Parents & Students
Educators

Policy Makers
Supporters

Newsroom

Explore our newsroom for the latest information from Achieve Hartford!
 
Stay informed through links to our press releases, related articles, and research publications on the ongoing school reform efforts in Hartford.
 
Achieve Hartford! is receiving the Nonprofit of the Year Award from the National Society of Hispanic MBAs.
 
Here is the annual State of the Schools update from Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto.  Also, the District's reports on neighborhood factors impacting family and student success and improving opportunities and outcomes (in conjunction with the Center on Reinventing Public Education).
 
The new report from Our Piece of the Pie - on the community college dropout crisis.
 
Our spring workshop flier.
 
The report on mental health supports in 11 states, including Connecticut.
 
Most recent Board of Education election results reflecting the 2009 Election Turnout.
 
The Hartford Public Schools Family Food Show flyer.
 
 
The components of Hartford's Year 1 Culturally Responsive Education effort.
 
Information on the feasibility study of dual language programming in Hartford.
 
The Mid-Year Turnaround Schools Review from the Hartford Public Schools
 
See the Student Pledge in connection with the Hartford Promise scholarship program - and FAQs about its approach.
 
The institutional advancement report, with increased support and programs touching students, is here.
 
Here are the performance targets for the Hartford Public Schools, as revised December 18, 2012.
 
The December 4, 2012 Workshop Presentation on Scientific Research-Based Intervention (SRBI).
 
The successful application by Hartford Public Schools for a $5 million grant from the Boll & Melinda Gates Foundation and the reviewers' comments as well as the District's news release on the Race to the Top application that achieved finalist status but ultimately did not win.
 
The report on School Climate and Connectedness examines student, parent, and staff viewpoints - and our Public Insights feature spotlights the participation in the survey by parents, students, and staff.
 
Here are the November 13, 2012 Special Education and English Language Learner presentations to the Hartford Board of Education.
 
The Hartford's U.S. Paralympic Athlete Community Roadshow features 11 events in the city November 13-15.
 
The data from Year One of the Hartford Public Schools' High School Graduation Initiative.
 
 
 
 
Our September 27, 2012 Public Insights article on STEM education is here.
 
Our September 14, 2012 presentation to the MetroHartford Alliance is here.
 
The Hartford Public Schools' Strategic Alignment for closing the achievement gap graphic is here.
 
The list of Hartford School Principals is here.
 
See our Public Insights discussion of the issue of whether Algebra is necessary.
 
 
 
 
See the July 26, 2012 Public Insights section of Education Matters!, highlighting the Milner School redesign planning effort.
 
Here is our overview; in addition, read the July 19, 2012 CT News Release and Hartford Public Schools News Release and Powerpoint Summary, all with respect to the Connecticut Mastery Test and CT Academic performance Test results.
 
Read the July 2012 report from Our Piece of the Pie, Helping Over-Age, Under-Credited Youth Succeed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Read our public comment delivered at the February 21, 2012 Board of Education meeting.
 
 
 
Check out our Quick Recap on the January 26, 2012 City Council Public Interviews of Mayor Segarra's Board of Education Appointees.
 
See the set of questions we have submitted to City Council with respect to the Board of Education Appointments by the Mayor.
 
See the January 15, 2012 Hartford Courant Opinion Page, with seven views on how to fix our schools, led by our commentary.
 
Read our comments delivered at the January 17, 2012 meeting of the Hartford Board of Education; also our comments delivered at the December 20, 2011 Board meeting.
 
 
* * *
 
related to our schools ... 
 
 
Press Releases and Commentary
 
 
Hartford Public Schools Related
September 6, 2012 - Rising Star Breakfast September 14, featuring Dr. Christina Kishimoto and Achieve Hartford!
September 6, 2012 - Hartford Board of Education Workshop Materials: The Accountability Matrix and Summer Programs.
July 12, 2012 - Free Summer Meals Program Sites as detailed in Education Matters' Public Insights
July 12, 2012 - Hartford Board of Education Meeting Schedule, as Adopted
April 24, 2012 - Hartford Portfolio Implementation Snapshot, Center for Reinventing Public Education
March 23, 2011 - Report on Moylan School, Jeff Cohen, Capital Region Report, WNPR
March 23, 2011 - Parents Don't Always Pick the Best Schools, Jeff Cohen, Capital Region Report, WNPR
January 10, 2011 - Center on Reinventing Public Education - News Release on Hartford Research
 
 
Achieve Hartford! on Television
 
 
Recent Articles
Please find links below on relevant articles referencing Achieve Hartford!
 
OP-ED article written by Michelle Morey, Board Member of Achieve Hartford! on the third year of improvement of Hartford Reform Measures.
 
Hartford Business Journal discusses educational reform with Jim Starr, Executive Director of Achieve Hartford!
 
This is a letter to the Editor of Hartford Courant explaining the importance of innovative approaches to improve student achievement.
 
OP-Ed article written by James Starr, Executive Director and Mayra Esquilin, Board Member of Achieve Hartford!
 
Recent Public Commentaries
Achieve Hartford! is committed to providing an independent, credible perspective on issues that impact Hartford Public Schools. See below for public commentaries on relevant issues in various venues.
 
Announcing the Cohort Gain Report as an Alternative View; Inviting Everyone to the 6th Annual Community Spelling Bee
 
Celebrating a Great Start to the 2012-13 School Year - and Setting Goals
 
Discussing the new Student-Based Budgeting Report and Related Issues
 
This overview covers What Achieve Hartford! does; the recent gains in student performance and in the graduation rate; and areas of further focus.
 
We will be issuing reports on the Choice Education Program and School Governing Councils and have offered a preview for the Board of Education.
 
These comments encompass long-term and short-term recommendations, and raise some specific questions concerning budget trade-off decisions that could affect student learning.
 
With respect to state education funding solutions, Achieve Hartford! is advocating a comprehensive - not piecemeal - approach to the revamping effort; so as to not negatively impact students.
 
These comments emphasize the need for great leadership from the Board of Education not just in maintaining the reform, but in working with the new administration to take an active and very public role in communicating and advancing the reform benefits and outcomes to all Hartford residents.
 
These comments concern the Community Input Sessions Achieve Hartford! conducted to gather stakeholder views about what is needed from the next Hartford Schools' superintendent and the recommendations of the Governor's Ciommission on Educational Achievement.
 
This commentary reviews the Board action on Leadership Succession and other matters.
 
September 23, 2010 - A Personal View From Jim Starr
 
This commentary addresses the process of the Succession Planning Policy.
 
This commentary highlights 2010's performance, and indicates support for the second reading of the succession planning policy, and notes support for the Parent Involvement Policy while suggesting that additional enhancements may be necessary.
 
This commentary addresses the report on Choice and Enrolment, applauds the Board's Parent & Community Policy and Policy on Leadership Succession.
 
This commentary outlines important ways to close the achievement gap in Hartford Public Schools.
 
The passing of Education bill 431 in the CT state legislature is highlighted and how it relates to Hartford is illustrated in this commentary.
 
This commentary discusses the Board of Education budget.
 
Appeal to sustain school reform and request state intervention.
 
* * *
 
Subscribe to the leading online source for Hartford education news:

Press Inquiries
Please contact Interim Executive Director of Achieve Hartford!, Paul Diego Holzer, for any press-related inquiries or information at pholzer@achievehartford.org.
Achieve Hartford