All Roll Calls
Yes: 0 • No: 0
ConnecticutHB 053232026 Regular SessionHouse
AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES.
Sponsored By: Education Committee
Signed by Governor
Summary
To make various revisions to the education statutes.
education
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Fewer academic barriers for school athletes
Beginning July 1, 2026, school boards cannot set extra academic eligibility hurdles for high school athletes. For grades 9–12, district standards cannot exceed those set by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference. The law does not change the conference's standards.
Grants support therapeutic arts in schools
Effective July 1, 2026, the law creates public-school therapeutic arts grants for the school year starting July 1, 2027. Local and regional school boards and regional educational service centers can apply, subject to available funding. Priority goes to districts with high rates of exclusionary discipline, limited behavioral-health support, and an existing social-emotional learning program. The education department must post criteria, applications, and grant amounts by January 1, 2027; the commissioner sets the amounts. Annual reports to lawmakers begin July 1, 2028.
Mentoring support for new school leaders
Beginning July 1, 2026, the state school-administrator standards council must create a mentoring pilot with the Connecticut Association of Schools. New administrators receive support, training, and professional development. The council must submit its plan by July 1, 2027. The pilot begins in selected districts for the school year starting July 1, 2027. Results and recommendations are due January 1, 2029.
New career-focused high school math paths
Effective upon passage, the law requires redesigned high school math pathways by January 1, 2027. Paths must cover science, technology, engineering, and math; data science and statistics; quantitative reasoning; and workforce or applied math. The redesign must connect math learning with college and career needs. Guidance must define math specialists' roles in student interventions and list professional development providers. The commissioner must also explore a MathConn professional learning series.
Schools get incentives to reduce testing
Effective July 1, 2026, the law requires a district testing-reduction incentive program by July 1, 2027, subject to available funding. Districts must limit semester- or year-level broad tests, use state interim and formative tools, and improve teachers' classroom-assessment skills. Incentives can include recognition, financial awards, or greater operating flexibility; no award amount is set. Required state and federal tests, including statewide mastery exams, are excluded. By June 1, 2027, the education department must issue guidance on reducing optional local tests. Guidance can suggest dropping fall and spring broad tests or replacing some end-of-unit tests with state tools; adoption is optional.
State can seek school rating flexibility
Beginning June 4, 2026, the education commissioner can seek federal approval to change Connecticut's high school accountability model. The commissioner must first consult the working group established under Public Act 24-45. The request can seek less weight for academic achievement and more for other measures, including college and career readiness. Federal approval is required; this law does not itself change school ratings.
Temporary campus option for Bridgeport academy
Beginning June 4, 2026, the education commissioner can approve temporary space for Bridgeport Military Academy at Fairchild Wheeler Interdistrict Magnet Campus. Only approved grades and programs can move there while the academy's permanent facility is built. Placement lasts no more than two years and ends when the permanent facility is complete. The academy must retain its own facility code and separate enrollment, performance, and accountability records. Combining students in core courses or programs requires express approval and must fit each school's educational program.
New limits on armed school security
Beginning July 1, 2026, towns and school boards can use only eligible law enforcement officers for armed public-school security. Eligible workers include sworn local police and qualifying retired local, state, federal, out-of-state, and correction department parole officers. Retirees must meet qualification rules, have left in good standing, and have no disqualifying state-law record. Good standing excludes termination for discipline or departure while an investigation or discipline was pending. Retirees must complete annual school-security and firearms training meeting the specified standards. They are exempt from specified state security licensing rules, and hiring them remains optional.
Prior education provision starts in 2027
Effective June 4, 2026, the law delays section 51 of Public Act 24-41 until July 1, 2027. The supplied text does not identify that section's policy or who it affects.
Stronger screening for school job applicants
Beginning July 1, 2026, expanded screening covers direct-student-contact hires by public, charter, magnet, and nonpublic school operators and their contractors. Applicants must list current employers and qualifying former school or child-contact employers from the past 20 years. They must authorize information releases and disclose abuse, neglect, sexual misconduct, related discipline, resignations during investigations, and license suspensions or revocations. Employers must seek records using a state form; prior employers must respond within five business days. Temporary work is allowed for up to 90 days during review when disclosures are complete and no disqualifying information exists. Contractors must perform the checks and report findings; school boards must report specified investigations or discipline to the education department. Boards cannot agree to hide or erase ongoing investigations or substantiated findings unless dismissed or reversed. Knowingly false disclosures can lead to job denial or discipline; good-faith information sharing receives civil and criminal liability protection. Mandatory hiring bars apply to applicants with specified termination, resignation, or substantiated-allegation histories who also have a qualifying conviction or substantiated allegation. On request, the State Board must share available certificate eligibility, misconduct findings, charge or conviction notices, and former-employer investigation or discipline reports. Criminal-history disclosure laws still apply, and reports of investigations finding all allegations false are excluded. The State Board need not investigate requests or share national criminal-history check results.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Education Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Anthony L. Nolan
Democratic • House
Bobby G. Gibson
Democratic • House
Hector Arzeno
Democratic • House
Jason Rojas
Democratic • House
John A. Kissel
Republican • Senate
John-Michael Parker
Democratic • House
Kai J. Belton
Democratic • House
Karen Reddington-Hughes
Republican • House
Stephen G. Harding
Republican • Senate
Tom O'Dea
Republican • House
Tracy Marra
Republican • House
Trenee McGee
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/13/2026
APP Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/16/2026
Senate Roll Call Vote 380
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/16/2026
House Roll Call Vote 103 AS AMENDED
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/16/2026
ED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Bill Text
Public Act No. 26-139
5/20/2026
File No. 732
4/28/2026
File No. 380
4/2/2026
APP Joint Favorable
3/16/2026
ED Joint Favorable Substitute
3/16/2026
Raised Bill
2/26/2026
APP Joint Fav. Rpt
APP Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable)
Bill Analysis For File Copy 380
Bill Analysis For File Copy 732
Bill Analysis for HB-5323, as amended by House "A"
ED Joint Fav. Rpt
ED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute)
Fiscal Note For File Copy 380
Fiscal Note For File Copy 732
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4479 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4558 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4617 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4856 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for HB-5323, As Amended by House "A" (LCO 4856)
House LCO Amendment #4479 (D)
House LCO Amendment #4558 (D)
House LCO Amendment #4617 (D)
House Roll Call Vote 103 AS AMENDED
House Schedule A LCO# 4856 (J)
Senate Roll Call Vote 380
Summary for Public Act No. 26-139
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