Center for Children's AdvocacyJanuary 31, 2022
On Thursday, January 27, the plaintiffs in the Sheff v. O’Neill school desegregation case announced a settlement agreement with the state which, if approved by the legislature, would create thousands of new seats for Hartford students in quality, integrated schools. The agreement would also create millions of dollars in new funding for renovations and programming at Choice schools, including funding for job training programs and after-school activities.
CCA Executive Director Martha Stone has represented the plaintiffs in the Sheff case since it was originally filed in 1989. For more information about the history and timeline of Sheff v. O’Neill, view our Sheff webpage here.
A joint statement from the Center for Children’s Advocacy and NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund (LDF) can be found here.
“This settlement would lock-in a commitment to racial and economic integration by the State of Connecticut,” said Attorney Stone. “For the first time since this case was filed, this settlement would include a guarantee that any Hartford student who wants to attend a quality integrated school or program can do so. That guarantee would be backed by funding and a plan.”
News stories on the Sheff agreement can be found below:
Details of the settlement are included below:
- The State will increase available seats in Choice schools, with incremental increases up to a total of 2,737 additional seats by the 2028-29 school year.
- By 2025-26, the state expects to meet entry grade demand for Hartford students in Choice schools, and by 2028-29 the state expects to meet demand for Hartford students in all grades. The state must re-evaluate demand for Choice schools every three years, and adjust the number of seats accordingly.
- Ongoing court jurisdiction will end with the approval of this agreement; however, if the state is found to be in non-compliance with the agreement, there is an option to return to court involvement. The threshold for compliance is meeting 95% of the total demand for Hartford students in Choice schools.
- The state will fund the costs of all additional seats, and will provide financial incentives for suburban Open Choice schools to accept additional Hartford students.
- New and expanded programs will include the following:
- A dual-language magnet at Dwight-Bellizzi School in Hartford, beginning from PK4 through 8th grade.
- A new Goodwin University early literacy preschool program in Rocky Hill.
- Additional early college programming at Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy in East Hartford.
- Retheming and expansion of Two Rivers and Civic Leadership magnet schools to focus on computer programming and coding.
- Implementation of a half-day program at Goodwin University for students to receive job training in manufacturing.
- Expansion of Pre-K programs in existing magnet schools.
- The agreement also provides for $12.6 million over 3 years to help schools appeal to a more diverse student body and meet their diversity and inclusion goals.
- $6.8 million to provide or increase athletics at magnet schools; as well as $7.8 million for extracurricular offerings at magnets.
- A year-over-year increase in magnet school funding, with commitments increasing to $32 million annually by Fiscal Year 2032.
