Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-221w: Policy re eligibility criteria for enrollment in advanced course or program. Model agreement for dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment courses. Fee-waiver grant program. Direct support to boards of education for articulation and expansion of dual credit courses.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Advanced course or program” means an honors class, advanced placement class, International Baccalaureate program, Cambridge International program, dual enrollment, dual credit, early college or any other advanced or accelerated course or program offered by a local or regional board of education in grades nine to twelve, inclusive; and

(2) “Prior academic performance” means the course or courses that a student has taken, the grades received for such course or courses and a student's grade point average.

(b) Not later than July 1, 2022, each local and regional board of education shall adopt a policy, or revise an existing policy, concerning the eligibility criteria for student enrollment in an advanced course or program. Such policy shall provide for multiple methods by which a student may satisfy the eligibility criteria for enrollment in an advanced course or program, including, but not limited to, recommendations from teachers, administrators, school counselors or other school personnel. Such eligibility criteria shall not be based exclusively on a student's prior academic performance and any use of a student's prior academic performance shall rely on evidence-based indicators of how a student will perform in an advanced course or program.

(c) Any policy adopted or revised and implemented under this section shall be in accordance with guidance provided by the Department of Education.

(d) Not later than July 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Education shall, in partnership with the constituent units of the state system of higher education and independent institutions of higher education, as defined in section 10a-173, develop a model agreement between secondary schools and postsecondary institutions for the provision of dual enrollment courses and concurrent enrollment courses, as such terms are defined in section 10a-35d, and postsecondary credit courses to students in grades nine to twelve, inclusive.

(e) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of Education shall, within available appropriations, establish a fee-waiver grant program to expand opportunities for high-need high school students to access advanced courses or programs. A local or regional board of education may apply, in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Education, for reimbursement for any fees charged to such board for any high-need student who enrolls in an advanced course or program.

(f) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of Education may, within available appropriations, pay up to five hundred thousand dollars in a fiscal year to the State Education Resource Center for programming that provides direct support to local and regional boards of education in the articulation and expansion of dual credit courses. In expending such funds under this subsection, the State Education Resource Center shall give priority to providing funds to alliance districts.