Sec. 10-505. Grant program for costs associated with classroom start-up and new spaces in certain school readiness programs.

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Eligible town” means a town in which a priority school, as defined in section 10-16p, is located or a town ranked one to fifty when all towns are ranked in ascending order according to town wealth, as defined in subdivision (26) of section 10-262f, whose school district is not a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p;

(2) “Eligible regional school readiness council” means a regional school readiness council, pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-16r, for a region in which a priority school is located;

(3) “Eligible children” means children (A) three and four years of age and children five years of age who are not eligible to enroll in school pursuant to section 10-15c, or who are eligible to enroll in school and will attend a school readiness program pursuant to section 10-16t, and (B) who reside (i) in an area served by a priority school or a former priority school, as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of section 10-16p, (ii) in a town ranked one to fifty when all towns are ranked in ascending order according to town wealth, as defined in subdivision (26) of section 10-262f, whose school district is not a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p, (iii) in a town formerly a town described in clause (ii) of this subparagraph, as provided for in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of section 10-16p, or (iv) in a town designated as an alliance district, as defined in section 10-262u, whose school district is not a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p;

(4) “School readiness program” has the same meaning as provided in section 10-16p;

(5) “Priority school” has the same meaning as provided in section 10-16p;

(6) “Accredited” has the same meaning as provided in section 10-16p; and

(7) “Seeking accreditation” has the same meaning as provided in section 10-16p.

(b) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall establish a grant program for eligible towns and eligible regional school readiness councils for (1) start-up of school readiness classrooms, and (2) providing spaces to all eligible children in accredited school readiness programs and school readiness programs seeking accreditation. An eligible town or eligible regional school readiness council may apply for such grant to the commissioner, at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes.

(P.A. 14-39, S. 85.)

History: P.A. 14-39 effective July 1, 2014.