Page 404

House Bill No. 5506

Public Act No. 22-118 404 of 739

students educated exclusively in English as a second language programs, and (3) certification by the board of education submitting the report that any funds received pursuant to this section have been used for the purposes specified. The State Board of Education shall annually evaluate programs conducted pursuant to section 10-17f. For purposes of this section, measures of the effectiveness of bilingual education and English as a second language programs include, but need not be limited to, mastery examination results, under section 10-14n, and graduation and school dropout rates. Any amount appropriated under this section in excess of [one million nine hundred sixteen thousand one hundred thirty] three million eight hundred thirty-two thousand two hundred sixty dollars shall be spent in accordance with the provisions of sections 10-17k, 10-17n and 10-66t. Any unexpended funds, as of November first, appropriated to the Department of Education for purposes of providing a grant to a local or regional board of education for the provision of a program of bilingual education, pursuant to section 10-17f, shall be distributed on a pro rata basis to each local and regional board of education receiving a grant under this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2023, inclusive, the amount of grants payable to local or regional boards of education for the provision of a program of bilingual education under this section shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for such grants for such year. Sec. 261. (Effective July 1, 2022) The Department of Education shall conduct a study of the funding process for the Gilbert School, approved pursuant to section 10-34 of the general statutes. The department may consult with the Gilbert School while conducting such study. Not later than January 1, 2023, the department shall submit a report of the results of such study and any recommendations relating to the funding process for the Gilbert School to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in