approved professional development programs or activities.

School Climate:

For school years 2023-24 and 2024-45, each BOE may adopt school climate policy. For school year 2025-2026 and beyond, they will need to adopt and implement school climate policy. For the school year 2025-2026 and beyond, the superintendent of schools or an administrator appointed by the superintendent will be each school’s school climate coordinator. They will need to:
provide district-level leadership and support for the implementation of the school climate improvement plan for each school; collaborate with the school climate specialist to develop a continuum of strategies to prevent, identify and respond to challenging behavior like bullying, and communicate strategies via tools like the school handbook; collect and maintain data regarding school climate improvement; meet with the school climate specialist for each school at least twice during the school year to: identify strategies to improve school climate, propose recommendations for revisions to the school climate improvement plan, and assist with the completion of the school climate survey

Principals of each school or their qualified designees will need to:
lead in the prevention, identification and response to challenging behavior, including, but not limited to, reports of alleged bullying and harassment,
implement evidence and research-based interventions; schedule meetings for and leading the school climate committee; lead the implementation of the school climate improvement plan

The school climate specialist will appoint members to the school climate committee who are racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse. The committee will be responsible for:
assisting in the development, annual scheduling and administration of the school climate survey; using the school climate survey data to identify strengths and challenges to improve school climate, and to create or propose revisions to the school climate improvement plan; assisting in the implementation of the school climate improvement plan and recommending any improvements or revisions to the plan; advising on strategies to improve school climate and implementing evidence and research-based interventions, including, but not limited to, restorative practices, in the school community; annually providing notice of the uniform bullying complaint form; engaging the school community, at community meetings at least twice during the school year

The school climate committee will administer a school climate survey to students, school employees and families of students. The school climate specialist and school climate coordinator will develop a school climate improvement plan, which will be submitted to the school climate coordinator for review. It will then be used to mitigate and respond to challenging behavior.

Air Quality:

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) will need to develop an air quality reporting form to be used by BOEs during inspections. They will also need to develop a heating and A/C reporting form; Each BOE will have to inspect air quality in each building in addition to heat and A/C and be published on the DAS website; The Department of Public Health (DPH) will need to develop guidelines regarding an optimal thermal comfort range between 65-80 degrees for schools, except gyms and natatoriums which can have a wider range.

State Senator Saud Anwar Joins Senate Passage of Bill Promoting Student Success, Financial Transparency

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State Senator Saud Anwar Joins Senate Passage of Bill Promoting Student Success, Financial Transparency

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) voted for the State Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 1, a priority bill for Senate Democrats this year focused on educational improvements. Senate Bill 1 would advance several measures to promote student academic success and well-being including increasing transparency in how school districts spend funding, improving air quality in schools, and identifying strategies to improve school climate and prevent bullying.

“I’m proud that the Senate is continuing to invest time and effort into improving Connecticut’s educational systems,” said Sen. Anwar. “Its wide-ranging efforts will continue to bolster and benefit our schools, aiding school construction and budgets while providing more resources to students and families and supporting the state’s long-term educational needs. I look forward to its swift passage in the House.”

Municipalities in Connecticut spent about $9.3 billion on education, not including school construction expenses paid for by the State of Connecticut, in fiscal year 2021. School districts are required to report financial data on certain expenditures to the Connecticut Department of Education. However, the nine categories to report data on are vague and broad, such as “Support Services – school based administration” (supplies), “Support Services – students” (employee benefits), and “Enterprise operations.” Senate Bill 1 will require greater information sharing and clear reports by school districts on spending to better target state investments in education.

In addition, SB 1 will develop guidelines for the improvement of air quality in classrooms. Poor indoor environmental quality in schools is a public health issue and with new guidelines put in place, students will have a better learning experience.

Furthermore, Senate Bill 1 addresses strategies to improve school climate and prevent bullying. School leaders will be required to implement evidence and research-based interventions, including, but not limited to, restorative practices, in the school community.

Under Senate Bill 1, there are several sections to help improve each school district around Connecticut.

Ensuring Fiscal Responsibility:

The State Department of Education (SDE) will be required to:

Publish data from the education financial system (EFS) reports and returns online sorted by EFS codes along with a guide to understand the codes.
Develop and publish the data in a way that allows comparison between districts and schools; Offer a training program for newly elected Board of Education members related to their responsibilities, duties, and obligations about school budgets and finance; Study virtual reality in instruction, including safety and responsible investment in tech and submit a report by January 2025; Establish an educator apprenticeship initiative to enable and pay students in educator preparation programs, residency programs, or alternate routes to gain classroom teaching experience; Require each school board to (1) submit its increasing educator diversity plan (referred to in current law as the minority educator recruitment plan) to the education commissioner by March 15, 2024, for review and approval and (2) implement its approved plan beginning with the 2024-25 school year.

Alliance Districts:

All alliance districts must have family resource center programs in each elementary school. Each alliance Board of Education member must submit an improvement plan to the department; The SDE must administer a grant for an alliance district to embed a professional chef to assist school meal programs in improving meal quality, diner satisfaction, and streamlining operations for a financially viable program. They will grant 5 of these awards at $150K each.

Aspiring Educators Diversity Scholarship Program:

Under this bill, the Minority Teacher Candidate Scholarship Program will be changed to the Aspiring Educators Diversity Scholarship Program and reduces the maximum annual grant amount from $20,000 to $10,000; This program will also establish an incremental scholarship repayment schedule if a recipient is not employed as a certified teacher and requires SDE to hire four staff members to administer the program.

Curriculums:

Adds cursive writing and world language to the K-8 model curriculum that SDE is currently developing; Allows school boards to award high school graduation credit for completing LEAP and other approved credit recovery programs.

Local Foods for Local Schools Program:

A program called, ‘Local Foods for Local Schools’ will be established which will reimburse schools for food that is bought from local farms.

Workforce Development:

Aerospace and Aviation Apprenticeship — allows local or regional boards of education (i.e., “boards of education”) to partner with local businesses to provide aerospace and aviation apprenticeship training programs to students; Pre-apprenticeship Grant — requires SDE, by January 1, 2024, to establish a preapprenticeship grant program for boards of education that include Department of Labor (DOL)-registered pre-apprenticeship programs in their high school curriculum; Dual Credit and Enrollment (esp. healthcare) — requires SDE, in partnership with boards of education and public higher education institutions, to expand opportunities for dual credit and dual enrollment for high school students, including courses required for health care occupations.

School Nurses:

Requires each school nurse to biennially complete at least 15 hours of school board-approved professional development programs or activities.

School Climate:

For school years 2023-24 and 2024-45, each BOE may adopt school climate policy. For school year 2025-2026 and beyond, they will need to adopt and implement school climate policy. For the school year 2025-2026 and beyond, the superintendent of schools or an administrator appointed by the superintendent will be each school’s school climate coordinator. They will need to:
provide district-level leadership and support for the implementation of the school climate improvement plan for each school; collaborate with the school climate specialist to develop a continuum of strategies to prevent, identify and respond to challenging behavior like bullying, and communicate strategies via tools like the school handbook; collect and maintain data regarding school climate improvement; meet with the school climate specialist for each school at least twice during the school year to: identify strategies to improve school climate, propose recommendations for revisions to the school climate improvement plan, and assist with the completion of the school climate survey

Principals of each school or their qualified designees will need to:
lead in the prevention, identification and response to challenging behavior, including, but not limited to, reports of alleged bullying and harassment,
implement evidence and research-based interventions; schedule meetings for and leading the school climate committee; lead the implementation of the school climate improvement plan

The school climate specialist will appoint members to the school climate committee who are racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse. The committee will be responsible for:
assisting in the development, annual scheduling and administration of the school climate survey; using the school climate survey data to identify strengths and challenges to improve school climate, and to create or propose revisions to the school climate improvement plan; assisting in the implementation of the school climate improvement plan and recommending any improvements or revisions to the plan; advising on strategies to improve school climate and implementing evidence and research-based interventions, including, but not limited to, restorative practices, in the school community; annually providing notice of the uniform bullying complaint form; engaging the school community, at community meetings at least twice during the school year

The school climate committee will administer a school climate survey to students, school employees and families of students. The school climate specialist and school climate coordinator will develop a school climate improvement plan, which will be submitted to the school climate coordinator for review. It will then be used to mitigate and respond to challenging behavior.

Air Quality:

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) will need to develop an air quality reporting form to be used by BOEs during inspections. They will also need to develop a heating and A/C reporting form; Each BOE will have to inspect air quality in each building in addition to heat and A/C and be published on the DAS website; The Department of Public Health (DPH) will need to develop guidelines regarding an optimal thermal comfort range between 65-80 degrees for schools, except gyms and natatoriums which can have a wider range.