[complete report]

LAW

Year Passed

1996; last amended in 2007.

Rank

6th weakest of the nation's 40 charter laws.

Grade

D

GENERAL DATA

• Low cap nearly at capacity

• State board exerts strong control over charter operations

• Funding based on unpredictable annual state appropriation

MULTIPLE AUTHORIZERS - NO

Approval

State Board of Education for all charters (state and local). School boards approve local charters (of which there are none).

Appeal

None.

NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ALLOWED

Cap

Yes. 24 total schools. Charters may enroll no more than 250 students, 300 in K-8, or 25 percent of a district's total enrollment, whichever is less. Charters approved by the state with a demonstrated record of achievement may be approved to enroll up to 85 students per grade.

OPERATIONAL AUTONOMY

State

No. Waiver requests considered on a case-by-case basis from state board. State maintains control over charter funding. Virtual schools are not allowed. Management contracts with ESPs are not restricted.

Local

No.

Teacher Freedom

Yes for state charters. Teachers may choose to negotiate as a separate unit with the governing body, or work independently. No for local charters. Teachers remain covered by district collective bargaining agreement, but may, apply for waivers from specific provisions. Charter schools must participate in state's retirement system.

EQUITY

Student Funding

• State legislature sets annual appropriation rather than allow the same funding to follow students.

• Schools do not receive other types of monies.

• For state authorized charters, funds pass through state and for district authorized schools, funds pass through district.

• Average per pupil revenue - $10,000

"The state shall pay in accordance with this subsection, to the fiscal authority for a state charter school for each student enrolled in such school…for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, nine thousand three hundred dollars. Such payments shall be made as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than July fifteenth and September fifteenth based on estimated student enrollment on May first, and twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than January fifteenth and the remaining amount not later than April fifteenth, each based on student enrollment on October first." [Conn. Gen Stat. 10-66ee(c)]

Facilities Funding

None.