Norwalk School District receives grant to support professional development

As part of its efforts to reshape public education in New England and provide more learners with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in college and life, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation (NMEF) has awarded the Norwalk school district a grant of $250,000 to support the professional development of teachers, administrators and district leaders.

The grant is one of three made to urban Connecticut school districts as part of NMEF's Building a Collaborative Culture grant program. The Danbury and New Haven school districts have also received $250,000 grants. The Building a Collaborative Culture program is intended to provide urban districts with the high-quality professional development necessary to create environments where student-centered approaches can succeed.

Norwalk representatives and NMEF recognize that professional development is critical to successfully implementing learning approaches that place students at the center of the educational experience and provide the deeper learning experiences that prepare students for college and careers. NMEF believes student-centered approaches can help create more adaptive learning engagements that help students master the academic knowledge, critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills they need to thrive beyond high school.

Norwalk will use the grant to develop student-centered approaches and a professional learning culture based on the existing strategic plan for all three high schools. The one-year grant has the potential to be renewable for two additional years.

Brien McMahon High School has laid the groundwork and will begin developing the student- centered strategies that will ensure all graduates are career ready, as defined in the Connecticut Plan for Secondary School Reform during this coming year. This includes designing and implementing the key structures for student-centered learning such as a capstone experience, a student advisory program, student success plans and extended learning opportunities.

Norwalk High School will focus on vertical curriculum articulation from grades 6 to 12 in preparation for NEASC accreditation as the staff develops its plan for implementing the CT High School Reform Plan.

Briggs High School staff will work with community partners, the city of Hartford, Norwalk Community College and partner districts in lower Fairfield County to develop a plan for creating a regional career-focused high school.

"This is a great opportunity for the Norwalk Public Schools as we are engaged in raising the rigor for all our students," said Susan Marks, superintendent of the Norwalk Public Schools.

"Every child graduating from the Norwalk Public Schools will be ready for college. We thank the Nellie Mae Education Foundation for their support in these efforts."

Danbury, New Haven and Norwalk were selected to receive grants based in part on how well their district improvement and professional development plans aligned with NMEF's principles of student-centered approaches to learning. Districts were invited to apply based on factors that include size, concentration of students receiving free and reduced lunch, and concentration of English language learners.