Category: Projects2

Magnet Schools1

Magnet Schools are another approach within the inter-district path. However, Magnet schools are different from Charter Schools, “in that they remain part of the public school system bureaucratically. Charter Schools have a different organizational model (i.e. they have a charter that releases them from the regular school administration). Magnet schools operate under the same public school administration (they don’t operate on their own).” ²

The hope of Magnet Schools is to attract students from all over to create diverse learning spaces. Accord to Magnet Schools of America, the mission of these schools is to, “provide leadership for innovative instructional programs that promote equity, diversity, and academic excellence for all students in public school choice programs.”  Often Magnet Schools pride themselves on smaller class size and thematic curriculums.
Hartford has two types of Magnet Schools: Host and CREC. Host Magnet Schools are run by the Hartford Public School System and CREC, the Capitol Region Education Council.
Regardless of which type of Magnet School, there is an application process beginning in mid-October. Before applying, it is important for a parent to explore the different magnet schools3 because many of them have focused “themes.” Any resident of Connecticut can apply to a Magnet School. All families apply by filling out a Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) common application and will rank their top five school choices. Then through a lottery system and taking into consideration Sheff school integration requirements, students are placed in schools. In addition, “The selection is based on 50% Hartford enrollment and 50% Greater Hartford (suburban) enrollment”⁴ Research5 on these Magnet Schools has shown great benefits for students from Hartford and the suburbs.

Charter Schools1

As one of the options within the Interdistrict school track, charter schools are public, non-profit school systems that are not run by the “local or regional board of education.”² Charter schools are giving students better options to attend public schools with independence from the individual area school boards.  Also, similar to the magnet schools and open choice program in the area, Charter schools want to decrease racial, ethnic, and cultural separation in Hartford public schools.  Charter schools also aim to provide new and creative ways of educating students.  The Connecticut State Department of Education has a brochure3 that includes some frequently asked questions regarding charter schools, as well as a comprehensive list of all of the charter schools in the area.
Charter school choice has the same application and lottery process as Open Choice does.  The family fills out an application for the student who wishes to attend a Hartford charter school, and they are placed in a lottery.  If the student’s number is chosen, they are able to choose which charter school they wish to go to.  If their number is not called, parents must fill out a new application for the next school year and try again. The application for the Charter schools4 is a much larger document with step-by-step instructions of how to follow the process.
The Charter schools have some limitations with applicant numbers that could potentially affect whether or not a student gets into the lottery.  For example, “No state charter school may enroll more than 250 students or 25 percent of the enrollment of the school district in which the state charter school is to be located, whichever is less, except in the case of a kindergarten to eighth-grade school, which may enroll up to 300 students.”⁵ According to this same document, transportation is provided to students by the local district’s board of education.  For example, if a student lives in Avon but applies to a Charter school in Hartford, the Hartford public school district is responsible for busing that student to and from school everyday at no cost to the family.  The Charter schools are a great choice for families and students who are looking to achieve a new and more independent outlook on teaching and education.

Open Choice1
This part of the choice program in Hartford focuses specifically on racially integrating schools in the city of Hartford as well as the suburbs.  To begin research on the way Open Choice works in Connecticut, the brochure that the Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) offers2 helps parents start the application process.
The way it works is that for no extra cost to the families, students have the ability to go to a city public school in Hartford if they live in the suburbs, and students that live in the city are able to go to suburban public schools as well.  Transportation is available to get the students to a location that is generally further away from their homes than their local school, and the program has been successful in providing opportunities for participating students to continue on to four-year colleges.  All children in the Hartford Public School district are able to take advantage of the Open Choice program; “currently,over 1,300 Hartford Open Choice students attend school in 28 suburban districts.”
If you are a parent living in a Hartford suburb and you want your child to attend one of the many Hartford Public schools within the city, you need to download the application form3 and fill it out according to where you live, and where you want your child to go to school.  Once the application is completed, it can be submitted to the RSCO and the student’s name is placed in a lottery.  If their lottery number is chosen, the student will have their choice of public schools in the city and suburbs of Hartford.  If the student is not chosen, they will be placed on a wait list until room opens up.  If the student’s lottery number is not chosen, the RSCO urges families to re-apply to the Open Choice program every year.