AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE HIRING OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND PARAEDUCATORS.

SB 1197 establishes a state grant program requiring local school districts to match state funds to hire additional special education teachers and classroom support staff (paraeducators). The bill directly affects school boards by creating a new funding mechanism to expand special education staffing capacity. Key provisions include requiring districts to contribute a portion of the funding for each new hire, with grants covering the remainder, aiming to increase available support for students with special needs. This policy change provides concrete financial incentives for schools to grow their special education workforce through shared funding.