Open Choice Program Grant-in-Aid

Connecticut State Department of Education

Charlene M. Russell-Tucker

Commissioner of Education

Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships

Application for Open Choice Program Grant-In-Aid

Section 10-266aa(k)(3) of the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.)

Applications Due: September 25, 2026

Published: August 2026

Connecticut State Department of Education

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

The Connecticut State Department of Education is committed to a policy of equal opportunity/affirmative action for all qualified persons. The Connecticut Department of Education does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis of: race; color; religious creed; age; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; workplace hazards to reproductive systems; gender identity or expression; marital status; national origin; ancestry; retaliation for previously opposed discrimination or coercion; intellectual disability; genetic information; learning disability; physical disability (including, but not limited to, blindness); mental disability (past/present history thereof); military or veteran status; status as a victim of domestic violence; or criminal record in state employment, in accordance with applicable statutes, unless there is a bona fide occupational qualification excluding persons in any of the aforementioned protected classes. Inquiries regarding the Connecticut State Department of Education’s nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: Attorney Louis Todisco, Connecticut State Department of Education, by mail 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 605, Hartford, CT 06103-1841; or by telephone 860-713-6594; or by email louis.todisco@ct.gov.

Table of Contents

Sections	Page
Background	4
Purpose	4
Eligibility	4
Funding	5
Grant Period	6
Funds Requests	6
Submission Requirements	7
Review of Proposals	7
Freedom of Information Act	7
Management Control of the Program and Grant Consultation Role of CSDE Personnel	8
Grant Timelines	8
Application Cover Page	9
Program Narrative	10
Budget Form	11
Budget Narrative	12
Statement of Assurances	14
Attachment A-Applicant Support Form	19
Attachment B – Sample Rubric	20

Background

On April 18, 1989, eighteen school-aged children from the metropolitan Hartford, Connecticut area, acting through their parents, commenced the civil action Sheff v. O’Neill in the Hartford Superior Court against the State of Connecticut. In 1996, the Connecticut Supreme Court rendered a decision in the case and held that the de facto racial, ethnic and economic isolation of schools in Hartford violated Hartford students’ state Constitutional rights. Since 2003, the Plaintiffs and the state have entered into several sequential stipulated agreements from Phase I through Phase IV, with the most recent agreement – Phase V or the Comprehensive School Choice Plan (CCP) – representing the final agreement between the parties. The CCP, which was signed by the state, the plaintiffs and the City of Hartford on January 26, 2022 and the Connecticut Superior Court on March 21, 2022 as an Order of the Court, articulates a plan for meeting the demand of Hartford-resident students for a diverse educational environment through a sustainable system of integrated education.

The Open Choice Program is one of the voluntary interdistrict programs identified in the CCP as a means of reducing the racial, ethnic, and economic isolation of Hartford-resident students and is a key strategy for achieving the goals of the CCP. Although the Sheff region primarily encompasses the Greater Hartford area, similar voluntary interdistrict programs also operate in the New Haven and Bridgeport regions. The Open Choice Program authorizes eligible students from Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and other specified communities to enroll in participating school districts through graduation. See Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) Section 10-266aa. Various grants are available pursuant to C.G.S. Section 10-266aa to support student participation and success in the Open Choice Program.

Purpose

The purpose of this grant is to promote academic and social success for students participating in the Open Choice Program through funding for wrap-around services. C.G.S. Section 10-266aa establishes the funding framework for the Open Choice Program, including a tiered funding structure based on student enrollment. C.G.S. Section 10-266aa(k)(3) directs the allocation of funding amounts, up to $2 million, for support services for students participating in the Program if the Commissioner determines such funds are available within the Open Choice appropriation after distributing funding through the tiered structure and for other specific allocations in subsection k. Eligible services include academic tutoring, family engagement, experiential learning opportunities, college and career preparedness, and other wrap-around services that promote students' academic achievement and social success.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Open Choice grant-in-aid pursuant to C.G.S. Section 10-266aa(k)(3), the applicant must submit an application, as required herein, outlining the strategies and activities that the program will implement to provide wrap-around services support to students participating in the Open Choice Program.

This is a competitive grant program. Eligible applicants include local and regional boards of education, as well as for profit, not-for profit, and nonsectarian organizations that are qualified to provide wrap-around services for Open Choice students. Such services must be provided by qualified and credentialed individuals based on the type of service provided.

First time nonsectarian nonprofit organizations must submit, with their applications, documentation demonstrating the organization’s nonsectarian nonprofit status.

Note: When writing the application, applicants are encouraged to collaborate and coordinate with the Regional Education Service Centers (RESC) in their region that administers the Open Choice Program. The applicable RESCs include the following entities:

Bridgeport – Cooperative Educational Services (CES)

Hartford - Capitol Region Education Council (CREC)

New Haven- Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES)

If this application involves a collaborative partnership among districts or nonprofit organizations then each participating district must sign Attachment A in support of the applicant.

Funding

This grant award is subject to the availability of sufficient funding.

It is anticipated that there will be up to approximately $2,000,000 available to fund wrap-around services for Open Choice students for the 2026-27 school year pursuant to C.G.S. 10-266aa(k)(3), and subject to available funding in accordance with the statute. Funding is also subject to CSDE’s approval of the required grant application.

The CSDE shall base its grant awards on the strength of each project proposal, particularly its ability to provide wrap-around services that promote academic and social success, as outlined under the “Purpose” section. The CSDE also reserves the right to not award all grants, negotiate specific grant amounts, and to select grantees, regardless of points awarded, as part of the evaluation process to meet the Connecticut State Board of Education’s (CSBE) priorities.

When determining how to use the grant funds, the grant applicant should consider the academic and social needs of the students in the Open Choice Program and the types of supports that will improve and enrich their school experiences. Students benefitting from programs or services funded by the grant must include, but are not limited to, students enrolled in a district through the Open Choice Program. For a proposal to be approved, the applicant must propose and implement wrap-around services to improve the academic work and social experiences of students participating in the Program.

Activities that may be funded through this grant include, but are not limited to:

• before-and after-school enrichment programs;

• weekend academic and social support academies;

• academic tutoring services;

• family engagement activities, including program information and academic development;

• bilingual services for English learners/multilingual learners and/or parents;

• supplemental reading and/or mathematics programs;

• field trips; and

• experiential learning opportunities.

Allowable costs for this grant, in support of academic, student and social support activities, such as those listed above, include the following:

• salaries and benefits;

• staff stipends;

• instructional supplies and materials, including educational software and technology;

• rent for property;

• snacks for before-and/or after-school and/or weekend academic and social activities;

• enrichment programming;

• field trips and college visits;

• social-emotional support and community-building activities;

• experiential learning activities; and

• student transportation for field trips and social/experiential learning activities.

Indirect costs are not allowable for this grant.

Costs for other activities, programs and supports may be approved beyond those listed in this section. All budgeted expenses must clearly support the grant purpose.

Grant Period

The CSDE shall award this grant for fiscal year 2026-27. The CSDE anticipates that the grant period will begin upon the grant award and conclude June 30, 2027. The final status report for the 2026-27 grant must be submitted by July 31, 2027. In addition, all funds requests must be completed on or before June 11, 2027.

Funds Requests

All funds requests submitted in eGMS are subject to fiscal review to ensure compliance with grant requirements and proper use of public funds. While documentation thresholds may vary by dollar amount, Program Managers must exercise professional judgment and may request supporting documentation for any reimbursement request.

For requests above $250,000, documentation is not required, but the program manager may request it.

Acceptable documentation to substantiate funds requests includes:

• Financial data reports used by the grantee that clearly match the requested amount;

• Invoices that indicate the products or services rendered (invoices can be marked up to show how they equal to the requested amount);

• Purchase orders or contracts.

Submission Requirements

A completed application packet must be emailed by 4:00 pm on September 25, 2026 to Janet Foster and Brenna Casey at janet.foster@ct.gov and brenna.casey@ct.gov . The application packet must include: application cover page, program narrative; ED 114 budget form; budget narrative; and a signed Standard Statement of Assurances. Facsimile copies of the application will not be accepted.

Review of Proposals and Grant Awards

Applications and scoring rubrics will be sent electronically to teams of reviewers, to review and rate proposals. A sample rubric is provided as Attachment A.

The CSDE reserves the right to make grant awards under this program without discussion with the applicants.

All applicants (awarded and not awarded) will be notified regarding the outcome of the proposal review process. If a proposal is selected for funding, the Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships (OSPP) will initiate a grant award letter in the state’s eGMS. The level of funding and effective dates of the programs will be set forth in the notification of the grant award. The CSDE will retain all proposals submitted and such proposals will become part of the public domain.

Freedom of Information Act

All of the information contained in any proposal submitted in response to this RFP is subject to the provisions of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), C.G.S. Sections 1-200 et seq. The FOIA states that, except as provided by Federal or State law, records maintained by any public agency (as defined in FOIA) are public records, and every person has the right to inspect and request a copy of such records.

Management Control of the Program and Grant Consultation

Role of CSDE Personnel

The grantee has complete management control of this grant. While CSDE staff may be consulted for their expertise, they will not be directly responsible for the selection of sub-grantees or vendors, nor will they be directly involved in the expenditure and payment of funds.

Grant Timelines

August 2026	Release Date
September 25, 2026 by 4 pm.	Application Due
October 2026	Notification of Awards

Application Cover Page

Connecticut State Department of Education

Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships

Hartford, Connecticut

Program Title:
District:
Program’s Contact Name and Title:
Phone:
Email:

I hereby certify that the information contained in this application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

_______________________________________ _________________________

Superintendent/Director Date

Program Narrative

In this section, provide narrative responses regarding the proposed program, identifying the needs and wrap-around services to be addressed. Maximum scores will be assigned to applications which respond fully and with detail to each narrative request and describe programs directed at supporting the academic and social development of students participating in Open Choice in accordance with the RFP rubric.

1. Describe the overall purpose of the program and identify the specific wrap-around services to be implemented to promote the academic and social success of participating students.

2. Describe the goals of the program and how those goals align with providing wrap-around services for participating students.

3. Detail the services to be provided, including who will provide the services, the credentials of such service providers, where the services will be provided, and how the services will be implemented. As part of your response, identify the specific need to be addressed, how the program will address that need, anticipated challenges, how any such challenges will be addressed, a timeline for implementation, and a description of the implementation plan.

4. Describe the qualifications of the applicant to provide the specific wrap-around services through the proposed program and the qualifications and credentials of all staff providing the services.

5. Describe the strategies to be implemented to recruit and retain eligible students in the program. As part of the response, please identify the number of students expected to participate in the program and the grades of such students.

6. Describe the process to determine the academic and social needs of participating students.

7. Describe your performance metrics/assessment, monitoring plans, your strategy for adjusting, as necessary, to ensure the program achieves the expected outcomes.

ED 114 Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Form

Grantee Name:
Grant Title: Grant-In-Aid Project Title Core-CT Classification: Fund: 11000 SPID: 17053 Program: 82159 Budget Reference: Chatfield 1: 170037 Chatfield 2:
Grant Period: 7/01/26– 6/30/27 Authorized Amount: $
Code	Descriptions	Budget Amount
100	Personal Services-Salaries
200	Personal Services-Employee Benefits
300	Purchased Professional and Technical Services
400	Purchased Property Services
500	Other Purchased Services
600	Supplies
800	Other Objects
	Total:

Budget Narrative

Code	Object	AMOUNT
100	Personnel Services – Salaries: Amounts paid to both permanent and temporary grantee employees including personnel substituting for those in permanent positions. This includes gross salary for personnel services rendered while on the payroll of the grantees.
200	Personnel Services – Employee Benefits: Amounts paid by the grantee on behalf of employees; these amounts are not included in the gross salary but are in addition to that amount. Such payments are fringe benefit payments and, while not paid directly to employees, nevertheless are parts of the cost of personnel services.
300	Purchased Professional and Technical Services: Services, which by their nature can be performed only by persons or firms with specialized skills and knowledge. While a product may or may not result from the transaction, the primary reason for the purchase is the service provided. Included are the services of architects, engineers, auditors, dentists, medical doctors, lawyers, consultants, teachers, accountants, technical assistance support organizations, school management partners, etc.
400	Purchased Property Services: Services purchased to operate, repair, maintain, and rent property owned or used by the grantee. Persons other than grantee employees perform these services. While a product may or may not result from the transaction, the primary reason for the purchase is the service provided.
500	Other Purchased Services: Amounts paid for services rendered by organizations or personnel not on the payroll of the grantee (separate from Professional and Technical Services or Property Services). While a product may or may not result from the transaction, the primary reason for the purchase is the service provided.
600	Supplies: Amounts paid for items that are consumed, worn out, or deteriorated through use; or items that lose their identity through fabrication or incorporation into different or more complex units or substances.
800	Other Objects: (Miscellaneous Expenditures) Expenditures for goods or services not properly classified in one of the above objects. Included in the category could be expenditures for dues and fees, judgments against a grantee that are not covered by liability insurance, and interest payments on bonds and notes.
	Total Amount

Standard Statement of Assurances for Grant Programs

Connecticut State Department of Education

Project Title:
Applicant:

The Applicant hereby assures the Connecticut State Department of Education that:

A. The applicant has the necessary legal authority to apply for and receive the proposed grant.

B. The filing of this application has been authorized by the applicant's governing body, and the undersigned official has been duly authorized to file this application for and on behalf of said applicant, and otherwise to act as the authorized representative of the applicant in connection with this application.

C. The activities and services for which assistance is sought under this grant will be administered by or under the supervision and control of the applicant.

D. The project will be operated in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and in compliance with regulations and other policies and administrative directives of the State Board of Education and the Connecticut State Department of Education.

E. Grant funds shall not be used to supplant funds normally budgeted by the agency.

F. Fiscal control and accounting procedures will be used to ensure proper disbursement of all funds awarded.

G. The applicant will submit a final project report (within 60 days of the project completion) and such other reports, as specified, to the Connecticut State Department of Education, including information relating to the project records and access thereto as the Connecticut State Department of Education may find necessary.

H. The Connecticut State Department of Education reserves the exclusive right to use and grant the right to use and/or publish any part or parts of any summaries, abstracts, reports, publications, records and materials resulting from this project and this grant.

I. If the project achieves the specified objectives, every reasonable effort will be made to continue the project and/or implement the results after the termination of state/federal funding.

J. The applicant will protect and save harmless the State Board of Education from financial loss and expense, including legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any breach of the duties, in whole or part, described in the application for the grant.

K. At the conclusion of each grant period, the applicant will provide for an independent audit report acceptable to the grantor in accordance with Sections 7-394a and 7-396a of the C.G.S., and the applicant shall return to the Connecticut State Department of Education any moneys not expended in accordance with the approved program/operation budget as determined by the audit.

L. Nondiscrimination

a) For purposes of this Section, the following terms are defined as follows:

i. "Commission" means the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities;

ii. "Contract" and “contract” include any extension or modification of the Contract or contract;

iii. "Contractor" and “contractor” include any successors or assigns of the Contractor or contractor;

iv. "Gender identity or expression" means a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth, which gender-related identity can be shown by providing evidence including, but not limited to, medical history, care or treatment of the gender-related identity, consistent and uniform assertion of the gender-related identity or any other evidence that the gender-related identity is sincerely held, part of a person's core identity or not being asserted for an improper purpose;

v. “good faith" means that degree of diligence which a reasonable person would exercise in the performance of legal duties and obligations;

vi. "good faith efforts" includes, but is not limited to, those reasonable initial efforts necessary to comply with statutory or regulatory requirements and additional or substituted efforts when it is determined that such initial efforts will not be sufficient to comply with such requirements;

vii. "marital status" means being single, married as recognized by the state of Connecticut, widowed, separated or divorced;

viii. "mental disability" means one or more mental disorders, as defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders", or a record of or regarding a person as having one or more such disorders;

ix. "minority business enterprise" means any small contractor (1) fifty-one per cent or more of the capital stock, if any, or assets of which are owned by a person or persons who (a) exercise operational authority over the daily affairs of the enterprise, (b) have the power to direct the management and policies and receive the beneficial interest of the enterprise, (c) possess managerial and technical competence and experience directly related to the principal business activities of the enterprise, and (d) are members of a minority, as defined in C.G.S. § 32-9n, or are individuals with a disability, or (2) which is a nonprofit corporation in which fifty-one per cent or more of the persons who exercise operational authority over the enterprise, (a) possess managerial and technical competence and experience directly related to the principal business activities of the enterprise, (b) have the power to direct the management and policies of the enterprise, and (c) are member of a minority, as defined in C.G.S. § 32-9n, or are individuals with a disability; and

x. "public works contract" means any agreement (A) for construction, rehabilitation, conversion, extension, demolition or repair of changes or improvements in real property, and (B) that is financed in whole or in part by the state, including, but not limited to, matching expenditures, grants, loans, insurance or guarantees where such funding equals one hundred fifty thousand dollars or more.

For purposes of this Section, the terms “Contract” and “contract” do not include a contract where each contractor is (1) a political subdivision of the state, including, but not limited to, a municipality, unless the contract is a public works contract, (2) any other state, including but not limited to any federally recognized Indian tribal governments, as defined in C.G.S. § 1-267, (3) the federal government, (4) a foreign government, or (5) an agency of a subdivision, state or government described in the immediately preceding enumerated items (1), (2), (3),or (4).

b) The Contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the Contract such Contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination against any person or group of persons on the grounds of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by such Contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States or of the State of Connecticut; and the Contractor further agrees to take affirmative action to ensure that applicants with job-related qualifications are employed and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by the Contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved; (2) the Contractor agrees, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the Contractor, to state that it is an "affirmative action equal opportunity employer" in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission; (3) the Contractor agrees to provide each labor union or representative of workers with which the Contractor has a collective bargaining Agreement or other contract or understanding and each vendor with which the Contractor has a contract or understanding, a notice to be provided by the Commission, advising the labor union or workers’ representative of the Contractor's commitments under this Section and to post copies of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for employment; (4) the Contractor agrees to comply with each provision of this Section and Connecticut General Statutes §§ 46a-68e and 46a-68f and with each regulation or relevant order issued by said Commission pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes §§ 46a-56, 46a-68e, 46a-68f and 46a-86; and (5) the Contractor agrees to provide the Commission with such information requested by the Commission, and permit access to pertinent books, records and accounts, concerning the employment practices and procedures of the Contractor as relate to the provisions of this Section and Connecticut General Statutes § 46a-56. If the contract is a public works contract, the Contractor agrees and warrants that he or she will make good faith efforts to employ minority business enterprises as subcontractors and suppliers of materials on such public works projects.

c) Determination of the Contractor's good faith efforts shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following factors: The Contractor's employment and subcontracting policies, patterns and practices; the timing and value of bids; affirmative advertising, recruitment and training; technical assistance activities and such other reasonable activities or efforts as the Commission may prescribe that are designed to ensure the participation of minority business enterprises in public works projects.

d) The Contractor shall develop and maintain adequate documentation, in a manner prescribed by the Commission, of its good faith efforts.

e) The Contractor shall include the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section in every subcontract or purchase order entered into in order to fulfill any obligation of a contract with the State, and in every subcontract entered into in order to fulfill any obligation of a public works contract, and such provisions shall be binding on a subcontractor, vendor or manufacturer unless exempted by regulations or orders of the Commission. The Contractor shall take such action with respect to any such subcontract or purchase order as the Commission may direct as a means of enforcing such provisions, including sanctions for noncompliance in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes § 46a-56; provided, if such Contractor becomes involved in, or is threatened with, litigation with a subcontractor or vendor as a result of such direction by the Commission, the Contractor may request the State of Connecticut to enter into any such litigation or negotiation prior thereto to protect the interests of the State and the State may so enter.

f) The Contractor agrees to comply with the regulations referred to in this Section as they exist on the date of this Contract and as they may be adopted or amended from time to time during the term of this Contract and any amendments thereto.

g) Pursuant to subsection (c) of section 4a-60 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Contractor, for itself and its authorized signatory of this Contract, affirms that it understands the obligations of this Section and that it will maintain a policy for the duration of the Contract to assure that the Contract will be performed in compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of such section. The Contractor and its authorized signatory of this Contract demonstrate their understanding of this obligation by (A) having provided an affirmative response in the required online bid or response to a proposal question which asks if the contractor understands its obligations under such sections, (B) signing this Contract, or (C) initialing this nondiscrimination affirmation in the following box:

M. The grant award is subject to approval of the Connecticut State Department of Education and availability of state or federal funds.

N. The applicant agrees and warrants that Sections 4-190 to 4-197, inclusive, of the C.G.S. concerning the Personal Data Act and Sections 10-4-8 to 10-4-10, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies promulgated there under are hereby incorporated by reference.

I, the undersigned authorized official, hereby certify that these assurances shall be fully implemented.

Signature of Authorized Official:
Name: (typed)
Title: (typed)
Date:

Attachment A

Applicant Support Form

Grant Application Grant Year 2026-2027

Grant-In-Aid

Participating district in support of Applicant

(Please make copies as necessary)

Name of Applicant District/Agency
Project Title
Name of Participating School District in Support of Applicant
Signature of Superintendent /Director acknowledging participation

Attachment B

Sample Scoring Rubric

Applicant Name
Reviewer Name (Printed)
Reviewer (Signature)
Date Reviewed

Points Summary

Sections	Reviewer’s Score	Maximum Points
Purpose of the Program		20
Goals of the Program		20
Eligible Students Participation		10
Academic and Social Needs of Students		20
Performance Assessment		20
Qualifications of applicants to provide Service		10
Program Cost		10
TOTAL Points		110

Total Score (maximum 110 points)

Purpose of the Program

Criteria: The application clearly describes the purpose of the program and identifies meaningful wrap-around services to support the academic and social development of students in the Open Choice Program.

Excellent 20 points (well-conceived and thoroughly developed)	Good 10 points (clear and concise)	Fair 5 points (requires additional information)	Weak 1 point (lacks sufficient information)	Inadequate 0 points (information not provided)

Total (Maximum 20 Points) =

Comments:

Goals of the Program

Criteria: The application clearly describes the goals of the program and how those goals meet the intent of the legislation.

Excellent 20 points (well-conceived and thoroughly developed)

Good 10 points (clear and complete)

Fair 5 points (requires additional information)

Weak 1 point (lacks sufficient information)

...