Towns sue over magnet school costs

Hartford, Conn. (AP) - Six Connecticut school districts are suing the state Department of Education, saying they're unfairly being charged magnet school costs they never had to cover before.

The districts dispute a new regulation charging them tuition when their local students attend part-time and pre-kindergarten programs at regional magnet schools.

They already pay full-time students' tuition, but the state and parents previously shared part-timers' costs.

The Hartford Courant reports that the districts' new lawsuit alleges Connecticut officials misinterpreted state law when they changed the funding regulation. An education department spokesman confirmed Monday that they received the lawsuit, but declined to comment because officials had not yet reviewed it.

The plaintiffs are the school boards in Newington, New Hartford, Barkhamsted and Ellington; Regional District 10, covering Burlington and Harwinton; and Regional District 16, comprised of Prospect and Beacon Falls.