During its 2025 regular legislative session, the Connecticut General Assembly made a number of changes to how the State funds special education, including the creation of a new formulaic grant to support special education services.
This frequently asked questions document discusses special education services for Connecticut students attending public schools of choice, including how those services are delivered and paid for.
This model allows users to calculate future projected State Charter School grants based on the phase-in of weighted student funding for charter schools.
These documents provide more information about funding for different public school types under the biennial state budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Included in each document is an overview of funding from the previous year and details on how funding will be allocated in FYs 2026 and 2027.
BOE Magnet School Funding for FYs 2026 and 2027
AgriScience Program Funding for FYs 2026 and 2027
RESC Magnet School Funding for FYs 2026 and 2027
State Charter School Funding for FYs 2026 and 2027
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There are a variety of types of public schools of choice in Connecticut, including magnet schools, career and technical high schools, vocational agricultural centers, and charter schools. Connecticut also has two additional school choice arrangements that are not as common: designated high schools and endowed academies. This policy briefing discusses both of these options and how they are a part of Connecticut’s public education landscape.
This policy brief focuses on Connecticut's Open Choice program, and discusses its objectives, history, administration, and funding. Open Choice is a program in which Connecticut students can attend schools in local public school districts outside the community in which they reside. Connecticut’s statutes currently allow for districts in the Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, and New London areas to send and receive students from participating districts in their respective region.