I am interested in receiving from any District that acquired the Eureka math program the name of a contact person that the Principal of Fields Memorial School in Bozrah can contact.

Thank you,

John J. Welch, Ed.D
Superintendent
Bozrah Board of Education
(860) 887-2561

CAPSS' members, please forward the following two flyers regarding Quinnipac University's Educational Leadership Information Sessions to all your faculty:

Master of Science Teacher Leadership

Educational Leadership Sixth-Year Diploma

New Resource Highlights and Provides Promising Practices, Proven Models by Districts for Districts

(Hartford, CT) - The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) today launched its new Learn Together, Grow Together CT initiative, which will highlight districts addressing common issues and problems through innovative approaches, ideas and strategies that are producing successful outcomes. Learn Together, Grow Together CT will also promote these promising practices in district profiles inventoried on the CSDE website so that other district leaders and educators can connect with fellow districts and borrow, adapt and put to use these proven models in their own districts and schools. The initiative is part of Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona’s major points of focus to leverage the collective capacity and resources already in place around the state in order to better facilitate collaboration around common goals.
 
“Across the state districts large and small are dealing many of the same issues and challenges that have already been successfully overcome in another Connecticut district. A priority of CSDE is to focus on and share strategies that we know are working. If we can learn from each other and grow together, then we can leverage our collective capacity statewide to address some of the most prevalent hurdles facing us as educators,” said Commissioner Cardona. “This initiative supports our efforts to do a better job of creating lines of communication and sharing best practices to accelerate the most important aspect of everything we do: improving achievement, closing gaps and preparing all of our students for bright and promising futures.”
 
Learn Together, Grow Together CT consists of a social media campaign and dedicated page on CSDE’s website with an inventory of district profiles on promising practices they have implemented as well as the results that have been yielded. Learn Together, Grow Together CTwill identify and promote the most exceptional strategies and encourage districts to connect with their counterparts around the state to learn what impact these approaches are having on the success of students, educators and district operations. Districts can share with CSDE their own promising practices to be highlighted by following CSDE on Facebook and Twitter then tagging @ctdepartmentofeducation in posts and Tweeting at @EducateCT. Posts and Tweets should include the hashtag #LearnGrowCT.
 
The first installment of Learn Together, Grow Together CT will feature with two topic areas: Chronic Absenteeism and Student Attendance; and, College and Career Readiness (“CCR 2.0”). Those profiles include:

• Thomaston - District Attendance Review Board (DARB): Four years ago, Thomaston implemented its DARB as part of a tiered attendance protocol to address chronic absenteeism and improve student attendance. The DARB’s members – which include at least one administrator, social worker/guidance counselor from each building, nurse and representatives from community agencies – attempt to build positive relationships with and become a partner to students and families who are or are on track to becoming chronically absent or truant. The DARB provides an alternative option that has led to a decrease in chronic absenteeism through improved family engagement and communication with parents/guardians.   
• Bristol, Enfield and Middletown - College and Career Readiness (CCR): these districts’ practices around CCR are being highlighted for their improvements over the past several years, especially among students from low-income families. These districts are supporting innovative approaches by their educators including:
  • broadening the criteria for recommending students for rigorous courses like Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or dual enrollment;
  • modifying school schedules to allow for deeper and flexible learning options;
  • providing dedicated career counseling services; and
  • making continuous improvements to their partnerships with colleges and employers.
• Bristol is articulating more of its courses with the UCONN Early College Experience (ECE) program and offering Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway courses through Tunxis Community College.
• Enfield has a strong partnership with Asnuntuck Community College to offer programs in advanced manufacturing. They also collaborate with employers including 3M, Bushnell, VOYA, Real Art Ways, and NBC around job shadowing, skill development, and field trip opportunities.
• Middletown is significantly increasing access to AP and ECE courses by broadening the criteria for selecting students. Teachers and staff are asked to consider not only academic readiness, but also other factors like grit and perseverance.

These districts’ strategies, as well as those happening in districts across the state, have propelled Connecticut to become the state with the third highest growth among students eligible for free-or-reduced price meals with respect to participation in the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) program. AP participation among those students has increased by 64 percent from 3,372 students in 2015 to 5,533 students in 2019.  To support this trend, the CSDE will continue to pay the remainder of fees not covered by the College Board for low-income students to take AP exams; a similar approach is being considered for the IB program as well.
 
A vital component for the success of any district innovation is the commitment of the respective local board of education to provide the supports necessary so all students can achieve to their fullest potential. For more detailed insights into these promising practices, please visit Learn Together, Grow Together CT.

Peter A. Yazbak
Director of Communications
Connecticut State Department of Education
O: 860-713-6528
M: 860-471-3518

TO: Connecticut Superintendents of Schools and CT Police Chiefs

RE: Carl Moller Scholarship - For Connecticut High School Students interested in a Law Enforcement Career

At the April 2020 CPCA EXPO, the Connecticut Police Foundation will award $1,000 college scholarships to two deserving high school students in Connecticut who want to pursue a career in law enforcement.

We would like you to participate actively in the process of selecting the winners. We are asking you to:

1. Announce the scholarship program in your police department and in your school district.
2. Post details of the scholarship program on your department or school bulletin board or email to members of your department. The information can be downloaded from the CPCA website, www.cpcanet.org.
3. Police Chiefs - Collect, review, and evaluate scholarship applications from the students in your town, evaluate them, and recommend the most deserving applicant (one only) from your jurisdiction.
4. Forward the application you select to the Awards Committee by February 15, 2020 for final determination of the 2020 scholarship winners by the Connecticut Police Foundation Carl Moller Scholarship Committee.

In recommending high school students from your jurisdiction you should consider financial need and the candidate's dedication to a career in law enforcement. Applications cannot be accepted without the written recommendation of the Police Chief in the town where the student lives or attends high school.

To provide general information about the scholarship for you we are attaching general information, an application form, and a financial aid form. Please duplicate these forms to make them available to interested students.

Remember: The application of your nominee with your recommendation and signature must be submitted before February 15, 2020. Thank you for your help.

Pamela D. Hayes
Executive Director
Connecticut Police Chiefs Association
365 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 1A
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Phone: 860-757-3909
Fax: 860-436-6054
Cell: 860-478-7571
phayes@cpcanet.org

SCHOLARSHIP DOCUMENTS