A Hartford judge has given preliminary approval for a final
deal to end a 33-year-old segregation case regarding Hartford schools.
In 1989, the Sheff vs. O'Neill accused Hartford schools of
being overly segregated. Seven years later, the Connecticut Supreme Court
agreed. That ruling led to the Open Choice program that also lets Bridgeport
and New Haven students attend suburban schools.
Since then, the case has been
regularly litigated as Hartford parents complained the state did too little to
address racial inequities.
Thursday's settlement would end direct court oversight. It also
means a massive expansion of the magnet school programs and Open Choice in
Hartford.
State lawmakers will need to approve the settlement before it goes back to the judge for final approval.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SETTLEMENT FROM GOV. NED LAMONT'S OFFICE:
- To the
extent necessary to meet demand for Choice seats by Hartford students, the
State will increase available Choice seats over the number of available
seats in 2020-21 by up to 783 seats by 23-24, up to 1,863 seats by 25-26,
and up to 2,737 seats by 28-29.
- By
2025-26, the state expects to meet entry grade demand for Hartford
students for Choice schools operated by Hartford and others.
- By
2028-29, the state expects to meet demand for Hartford students for all
grades in Choice schools.
- The
state will continue to make ongoing adjustments to continue to meet demand
as it changes over the years, with continuing measurable assessments of
demand in 2031-32 and every three years thereafter.
- Ongoing
court jurisdiction will end with the approval of this agreement. The
state will be subject to an injunction for 10 years requiring its
continued compliance with the material terms of the agreement, but there
will no ongoing court involvement unless there is a claim of material
noncompliance.
- State
funding will include the costs of all additional seats identified above,
to the extent needed to meet demand. In addition to added seats at
existing Choice magnet schools, the State will provide financial
incentives for suburban Open Choice schools to accept additional Hartford
students up to a goal of 450 new seats over existing Open Choice
seats. Open Choice is a voluntary program that enables Hartford
students to attend suburban schools, and for suburban students to attend
Hartford schools.
- In
addition, new or expanded programs include the following:
- a dual
language magnet at Dwight-Bellizzi School in Hartford, beginning with PK4
and phasing-in through 8th grade year-by-year.
- a new
Goodwin University early literacy preschool Choice program in a renovated
building in Rocky Hill.
- a new
Goodwin University technical high school magnet, focused on advanced
manufacturing, in a renovated building on the Goodwin property for
9th-12th grade students.
- addition
of early college programming at Connecticut IB (International
Baccalaureate) Academy in East Hartford with expansion to capacity.
- retheming
and expansion of Two Rivers and Civic Leadership magnet schools to focus
on computer programming and coding with partnerships with Amazon and
Microsoft.
- implementation
of a half day program at Goodwin University for Hartford and suburban
students for Early College Advanced Manufacturing Pathway™ (ECAMP™) model
to expand opportunities for dual-credit programming.
- expansion
of pre-k programs in existing magnet schools.
Because
certain current Choice schools are not presently meeting diversity and reduced
racial isolation goals, the agreement also provides for $12.6 million to
operators over 3 years, beginning in FY23, to reformulate those schools to make
them sufficiently attractive to appeal to a more diverse student body.
Among
other things, those efforts will include:
- $6.8
million to provide or increase athletics at magnets.
- $7.8
million for enhanced extracurricular offerings at magnets.
- Continuing
audits and enhancements for schools that are not yet meeting diversity
goals.
- Additional
financial and other supports to help all Open Choice and magnet schools
become more welcoming and inclusive to all students.