Author: robertcottojr

What is the Robinson et al case and why do its supporters want to end school desegregation and civil rights policies in Connecticut?

Source: Sheff plaintiffs memo, 2018. Over the last few days, I have discussed a number of aspects of the State of Connecticut's efforts to racially desegregate schools. In short, the State uses voluntary school choice programs, such as magnet schools to create racially diverse educational settings. But over the past several years, a number of … Continue reading What is the Robinson et al case and why do its supporters want to end school desegregation and civil rights policies in Connecticut? →

How does the State of CT define a racially diverse school for the purpose of school desegregation? And what’s the confusion?

Source: Sheff memo to intervene in Robinson v. Wentzell case, 2018.   Yesterday, I provided some background on the Sheff v. O'Neill case and an introduction to how the race-blind regional school choice lottery works in the Hartford, CT region. Today, I'll focus in on the definition that the Connecticut Court uses to determine whether … Continue reading How does the State of CT define a racially diverse school for the purpose of school desegregation? And what’s the confusion? →

How does Connecticut’s Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) lottery work for placement into interdistrict magnet schools and Open Choice? A brief introduction

  Over the last several years, school desegregation as a result of the Sheff v. O'Neill case in Connecticut has been under attack from a variety of corners. In particular, the race-blind Regional School Choice (RSCO) lottery used to assign students to interdistrict magnet school and the Open Choice program has come under attack. So how … Continue reading How does Connecticut’s Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) lottery work for placement into interdistrict magnet schools and Open Choice? A brief introduction →

Broadening the Discussion About Enrollment in Hartford Region Magnet Schools: What is going on with state funding of magnet schools?

Connecticut Governor's Proposed Budget for 2018 & 2019 Source: CT Office of Policy and Management, 2017. Over the last several months, there has been an organized campaign to undermine school desegregation in Connecticut. Most recently, a lawsuit has been launched challenging desegregation standards used for enrollment in Connecticut's magnet schools. While some of the debate … Continue reading Broadening the Discussion About Enrollment in Hartford Region Magnet Schools: What is going on with state funding of magnet schools? →

Walk A Mile In Our Shoes – Milner Parents Demonstrate Walk to SAND School

Below is a summary of a parent demonstration and explanation of why Milner School parents decided on this walk. The Hartford Board of Education intends to close Milner School and force families to transfer to struggling schools in the North End such as Wish and SAND. Because transportation would not be provided for all students … Continue reading Walk A Mile In Our Shoes – Milner Parents Demonstrate Walk to SAND School →

Repackaging removal and dispossession at Hartford’s Batchelder School as “choice”

Yesterday, I wrote about parents at Montessori Magnet (and other groups) using their power with the Hartford school district to take away a school building from Batchelder parents and students. Today, the district and one of the groups associated with the effort to take Batchelder will be at the school trying to convince parents to "choose" … Continue reading Repackaging removal and dispossession at Hartford’s Batchelder School as “choice” →

In Hartford schools, which parents and students matter? A preliminary case analysis of Batchelder School and Montessori Magnet

But almost always, during the initial stage of the struggle, the oppressed, instead of striving for liberation, tend themselves to become oppressors, or “sub-oppressors.” The very structure of their thought has been conditioned by the contradictions of the concrete, existential situation by which they were shaped. Their ideal is to be men; but for them, … Continue reading In Hartford schools, which parents and students matter? A preliminary case analysis of Batchelder School and Montessori Magnet →

In Hartford, do Black and Latino teachers matter?

(Source: Edsight.ct.gov, CT SDE, 2018) This week kicked off a Black Lives Matter Movement Week of Action in Schools. A key demand was the addition of Black teachers, which has become a national discussion. As a result of school closures, the Hartford Public Schools may be going in the exact opposite direction by closing schools … Continue reading In Hartford, do Black and Latino teachers matter? →

Black Lives Matter Week of Action in Schools: More Black/Ethnic History, Teachers, and Restorative Justice

  Today kicks off the Black Lives Matter Week of Action in Schools  (February 5-10). According to the Rethinking Schools, this particular event stems from some action out of Seattle, WA in 2016. The demands of the Black Lives Matter at School national movement are: End Zero Tolerance, and Implement Restorative Justice. Hire More Black Teachers … Continue reading Black Lives Matter Week of Action in Schools: More Black/Ethnic History, Teachers, and Restorative Justice →