Search Results

Team presentation by Farmington High School's Social Justice Club. < Back July 2022 Meeting Who: What: Team presentation by Farmington High School's Social Justice Club. Where: Virtual: Via Zoom When: July 16, 2022 at 2:00:00 PM Meeting Agenda Welcome Brief presentation on SBATs Introduction of speakers Farmington High School Social Justice Club presentation Announcements and closing Download Meeting Material Social Justice & Safe Spaces at FHS .pdf Download PDF • 8.18MB July Public Meeting - SBAT, CBAT .pdf Download PDF • 121KB Previous Next

We'll discuss Sheff Movement updates and be joined by the Director of Community Engagement for the School and State Finance Project, Erika Haynes < Back May 2022 Meeting Who: Speaker: Erika Haynes What: We'll discuss Sheff Movement updates and be joined by the Director of Community Engagement for the School and State Finance Project, Erika Haynes Where: Virtual: Via Zoom When: May 21, 2022 at 2:00:00 PM Meeting Agenda Welcome Introduction of Speaker: Erika Haynes, director of community engagement for the School and State Finance Project School and State Finance Project Sheff Movement Updates Download Meeting Materials 2022 Legislative Session Summary.pptx .pdf Download PDF • 573KB Previous Next

We will discuss the Wintonbury Early Childhood and Global Experience Magnet Schools. Plus, end of school year updates and previews of exciting work ahead for summer and 2022-2023 with our School-based and Community-based Advocacy Teams.. < Back June 2022 Meeting Who: Speakers: Principal Samantha Straker, Principal Jeff Bernabe of Bloomfield Magnet Schools What: We will discuss the Wintonbury Early Childhood and Global Experience Magnet Schools. Plus, end of school year updates and previews of exciting work ahead for summer and 2022-2023 with our School-based and Community-based Advocacy Teams.. Where: Virtual: Via Zoom When: June 18, 2022 at 2:00:00 PM Meeting Agenda: 1. Bloomfield Magnet Schools Guest Speakers: Principal Samantha Straker Wintonbury Early Childhood Magnet School (PK 3-4) Principal Jeff Bernabe Global Experience Magnet School (Grades 6-12) 2. End of school year updates and previews of exciting work ahead for summer and 2022 - 2023 with our School-based and Community-based advocacy teams, building youth voice and leadership in the movement. 3. Juneteenth Acknowledgement Download Meeting Materials GEMS - Presentation, Information Session - SMC, June. 2022.pptx .pdf Download PDF • 11.33MB Previous Next

Connecticut State Department of Education Update < Back December 2022 Meeting Who: Robin Cecere, State Department of Education What: Connecticut State Department of Education Update Where: Virtual: Via Zoom When: December 17, 2022 at 3:00:00 PM Meeting Agenda Welcome Robin Cecere, Director of School Choice Sheff Movement Updates Announcements & Closing RSVP for Meeting Here Previous Next

SMC Updates < Back July 2015 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: SMC Offices - 75 Charter Oak Ave. 06106 When: July 18, 2015 at 2:00:00 PM Previous Next

SMC Updates < Back March 2016 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: SMC Offices - 75 Charter Oak Ave. 06106 When: March 26, 2016 at 2:00:00 PM Previous Next

MEDIA COVERAGE HARTFORD COURANT April 3, 2022 UConn Law honors John Brittain, original Sheff lawyer, 33 years after school desegregation suit was filed SMC NOTES: Elizabeth Horton Sheff quoted: “Thank you for 33 years of teachable moments,” said Elizabeth Horton Sheff, lead plaintiff in the Sheff v. O’Neill case. “[Brittain] is the type of person who, if you ask him a question, he’s going to give you a lecture.” "Friends, colleagues and former students of John Brittain gathered Thursday evening at the UConn School of Law to celebrate the achievements of the longtime professor who focused closely on education and equity." Read Article by Seamus McAvoy CONNECTICUT MIRROR February 17, 2022 As CT seeks to desegregate schools, suburban districts are slow to help SMC NOTES: "This year, it was Darien’s school board rejecting a plan that would have enrolled 16 Norwalk kindergarteners throughout its elementary schools. The wealthy suburban districts surrounding Danbury decided earlier this year they wouldn’t be opening their classrooms, either." Read Article by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas WSHU PUBLIC RADIO February 3, 2022 After 33 years in the Connecticut courts, a Hartford school integration lawsuit reaches a settlement SMC NOTES: "Tom Kuser speaks with two attorneys attached to the [Sheff] case, Martha Stone, a former lead attorney in the original lawsuit and the founder and Director of the Center for Children's Advocacy at the University of Connecticut, and Scott Garosshen, a lead plaintiff’s attorney and an Associate with Horton, Dowd, Bartschi & Levesque." Listen by By Tom Kuser HARTFORD COURANT January 19, 2022 Settlement that would end 30-year Sheff v. O’Neill desegregation case promises to create space at magnet and suburban schools for all Hartford students SMC NOTES: Elizabeth Horton Sheff quoted: “Unlike in other parts of the nation, the end of court oversight is not going to mean a rollback of all the gains we have made in these 30 years.” "A Hartford Superior Court judge granted preliminary approval Thursday to a sweeping agreement that would create spaces at magnet and suburban schools for all Hartford students who want them and bring an end to the Sheff v. O’Neill case." Read Article by Seamus McAvoy CT PUBLIC RADIO October 23, 2018 With Sheff Back in Court, A Look At School Integration In Hartford SMC NOTES: Featuring Interim Executive Director Rachel (Gary) Martin, along with Jacqueline Rabe Thomas and LaShawn Robinson "In the 1996 landmark Sheff v. O’Neill case, the Connecticut Supreme Court found that minority students in Hartford's public schools 'suffered daily' due to racial and economic segregation." Listen & Read by Lucy Nalpathanchil and Carmen Baskauf HARTFORD COURANT May 30, 2014 Being Milo Sheff Was Worth It: 25 Years After Sheff v. O’Neill Desegregation Case, Lead Plaintiff Reflects On What He Helped Accomplish — And What He Learned Along The Way SMC NOTES: "We need the essence of Sheff v. O’Neill now, more than ever — the meaning, the schools, the teachers and parents who care, interactions with respect and courtesy between children and families of all races, tongues and ages. As a nation, we need this." Read Op-Ed by Milo Sheff

About the Case ABOUT THE CASE In 1989, when her son, Milo, was a fourth grade student at Annie Fisher Elementary School in Hartford, Elizabeth Horton Sheff joined with ten other families and began a long and arduous journey to redress the inequity between the level of education provided to students in Hartford public schools and that available to children in surrounding suburban districts. This journey has become known around the State of Connecticut, and throughout the United States, as Sheff vs. O’Neill –a landmark civil rights effort that seeks to prepare all children to live and prosper in an increasingly diverse, globally connected world. The plaintiffs in this case continue to advocate for the State of Connecticut to uphold the constitutional rights of children in Hartford schools. The original Sheff plaintiff families were: Milo Sheff, an African-American child residing in Hartford Wildaliz, Pedro, and Eva Bermudez, Latino children residing in Hartford Oskar and Waleska Melendez, Latino children residing in Glastonbury Martin Hamilton, an African-American child residing in Hartford Janelle Hughley, an African-American child residing in Hartford Neiima Best, an African-American child residing in Hartford Lisa Laboy, a Latino child residing in Hartford David and Michael Harrington, white children residing in Hartford Rachel and Joseph Leach, white children residing in West Hartford Erica and Tasha Connolly, white children residing in Hartford Michael and Dawn Perez, Latino children residing in Hartford To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

SMC Updates < Back November 2015 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: Metropolitan Learning Center - 1551 Blue Hills Avenue Bloomfield, CT 06002 When: November 14, 2015 at 3:00:00 PM We’ll host November’s meeting at the Metropolitan Learning Center, the site of the Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) Fair. Click here for more information. Previous Next

Year End Meeting < Back December 2011 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: Year End Meeting Where: Hartford City Hall, Atrium When: December 3, 2011 at 3:00:00 PM Connecticut Magnets: Leading the Nation A review of the most outstanding accomplishments of our magnets – how they are closing the achievement gap, winning state and national awards for excellence, and providing thousands of children with the quality, integrated education they deserve. What will we need to do to support these schools in the next few years? Featuring: William Magnotta , President, Magnet Schools of America (Connecticut State Department of Education) Tim Sullivan , Classical Magnet School 2010 Principal of the Year, Connecticut School Association With a new governor and increasing budget crisis, 2011 will be a pivotal year for our programs. Lawmakers will need to hear from parents and supporters to continue support for interdistrict magnets and to make sure local schools have the support they need to make Project Choice accessible to more children. Please join magnet school principals and parent and community leaders to help us set the agenda for next year. Refreshments will be provided. Previous Next

SMC Updates < Back September 2017 Meeting Who: Led by SMC Staff/Leadership What: SMC Updates Where: SMC Offices - 75 Charter Oak Ave. 06106 When: September 16, 2017 at 2:00:00 PM Previous Next

SMC Updates < Back February 2012 Meeting Who: Guest: Commissioner Pryor What: SMC Updates Where: Capital Prep Magnet School - 1304 Main Street Hartford, CT 06103 When: February 18, 2012 at 3:00:00 PM Commissioner Pryor will be joining us. Previous Next