School Governance Councils are a key parent involvement component of the broad school reform bill passed earlier this year.
The Councils seek to enable parents, school staff, students (where appropriate) and community leaders to work together to improve student achievement in the state’s lowest performing schools. They serve in an advisory capacity to assist the school administration.
The following 14 schools in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Britain, Windham and Stamford are required to implement the Councils by January 15, 2011.
Barnum School: Bridgeport School District
Bassick High School: Bridgeport School District
Harding High School: Bridgeport School District
Sand School: Hartford School District
Burns Latino Studies Academy: Hartford School District
Milner Core Knowledge School: Hartford School District
Dr. Ramon E. Betances School: Hartford School District
Smalley Academy: New Britain School District
Katherine Brennan School: New Haven School District
Hill Central Music Academy: New Haven School District
Wilbur Cross High School: New Haven School District
James Hillhouse High School: New Haven School District
Natchaug School: Windham School District
Stamford Academy: Stamford Academy
By November 1, 2011, another 184 schools throughout the state will be required to implement.
Additional info below these two videos of a goveranance council informational session:
Overview
Details
Read the Commissioner of Education's detailed guidance letter, including lists of the affected schools. (The 14 schools affected first are on page 5 of this letter; pages 6 - 11 contain the second group of 184 schools.)
Additional information is available at the CT State Department of Education's School Governance Council web page.
Many of the schools required to institute School Governance Councils are currently receiving "School Improvement Grants" to assist in their improvement. See details at the State Department of Education School Improvment Grants website.
The School Governance Councils are built on top of existing collaborative structures in place throughout the state. For information on New Haven's exisiting Comer-based School Management and Planning Teams and the Governance Councils compare, see Community Forum on School Governance Councils and SPMTs.
