SB 221 Connecticut Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING ASPIRING EDUCATORS.

SB 221 establishes a state scholarship program to support aspiring educators in Connecticut. It provides up to $10,000 annually to diverse students who graduated from public high schools in designated "alliance districts" and are enrolled in teacher preparation programs at four-year colleges. Recipients must teach as certified educators in Connecticut, particularly in identified shortage areas (like specific subjects or geographic regions), or repay the scholarship. The program requires annual reporting on scholarship recipients' demographics and program data, with implementation effective July 1, 2026.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 18, 2026 Last action Apr 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → ED Joint Favorable Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program to broaden eligibility by defining 'aspiring educators' as individuals from underrepresented population subgroups in teacher shortage areas, rather than limiting it to 'diverse students.' It extends the program's timeline by shifting key deadlines from 2023-2024 to 2027-2028 and increases the amount of unspent funds that can be used for teacher recruitment initiatives from zero to $250,000 annually.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the scholarship program to include any underrepresented population subgroup identified as a teacher shortage area, moving away from a specific focus on 'diverse students' as previously defined.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the definition of an 'aspiring educator' from a 'diverse student' to an individual belonging to a population subgroup that is underrepresented in the teaching profession within a certified teacher shortage area.

TIMELINE

Delayed the deadline for the department to develop scholarship administration policy from January 1, 2023, to January 1, 2027.

Extended the initial fiscal year for awarding scholarships from the 2024 fiscal year to the 2027 fiscal year.

Pushed the deadline for the department to develop its annual report on scholarship recipients from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2028.

FISCAL

Authorized the commissioner to use up to $250,000 of any unexpended scholarship funds each year to implement the state's plan to promote the teaching profession.

DEFINITION

Updated the statutory definition of teacher shortage areas to explicitly include 'population subgroups that are underrepresented in the teaching profession' alongside subject and geographic shortages.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Education

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors