(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, interdistrict magnet schools that begin operations on or after July 1, 2008, pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O’Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, may operate without district participation agreements and enroll students from any district through a lottery designated by the commissioner.

(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter, any tuition charged to a local or regional board of education by a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O’Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, for any student enrolled in kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, in such interdistrict magnet school shall be in an amount equal to the difference between (1) the average per pupil expenditure of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (2) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of § 10-264l, plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. If any such board of education fails to pay such tuition, the commissioner may withhold from such board’s town or towns a sum payable under § 10-262i in an amount not to exceed the amount of the unpaid tuition to the magnet school and pay such money to the fiscal agent for the magnet school as a supplementary grant for the operation of the interdistrict magnet school program. In no case shall the sum of such tuitions exceed the difference between (A) the total expenditures of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (B) the total per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of § 10-264l, plus any revenue from other sources. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive review of the operating budget of a magnet school to verify such tuition rate.

(c) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O’Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, and offering a preschool program shall not charge tuition for a child enrolled in such preschool program.

(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O’Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, and offering a preschool program may charge tuition to the Department of Education for a child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount not to exceed an amount equal to the difference between (A) the average per pupil expenditure of the preschool program offered at the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (B) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of § 10-264l, plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive review of the operating budget of any such magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate.

(3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O’Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, and offering a preschool program may charge tuition to the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount that is in accordance with the sliding tuition scale adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to § 10-264p. The Department of Education shall be financially responsible for any unpaid portion of the tuition not charged to such parent or guardian under such sliding tuition scale. Such tuition shall not exceed an amount equal to the difference between (A) the average per pupil expenditure of the preschool program offered at the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (B) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of § 10-264l, plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive review of the operating budget of any such magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate.

(4) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year thereafter, a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school assisting the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O’Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, and offering a preschool program shall charge tuition to the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount up to four thousand fifty-three dollars, except such regional educational service center shall not charge tuition to such parent or guardian with a family income at or below seventy-five per cent of the state median income. The Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, be financially responsible for any unpaid tuition charged to such parent or guardian with a family income at or below seventy-five per cent of the state median income. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive financial review of the operating budget of any such magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate.