Connecticut

School Choice Policies

Charter School Choice

Does the state have charter schools?

Are for-profit charter schools or management companies allowed?

No-

“'Charter school' means a public, nonsectarian school which is...organized as a nonprofit entity under state law..."

“'Charter management organization' means any not-for-profit organization that (A) is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, and (B) contracts with a charter school for educational design, implementation or whole school management services"

10-66aa.(1) & (4)

Is there a cap on the number of charter schools?

Unclear-

"...the State Board of Education shall review, annually, all applications and grant initial certificates of approval for charters... for a local or state charter school located in a town that has one or more schools that have been designated as a commissioner's network school,... or a town that has been designated as a low achieving school district..."

"Except as provided for in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no state charter school shall enroll (A) (i) more than two hundred fifty students, or (ii) in the case of a kindergarten to grade eight, inclusive, school, more than three hundred students, or (B) twenty-five per cent of the enrollment of the school district in which the state charter school is to be located, whichever is less. (2) In the case of a state charter school found by the State Board of Education to have a demonstrated record of achievement, said board shall, upon application by such school to said board, waive the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection for such school."

Education Commission of the States indicates that Connecticut does not have caps on charter schools.

10-66bb.

Education Commission of the States 50-State Comparison

Are charters required to provide transportation for any students?

No-

"The local or regional board of education of the school district in which the charter school is located shall provide transportation services for students of the charter school who reside in such school district pursuant to section 10-273a unless the charter school makes other arrangements for such transportation. Any local or regional board of education may provide transportation services to a student attending a charter school outside of the district in which the student resides and, if it elects to provide such transportation, shall be reimbursed pursuant to section 10-266m for the reasonable costs of such transportation."

10-66ee.(f)

Can charter schools employ uncertified teachers?

Yes-

At least one half of the teachers must have a teacher certification. The Commissioner of Education may waive this requirement, but even with this exception, at least 30% of educators must be certified.

10-66dd.(b)(2) and (5)

Virtual School Choice

Do state statutes allow for full-time virtual schools?

Yes-

Sec. 17a-37.(b) Establishment of school district in the Department of Children and Families. Unified School District #2. allows "The superintendent of the school district shall have the power to (1) establish and maintain within the Department of Children and Families such schools of different grades as he may from time to time require and deem necessary . . ."

According to this slide-deck, 17a-37(b) gives the superintendent the power to open virtual academies.

A Connecticut policy expert noted that no full-time virtual schools exist in Connecticut.

17a-37.(b) Establishment of school district in the Department of Children and Families. Unified School District #2.

Are virtual schools required to track attendance?

Did not find-

A Connecticut policy expert confirmed that Connecticut statutes are silent on this question.

Do virtual schools have to comply with state teacher certification requirements?

Did not find-

A Connecticut policy expert confirmed that Connecticut statutes are silent on this question.

Private School Choice

Does the state have voucher programs?

No-

No voucher programs found.

EdChoice School Choice in America

Does the state have educational expense tuition tax credits or deductions?

No-

No educational expense tax credits or deductions found.

EdChoice School Choice in America

Can students use vouchers to attend religious schools?

Not Applicable

Is there a cap on the number of students or private schools participating in voucher programs?

Not Applicable

Are voucher students in private schools required to take any standardized tests?

Not Applicable

Can private schools be removed from voucher programs based on performance?

Not Applicable

Are private schools in voucher programs required to provide transportation?

Not Applicable

Interdistrict School Choice

Does the state have interdistrict choice programs?

Yes-

There is voluntary interdistrict and intradistrict choice across the state and mandatory interdistrict choice in four cities (Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, New London).

10-266aa

Are receiving schools or districts required to provide transportation to any students?

Did not find

Page last updated: July 2024

Click here to download the State Policy Spreadsheet. Click here to download the State Policy Map Data Memo.

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The State Policy Map provides a snapshot of school choice policy found in laws passed by the legislative bodies, for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., based on information gathered from state statutes in fall 2019; data checks continued through December 2020. Information on this site may not include the most up-to-date policy information. The State Policy Map does not systematically reflect state Department of Education administrative policies, rules, or regulations. All content on this site is provided for informational purposes only. Links to third-party websites are for the user’s convenience; neither REACH nor any affiliated entities endorse the contents of third-party sites.

Note: On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Montana's exclusion of religious schools from the state's tax credit scholarship program was unconstitutional (Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue 591). The responses to the question "Can students use vouchers to attend religious schools?" were collected before this ruling and therefore do not reflect any changes resulting from the Espinoza decision.