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See also: Homeschooling and Special Education

Research Guides

Connecticut Public Acts and Current Orders

Research Guides Prepared by the Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Librarians:

  • Rights of Minors in Connecticut
  • Sec. 3. Truancy
  • Sec. 4. School Discipline
  • Sec. 5. Freedom of Speech in Public Schools

    • OLR Research Reports - Office of Legislative Research:

    State Department of Education 2020-2021 School Reopening Plan 2020-R-0187
    Provide an analysis of whether the new COVID-19-related requirements in the State Department of
    Education's (SDE) school reopening plan released by the governor and the education commissioner
    on June 29, 2020, are supported by state law or other legal authority.

    COVID-19 Executive Orders Affecting Education and Child Care 2020-R-0111
    This report provides brief summaries of the governor's COVID-19 executive orders concerning education and child care.

    Curriculum

    • Required Public School Program of Study  2022-R-0145

    • State Requirements for Bilingual Education Programs  2022-R-0001

    • Human Sexuality Curriculum in Connecticut and California  2021-R-0047

    • Health and Sex Education Requirements  2019-R-0265

    • Public School Instructional Requirements 2019-R-0164

    • Mental Health Education in Public Schools 2019-R-0207

    • Holocaust and Genocide Education Curriculum Guidance 2019-R-0338

    Discipline

    • Public School Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism Law 2023-R-0021

    • Recent Changes to the School Anti-Bullying Law  2021-R-0212

    • Mandatory School Expulsion Laws  2020-R-0006

    • UCONN Student Code Violations  2018-R-0122

    • Use Of Restraint And Seclusion In Connecticut Public Schools 2012-R-0084

    • Expulsion for Conduct Outside of School   2011-R-0054

    • Burden of Proof in Certain Types of Education Due Process Hearings  2010-R-0480

    • School Expulsion Procedure 2002-R-0849

    Health, Safety, and Security

    • School Resource Officers 2022-R-0265

    • States Without Religious Exemptions to Childhood Immunization Requirements  2021-R-0196

    • Connecticut School Immunization Requirements  2021-R-0134

    • Philosophical Exemption From School Immunization Requirements 2021-R-0133

    • History of Connecticut School Immunization Requirements  2021-R-0132

    • Issue Brief: Connecticut School Immunization Requirements 2020-R-0295

    • School Immunization Data Reporting  2020-R-0064

    • Counseling and Advocacy Services at Connecticut Higher Education Institutions  2019-R-0283

    • School Resource Officers 2018-R-0094

    • Laws on Life-Threatening Food Allergies in Schools  2016-R-0168

    • Threats to Schools  2014-R-0282

    • Behavioral Health and School Safety Legislation, 2013 and 2014  2014-R-0163

    • New School District Security Measures   2013-R-0164

    • Armed School Security  2013-R-0044

    • Policies for Reporting Troubled Students 2008-R-0098 [public colleges and universities]

    • Possession of Weapon on School Grounds 2006-R-0658 [faculty and staff]

    Records

    • Student Data Service Contracts for Public Schools 2016-R-0319

    • Required Data in the Public School Information System   2014-R-0220

    • FERPA, Recent Changes in Federal Regulations, and State Compliance  2014-R-0127

    • Handling of Confidential Student Records 2002-R-0338

    • Notification To Parents Of School Withdrawal And Transfer To A New School 2012-R-0225

    Reforms, Mandates, and Funding

    • Charter Schools and the School Construction Program  2024-R-0046

    • Education Mandates Enacted in 2023  2024-R-0062

    • School Construction Grant Program  2022-R-0239

    • Education Mandates Enacted in 2019  2021-R-0051

    • Charter School Student Enrollment Lotteries  2020-R-0302

    • Permitted Charter School Waivers from Public School Requirements  2019-R-0194

    • Connecticut's Academic Achievement Gap  2019-R-0172

    • Models of Public High School Education in Connecticut  2016-R-0155

    • Comparison of Charter, Magnet, Agriculture Science Centers, and Technical High Schools  2018-R-0030

    • Comparision of Charter, Magnet, and Innovation Schools  2014-R-0218

    • Education Mandates on School Districts  2013-R-0294

    • OLR Backgrounder: Education Reform Provisions Taking Effect in 2013 or After 2012-R-0466

    • New School Readiness Spaces, Family Resource Centers, and School-based Health Clinics 2012-R-0269

    • Municipal Referendums  2005-R-0423

    • Sheff v. O'Neill Settlement  2003-R-0112 

    • Legal Gambling in Schools 2003-R-0055

    • Education of Homeless Children 2002-R-0561

    Sports and Physical Education

    • Requirements for Physical Education in Public Schools 2017-R-0341

    • Private School Athletic Coach Concussion Training  2014-R-0142

    • School Physical Education Time Requirements 2012-R-0272

    Teachers

    • Minority Teacher Recruitment Legislation  2022-R-0055

    • Teacher Certification Requirements for Trade Workers in Connecticut 2021-R-0063

    • School Mandated Reporting in Connecticut and Other States 2020-R-0231

    • Preschool Teachers and Unemployment Benefit Eligibility 2020-R-0292

    • Paths to Teacher Certification  2019-R-0059

    • Teaching Certification Requirements for Connecticut Technical High School Teachers  2017-R-0073

    • Alleged Child Abuse or Neglect by School Employees  2016-R-0219

    • Drug Testing in the Workplace and in Public Schools  2014-R-0048

    • Teacher Layoff and Teacher Evaluation Requirements 2011-R-0075

    • Teacher Certification and Teachers' Retirement 2007-R-0687

    • Teachers and Social Security 2006-R-0547

    • Protection for Teachers from False Accusations 2006-R-0023

    • Teacher Sick and Personal Days 2005-R-0396

    • Teacher Tenure Law 2002-R-0469

    Transportation

    • State Fines and Other Penalties for Passing a Stopped School Bus 2025-R-0029

    • Connecticut Law on Passing a Stopped School Bus 2024-R-0205

    • Seat Belts on School Buses  2024-R-0022

    • School Bus Driver License Renewal  2022-R-0160

    • OLR Backgrounder: School Transportation Requirements  2022-R-0139

    • Recent Legislation Affecting School Bus Drivers  2020-R-0321

    • Student Transportation Vehicle Signs  2020-R-0261

    • Questions on School Bus Stop Arm Cameras  2020-R-0210

    • U-Pass CT Program  2020-R-0167

    • State Fines and Other Penalties for Passing a Stopped School Bus 2019-R-0198

    • Connecticut Law on Passing a Stopped School Bus 2019-R-0199

    • State Laws on School Bus Violation Video Monitoring Systems  2018-R-0289

    • School Bus Driver Licensing and Training Requirements  2018-R-0089

    • School Bus Idling Law 2017-R-0184

    • States Requiring Seat Belts on School Buses  2016-R-0318

    • School Bus Driver Licensing and DUI Suspensions  2014-R-0241

    • School Bus Speed Limits  2014-R-0223

    Miscellaneous

    • State Law that Governs Local Board of Education Budget Preparation, Approval and Modification - 2024-R-0176

    • Education Laws Requiring Parental Notification 2024-R-0023

    • The Dual Roles and Responsibilities of Local and Regional Boards of Education 2023-R-0097

    • Federal and State Anti-Discrimination Protections for High School and College Students Based on Sex and Gender 2022-R-0103

    • History of the State Education Resource Center 2021-R-0203

    • OLR Backgrounder: Regional Boards of Education 2020-R-0211

    • Students, Teachers, and Schools Focus Area Reports

    • Issue Brief: Open Educational Resources 2020-R-0178

    • School Superintendent Duties and Requirement 2020-R-0146

    • OLR Backgrounder: Public School Residency Requirements 2019-R-0271

    • OLR Backgrounder: Truancy Policies for Public Schools 2019-R-0314

    • OLR Backgrounder: Vetting Applicants for Public School Employment 2019-R-0339

    • Legislative History of Connecticut Public Higher Education Governance 2019-R-0030

    • Undocumented Students Attending Public Schools 2019-R-0341

    • OLR Backgrounder: CCJEF V. Rell 2016-R-0177

    From the Connecticut Network for Legal Aid:

    • School Expulsions

    • Your Child's Rights in School

    Publications from the Connecticut Department of Education:

    • Guidance Regarding Public Act 21-6 ( An Act Concerning Immunizations )

    • Bullying and Harassment

    • Early Childhood Education

    • Guidance on Civil Rights Protections and Supports for Transgender Students (PDF)

    • Guidelines for In-School and Out-of-School Suspension (PDF)

    • Homeless Education

    • Public School Choice

    • School Accommodations Guide for Parents and Guardians

    Information from Center for Children's Advocacy:

    • Do I Have to Change Schools Every Time I Move?

    • Connecticut Education Cases

    Publications from the Congressional Research Service:

    • Medicaid and Schools (PDF - March 2009)

    • K-12 Education: Highlights of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-110) (PDF - January 2008)

    Useful Websites

    • Center for Children's Advocacy

    • U.S. Department of Education

    • 2025 Acts Affecting Higher Education

    • 2025 Acts Affecting Education

    • 2024 Acts Affecting Education

    • 2023 Acts Affecting Education

    • 2022 Acts Affecting Education

    • P.A. 21-6 An Act Concerning Immunizations
      OLR Bill Analysis

    • 2021 Public Acts Affecting Education

    Connecticut General Statutes

    Selected Statutes:

    Chapter 166 - Teachers and Superintendents

    • Sec. 10-151 . Employment of teachers. Definitions. Notice and hearing on failure to renew or termination of contract. Appeal. [Tenure Law]

    • Sec. 10-151a. Access of teacher to supervisory records and reports in personnel file.

    • Sec. 10-151c. Nondisclosure of records of teacher performance and evaluation. Exceptions.

    Chapter 168 - School Attendance and Employment of Children

    • Sec. 10-184. Duties of parents. School attendance age requirements.

    • Sec. 10-185. Penalty. [Noncompliance with Sec. 10-184]

    • Sec. 10-198a. Policies and procedures concerning truants.

    • Sec. 10-199. Attendance officers. Duties.

    • Sec. 10-200. Habitual truants.

    Chapter 170 - Boards of Education

    • Sec. 10-233a. Definitions. [Removal, Suspension, Expulsion of Student].

    • Sec. 10-233b. Removal of pupils from class.

    • Sec. 10-233c. Suspension of pupils.

    • Sec. 10-233d . Expulsion of pupils.

    • Sec. 10-233e. Notice as to disciplinary policies and action.

    • Sec. 10-233f. In-school suspension of pupils. Reassignment.

    • Sec. 10-233g. Reports of principals to police authority concerning physical assaults upon school employees by students.

    • Sec. 10-233h. Arrested students. Reports by police, disclosure, confidentiality. Police testimony at expulsion hearings.

    CT Department of Education Regulations

    Selected Regulations:

    Title 10 - Regulations

    • 10-4-1 to 10-4-26 . Organization Description, Rules of Practice, Public Inspection

    • 10-4b-1 to 10-4b-10 . Procedures to Implement Section 10-4b of the Connecticut General Statutes (Education Interest of the State)

    • 10-8a-1 to 10-8a-8 . Exemption of Educational Institutions from Licensing Requirements by the Department of Children and Youth Services

    • 10-145d-612 to 10-145d-613 . Standards for the Issuance of a Certificate for the Position of School Business Administrator (License Revocation)

    • 10-226e-1 to 10-226e-9 . Racial Imbalance Law

    Federal Laws

    Selected Laws:

    • FERPA - Protecting Student Privacy

      • U.S. Code full text  CFR full Text

    • Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) - replaces the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act (U.S. Department of Education)

    Court Decision
    • Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding v. Rell, 295 Conn. 240, 990 A.2d 206 (2010).
    • Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding v. Rell, 327 Conn. 650, 176 A.3d 28 (2018).

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