Sec. 10-285h. Projects for charter schools: Pilot program.

(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, there shall be established a pilot program for the development of a school building facility to be used for a state charter school. The Commissioner of Education may receive applications for the purchase and renovation of a building to be used as a state charter school facility. The amount of the grant shall be equal to the net eligible expenditures multiplied by the school construction reimbursement rate for the town in which the facility will be located. Enrollment projections identified in the application may exceed current charter school enrollment limitations, if approved by the commissioner. The provisions of this chapter concerning school construction projects and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education, in accordance with this chapter, shall apply to the project, except as provided by this section.

(b) Eligible applicants shall be successful state charter school governing boards that have operated a charter school for at least five years and have had the charter of the school renewed by the State Board of Education. The application shall include information concerning the charter school that describes: (1) Academic success, including test results on mastery examinations pursuant to section 10-14n, (2) attendance records of students, (3) student success in completing the program of studies offered by the school, (4) parental involvement in the operation and decisions of the governing board, and (5) other such information as is required by the Commissioner of Education. The application shall be submitted in such form, manner and time as determined by the commissioner.

(c) The Commissioner of Education may select one application for state grant assistance. The commissioner shall notify the school construction committee pursuant to section 10-283a of the commissioner's selection and the proposed funding for such state charter school project. The school construction committee shall consider the application in conjunction with the committee's review of the listing of eligible projects developed in accordance with section 10-283. If the school construction committee approves the request for funding, the committee shall include such grant request as a separately-listed item on a special supplementary schedule for such pilot charter school project on the listing of eligible projects developed in accordance with section 10-283.

(d) If a state charter school that received a grant pursuant to this section ceases to be used as a state charter school facility, the Commissioner of Education shall determine whether title to the building and any legal interest in appurtenant land shall revert to the state.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-6, S. 39.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-6 effective July 1, 2005.