The local or regional board of education may establish a demonstration board and staff and may authorize it to administer the demonstration project authorized by sections 10-239a to 10-239h, inclusive, provided the costs of such organization shall be borne by the contracting federal agency. The members of the demonstration board, if it is not the local or regional board of education itself, shall serve for the terms established by the appointing board.

(1) The demonstration board may: (A) Employ a staff for the demonstration board, (B) receive and expend funds to support the demonstration board and scholarships for children in the demonstration area, (C) contract with other government agencies and private persons or organizations to provide or receive services, supplies, facilities and equipment, (D) determine rules and regulations for use of scholarships in the demonstration area, (E) adopt rules and regulations for its own government, (F) receive and expend funds from the federal governmental agency necessary to pay for the costs incurred in administering the program, (G) otherwise provide the specified programs, services and activities.

(2) The demonstration board shall award a scholarship to each school child residing in the demonstration area, subject only to such age and grade restrictions which it may establish. The scholarship funds shall be made available to the parents or legal guardian of a scholarship recipient in the form of a drawing right, certificate or other document which may not be redeemed except for educational purposes.

(3) The demonstration board shall establish the amount of the scholarship in a fair and impartial manner as follows: There shall be a basic scholarship equal in amount to every other basic scholarship for every eligible student in the demonstration area. In no case shall the amount of the basic scholarship fall below the level of average current expense per pupil for corresponding grade levels in the public schools in the demonstration area in the year immediately preceding the demonstration program.

(4) In addition to each base scholarship, compensatory scholarships shall be given to disadvantaged children. The amount of such compensatory scholarships and the manner by which children may qualify for them shall be established by the demonstration board.

(5) Adequate provision for the pro rata or incremental redemption of scholarships shall be made.

(6) The contract shall provide sufficient money to pay all actual and necessary transportation costs incurred by parents in sending their children to the school of their choice within the demonstration area, subject to distance limitations imposed by existing law.

(7) The contract shall specify that the contracting federal governmental agency shall hold harmless the participating board from any possible decreased economies of scale or increased costs per pupil caused by the transition to a demonstration program.

(1972, P.A. 122, S. 4; P.A. 78-218, S. 173; P.A. 07-217, S. 46.)

History: P.A. 78-218 substituted “local” for “town” boards of education; P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subdiv. (1), effective July 12, 2007.