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SB 1349 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE CHARTER SCHOOL APPROVAL PROCESS.

SB 1349 creates a new State-wide Office of School Choice within Connecticut's Department of Education, effective July 2025. This office will oversee charter school applications, renewals, and maintain a centralized online hub for all charter school and interdistrict magnet program information, including board details, budgets, and policies. The bill also requires the office to develop a transparency report by July 2026, analyzing funding processes and stakeholder communication, after consulting with educators and advocacy groups. It directly affects charter schools, school districts, and the Department of Education by centralizing approval processes and improving public access to charter school data.
Issues: ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates State Office of School Choice to oversee charter schools, centralize information, and enhance transparency in funding processes, advancing educational access and choice options.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Last action May 12, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → ED Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was changed from a Raised Bill to a Substitute Bill with significant substantive modifications. The original version focused on requiring budget appropriations for charter schools, while the new version establishes a new State-wide Office of School Choice within the Department of Education to oversee charter school operations. The new version also adds requirements for transparency reporting and modifies the charter school application and approval timeline.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a funding mandate to include the creation of a new administrative office and enhanced oversight mechanisms for charter schools.
SCOPE

Created a new State-wide Office of School Choice within the Department of Education with a chief who must have experience in charter school authorization, magnet school programs, and enrollment practices.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for the new office to develop and submit a transparency report by July 1, 2026, on charter school funding processes, including examples from other states and recommendations for streamlining approval.

Added requirement for the office to assist the Regional School Choice Office in implementing the Sheff v. O'Neill decision regarding educational equity.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for charter applications from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2026, and moved the RFP deadline from June 30 to June 1 of each year.

TECHNICAL

Changed bill numbering from Raised Bill No. 1349 to Substitute Bill No. 1349 and updated page references from 14 to 15 pages.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference APP
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Education
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.