2011 Connecticut Code
Title 10 Education and Culture
Chapter 163 State Board of Education. Department of Education
Sec. 10-4b. Complaint alleging failure or inability of board of education to implement educational interests of state. Investigation; inquiry; hearing. Remedial process. Regulations.

      Sec. 10-4b. Complaint alleging failure or inability of board of education to implement educational interests of state. Investigation; inquiry; hearing. Remedial process. Regulations. (a) Any resident of a local or regional school district, or parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the public schools of such school district who has been unable to resolve a complaint with the board of education of such local or regional school district may file with the State Board of Education a complaint in writing, or the state board may initiate a complaint, alleging the failure or inability of the board of education of such local or regional school district to implement the educational interests of the state in accordance with section 10-4a. If the state board, or its designee, finds such complaint to be substantial, it shall notify the local or regional board of such complaint and shall designate an agent who shall conduct a prompt investigation in accordance with procedures established by said state board and report the results of such investigation to the state board. The agent of the State Board of Education, in conducting an investigation, may summon by subpoena any records or documents related to the investigation. If the findings indicate that there is reasonable cause to believe that a local or regional board of education has failed or is unable to make reasonable provision to implement the educational interests of the state as defined in section 10-4a or that a local governmental body or its agent is responsible for such failure or inability, said state board shall conduct an inquiry. The State Board of Education shall give the board of education or a local governmental body or its agent involved the opportunity to be heard in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-176e to 4-184. Said state board may summon by subpoena any person whose testimony may be pertinent to the inquiry and any records or documents related to the provision of public education in the school district.

      (b) If, after conducting an inquiry in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the state board finds that a local or regional board of education has failed or is unable to implement the educational interests of the state in accordance with section 10-4a, the state board shall (1) require the local or regional board of education to engage in a remedial process whereby such local or regional board of education shall develop and implement a plan of action through which compliance may be attained, or (2) order the local or regional board of education to take reasonable steps where such local or regional board has failed to comply with subdivision (3) of section 10-4a. Where a local or regional board of education is required to implement a remedial process pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, upon request of such local or regional board, the state board shall make available to such local or regional board materials and advice to assist in such remedial process. If the state board finds that a local governmental body or its agent is responsible for such failure or inability, the state board may order such governmental body or agent to take reasonable steps to comply with the requirements of section 10-4a. The state board may not order an increase in the regular program expenditures, as defined in section 10-262f, of such local or regional board of education if such expenditures are in an amount at least equal to the minimum expenditure requirement in accordance with section 10-262j, provided that an increase in expenditures may be ordered in accordance with section 10-76d. If the state board finds that the state is responsible for such failure, the state board shall so notify the Governor and the General Assembly.

      (c) Upon the failure of a local or regional board of education to implement a remedial process, or upon the failure of a local or regional board of education or local governmental body or its agent to comply with an order of the state board in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, said state board may seek an order from the Superior Court to compel such board of education to implement a remedial process or to compel a local or regional board of education or local governmental body or its agent to carry out the order of the State Board of Education.

      (d) The state board shall pursuant to the provisions of chapter 54 adopt regulations concerning procedures for purposes of this section.

      (1969, P.A. 690, S. 5; P.A. 78-218, S. 6; P.A. 79-128, S. 14, 36; P.A. 81-432, S. 7, 11; P.A. 82-301, S. 2, 5; P.A. 86-71, S. 3, 11; P.A. 88-317, S. 53, 107; P.A. 89-124, S. 8, 13; P.A. 92-262, S. 2, 42; P.A. 96-244, S. 1, 63; P.A. 08-153, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 78-218 substituted "any local or regional board of education" for "board of education of any school district"; P.A. 79-128 allowed complaints by residents of school district and parents and guardians of students as initiating factor in inquiry procedure made by state board and added Subsecs. (b) to (d) concerning remedial process undertaken upon order of state board; P.A. 81-432 deleted reference to Sec. 10-76p in Subsec. (b); P.A. 82-301 amended Subsec. (b) to eliminate internal reference to Sec. 10-266o, repealed by Sec. 4 of the act; P.A. 86-71 deleted the reference in Subsec. (b) to Sec. 10-266n which was repealed; P.A. 88-317 amended reference to Secs. 4-177 to 4-184 in Subsec. (a) to include new sections added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 89-124 in Subsec. (b) substituted references to Sec. 10-262j for references to Sec. 10-262e which was repealed by Sec. 12 of the act, deleted reference to Sec. 10-262c which was repealed by Sec. 8 of public act 88-358, substituted "regular program expenditures, as defined in section 10-262f" for "net current expenditures, as defined in section 10-261" and made technical changes; P.A. 92-262 added language granting authority to agent of the state board to subpoena records or documents related to an investigation; P.A. 96-244 amended Subsec. (b) to add Sec. 10-203 to the list of sections, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 08-153 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective June 12, 2008.

      Cited. 179 C. 694. Cited. 187 C. 187. Cited. 195 C. 24. Cited. 226 C. 704, 729. Cited. 228 C. 699. P.A. 89-124 cited. Id. Cited. 238 C. 1.

      Cited. 44 CA 179.

      Cited. 29 CS 397.