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SMC Updates < Back April 2018 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: SMC Offices - 75 Charter Oak Ave. 06106 When: April 21, 2018 at 2:00:00 PM Previous Next

We'll be discussing the Hartford Region Open Choice Program. < Back February 2022 Meeting Who: Featured Guest: Renita G. Ezell What: We'll be discussing the Hartford Region Open Choice Program. Where: Virtual: Via Zoom When: February 19, 2022 at 3:00:00 PM Renita Ezell, a Project Concern/Open Choice alumnus and Open Choice employee for eighteen years, will present the program. There will be an opportunity for questions and answers. The meeting will be held virtually on Saturday, Feb 19 from 10-11:30 am (Onboading will start at 9:45) Meeting Agenda Welcome Introduction of Speaker: Patti Beckett Presentation on Open Choice: Renita G. Ezell Sheff Agreement Update Sheff Movement Update Download Meeting Materials Hartford Region Open Choice Program .pdf Download PDF • 2.15MB Previous Next

2023 State Legislative Session: Education Advocacy at the CT State Legislature < Back January 2023 Meeting Who: Erika Haynes, Director of Community Engagement What: 2023 State Legislative Session: Education Advocacy at the CT State Legislature Where: Virtual: Via Zoom When: January 21, 2023 at 2:00:00 PM Meeting Agenda Welcome Introduction to Speaker School & State Finance Project - Erika Haynes, Director of Community Engagement Sheff Movement Updates Download Meeting Material 2023 Proposed Legislation Related to Education State and School Finance 012123 .pptx Download PPTX • 3.12MB Student-Centered Funding State and School Finance Presentation 012123 .pptx Download PPTX • 275KB Previous Next

SMC Updates < Back December 2015 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: Breakthrough North - 395 Lyme Street Hartford, CT 06112 When: December 19, 2015 at 3:00:00 PM Previous Next

SMC Updates < Back January 2018 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: SMC Offices - 75 Charter Oak Ave. 06106 When: January 20, 2018 at 3:00:00 PM Previous Next

SMC Updates < Back November 2014 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: Environmental Science Magnet School at Mary Hooker - 440 Broadview Terrace in Hartford When: November 15, 2014 at 3:00:00 PM Join us for a light lunch, following the School Choice Fair at A.I. Prince Tech. The Environmental Science Magnet School at Mary Hooker is located at 440 Broadview Terrace in Hartford. RSVP here to help us get an accurate count for lunch. Previous Next

SMC Updates < Back April 2009 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: Hartford City Hall, Council Chambers When: April 11, 2009 at 1:30:00 PM Previous Next

SMC Updates < Back April 2016 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: SMC Offices - 75 Charter Oak Ave. 06106 When: April 16, 2016 at 2:00:00 PM Previous Next

Acerca de Youth Organizing and Leadership Initiatives The Sheff Movement Coalition has been involved in a multi-year initiative to broaden community engagement and organizing in its decades-long effort to make quality integrated education available for all children. School-Based Advocacy Teams (SBATs) School Based Advocacy Teams (SBATs) lay the groundwork for raising awareness and strengthening crucial alliances for quality integrated education. SBATs center the voices of those most impacted by the effects of unequal educational opportunities and the efforts for integration - addressing how this inequality affects all aspects of their lives in and out of school. School Based Advocacy Teams (SBATs) are working groups of parents, educators, and students that develop skills and resources to improve school climate and advocate for the needs of their school communities and the wider system. Each SBAT team is designed and led by students, parents, and staff at each school. Current SBAT Highlights: -Students at Farmington High School (FHS) were invited speakers at SMC July public meeting. They shared about their annual Social Justice Week initiative which is in its 7th year and the ongoing work of FHS students to raise awareness and solidarity among students and to provide spaces for dialogue and learning for students as well as teachers and staff. The SMC organizing team will continue working with the FHS team this year, while also branching out to work with students at Irving A. Robbins Middle School. -This summer, eight rising seniors at Capital Preparatory Magnet School participated in a four-week summer internship with the Coalition. These students engaged in activities and discussions oriented around the core themes of the SBAT program: -History of Sheff v O’Neill and the movement for quality integrated education. -Sheff Movement vision and values -Civil rights and social justice -Public education in the U.S., Connecticut, and your town and school -Anti-racist organizing, activism, and advocacy -Leadership The students also contributed to developing core SBAT activities and resources. The SMC organizing team will continue to meet with students at Capital Prep this academic year, further developing this work and supporting them with their amazing senior social justice projects. -New SBAT teams are in the process of being launched at several Hartford and Goodwin University magnet schools , while others are reinvigorating their work after the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay tuned for updates on these coming soon! Community-Based Advocacy Teams (CBATs) Building on the success of the SBATs, the Sheff Movement Coalition is now engaging with students, educators, caregivers, community leaders and others through important community organizations, such as Ebony Horsewomen and the Center for Latino Progress, to create Community-based Advocacy Teams (CBATs). Read more about CBATs here. Current CBAT Highlights: The Coalition is honored to welcome our first two community partners in the CBAT initiative: Ebony Horsewomen (EHI) “is a one-of-a-kind, urban riding center in Hartford Connecticut. Since 1984, [they’ve] served our community’s youth, families, adults, and military veterans through equine-assisted psychotherapy, therapeutic riding, and a variety of youth programs “ https://ebonyhorsewomen.org/. Center for Latino Progress (CPRF) (previously known as the CT Puerto Rican Forum) has a mission “to advance the socio-economic conditions of the community at large, with emphasis on Hispanics through education, training, supportive services, leadership development and advocacy” https://ctprf.org/. Students at each organization have started the process of engaging in activities and discussions oriented around the themes of the CBAT initiative with our organizing team. Stay tuned for more updates soon!

SMC Updates < Back January 2015 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: Journalism and Media Academy - 150 Tower Ave. Hartford, CT 06120 When: January 17, 2015 at 3:00:00 PM Our January meeting will be held at Journalism and Media Academy (150 Tower Avenue, Hartford, CT 06120). We’re excited to be at JMA as we provide updates about our developing collaboration with Reel Youth Hartford Film Festival. Come learn a bit about the innovative programs at this Hartford magnet school, hear updates about our ongoing advocacy and outreach efforts, and participate in final preparations for this year’s legislative session. We hope to see you there! Bring Potential Partners to the Table Know of someone who might be interested in the Social Justice Award we’re sponsoring as part of the Reel Youth Hartford Film Festival? Forward this email to them and invite them to join us on January 17th. Previous Next

SCHOOL INTEGRATION IN CT Approximately 19,000 students participate in our region’s school integration programs, which have been developed in response to Sheff v. O’Neill . Students in Greater Hartford have the opportunity to participate in many different types of integration programs, including: interdistrict magnet schools, Open Choice, reverse choice, vocational-technical high schools, and the interdistrict cooperative grant programs. INTERDISTRICT/REGIONAL MAGNET SCHOOLS See a listing of Greater Hartford’s interdistrict magnet schools here . Interdistrict magnet schools in Greater Hartford are part of the public education system, but generally offer a specialized theme or focus and are designed to meet Sheff v O’Neill integration goals. Most are built with state support and admission is by lottery. Magnet schools offer an academic focus or theme that may suit your child’s interests and talents. Magnet schools also offer improved academic achievement; diverse student body; higher attendance rates, graduation rates, and lower drop-out rates; and greater parental involvement. The regional magnet schools offer a far more racially and economically integrated student body than most non-magnet public schools in the region. Our magnet schools promote economic integration, which has a positive impact on student outcomes. Nearly 17,000 students in Greater Hartford attended Sheff magnet schools during the 2013-2014 school year. In Greater Hartford, there are a few different magnet school providers. There are 21 Hartford host magnet schools, 19 CREC magnet schools, 2 magnet schools operated by LEARN/Goodwin College , 2 magnet schools operated by Bloomfield Public Schools, and 1 magnet school operated by East Hartford. >> If you want to learn more about magnet schools, the Magnet Schools of America website is a helpful resource. HARTFORD REGION OPEN CHOICE PROGRAM The Open Choice program offers public school students in Hartford the opportunity to attend non-magnet public schools in suburban towns. Open Choice increases diversity in area towns and for participating Hartford students. Currently, 25 school districts in Greater Hartford voluntarily participate in the Open Choice program, which is managed by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC). In 2013-2014, about 2,000 students participated in Open Choice. This program (known first as “Project Concern”) has been operating since 1966; its name later changed to “Project Choice” and is now called “Open Choice.” >>Learn more about Open Choice REVERSE CHOICE Through a policy known as “reverse choice,” public school students in suburban communities can apply to attend non-magnet public schools in Hartford. INTERDISTRICT COOPERATIVE GRANT PROGRAMS (IDCGs) The Interdistrict Cooperative Grant (IDCG) Program is a competitive grant program that provides funding for programs that increase student achievement and reduce racial, ethnic, and economic isolation. The IDCG program is administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 10—74d. THE SHEFF INTEGRATION STANDARD An integrated school, under Sheff standards, is a school with at least 25% white and/or Asian enrollment. Because lottery selection is not based on individual students’ race, this integration goal has also led to strong levels of economic integration in the magnet schools. LEARN MORE You can learn more about these options by attending a school fair or contacting the Regional School Choice Office. Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) Parent Information Center 165 Capitol Avenue, Room 270 Hartford, CT 06106 860-713-6990 To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

SMC Updates < Back October 2017 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: SMC Offices - 75 Charter Oak Ave. 06106 When: October 28, 2017 at 2:00:00 PM Previous Next