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HB 5329

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CONNECTICUT EDUCATION INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Eleni DeGraw and 1 co-sponsor

Connecticut bill creates education innovation grant program to fund pilot projects testing new teaching methods and curriculum approaches in schools.

FAV. CHG. OF REF., SEN. TO COMM. ON Appropriations
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Bill Summary · HB 5329

Legislative bill overview

HB 5329 establishes the Connecticut Education Innovation Grant Program, which would create a funding mechanism to support experimental and innovative educational initiatives in Connecticut schools. The bill allocates grant resources to schools or districts willing to pilot new teaching methods, curriculum approaches, or educational technologies. This program aims to encourage evidence-based educational experimentation and help identify best practices that could be scaled statewide.

Why is this important

Education innovation programs can help Connecticut schools improve student outcomes by testing new approaches before wider implementation, potentially reducing costly failures at scale. However, grant programs also require state funding and administrative oversight, and uneven distribution of grants could increase disparities between well-resourced and under-resourced districts. The program's success depends heavily on program design, selection criteria, and whether innovation benefits are actually shared across all districts.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding source and amount: Whether the state budget can accommodate this program without redirecting resources from existing education initiatives or services
  • Grant distribution equity: Risk that schools with stronger administrative capacity will be better positioned to compete for grants, potentially widening achievement gaps rather than closing them
  • Accountability and measurement: Whether the bill includes clear metrics to evaluate whether innovations actually improve student outcomes, and consequences if pilots fail or show no measurable benefit

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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