ConnecticutSchools must provide services and records access to homeless students
Starting October 1, 2026, local school boards must provide homeless students required services, hearings after residency denials, and records access for unaccompanied youths.
What it does
Local and regional school boards must provide educational services to homeless children and youths under federal rules revised through December 23, 2022, starting October 1, 2026.
If a school denies a homeless student accommodations because of residency, the student must receive a hearing. Unaccompanied youths must be able to access certain school records.
Argument forClear access to hearings and school records could help homeless students challenge residency decisions and manage their education and health needs.
Argument againstUsing a federal service standard fixed to December 23, 2022, may make the rule less able to track later federal changes.
More detail
Local and regional school boards must provide educational services to homeless children and youths under the specified federal education law. The rule covers homeless children and youths served by local and regional school boards. Services must follow 42 USC 11431 and later sections as revised through December 23, 2022. This provision takes effect October 1, 2026.
A homeless student denied school accommodations because of residency must receive a hearing opportunity, and an unaccompanied youth must be able to access certain school records. The hearing rule covers homeless children and youths denied accommodations based on residency. The records rule covers unaccompanied youths and their educational, medical, or similar records kept by a local or regional school board. The hearing follows the process in section 10-186. The records access applies to the unaccompanied youth's cumulative record maintained by the school board. These provisions take effect October 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 4SIGNED BY Governor Ned LamontBecame Law
- May 27TRANSMITTED BY SECRETARY OF THE STATE TO GOVERNORTo Governor
- May 27TRANSMITTED TO SECRETARY OF THE STATE
- May 20PUBLIC ACT 26-125
- May 6IN CONCURRENCE
- Vote recorded Senate Roll Call Vote 393. Result: pass.Upper
- May 6SENATE PASSEDPassed Senate
- Apr 30SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 376
- Apr 30FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.Minor
- Apr 9HOUSE PASSEDPassed House
- Vote recorded House Roll Call Vote. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded House Roll Call Vote 58. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 16FILE NO. 25
- Mar 16HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 49
- Mar 16FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDARMinor
- Mar 16RPTD. OUT OF LCO
- Mar 9REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/16/26Minor
- Mar 6FILED WITH LCOMinor
- Mar 5Joint FavorableMinor
- Feb 20PUBLIC HEARING 0224
- Feb 19REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON HousingIntroduced
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