The Carver

View Original

New state education laws that contribute to the success of our youth

As the largest provider of after school and summer programs for students in Norwalk, Carver cares about what laws our lawmakers are passing for the benefit of our youth and families.

Here are several new laws recently passed by Connecticut’s General Assembly 2019 Regular Session that contribute to the success of our students.

The state updated its bullying and school climate laws to create a taskforce to protect the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of all students. (PA 19-166)

To (1) require local and regional boards of education to develop safe school climate policies, (2) require schools to assess school climate, (3) require the Department of Education to develop a social and emotional learning assessment instrument, (4) establish the duties of a safe school climate coordinator, (5) require local and regional boards of education to establish a social and emotional learning and school climate council in place of the existing safe school climate committee, (6) require the Department of Education to develop a model safe school climate policy, and (7) require local and regional boards of education to provide training on the prevention of and intervention in discrimination against and targeted harassment of students.

The state now requires public schools to teach computer science to better prepare students for 21st century careers. (PA 19-128)

To include computer science instruction in the public school curriculum, programs of teacher preparation and in-service training programs for teachers.

Carver’s after school Youth Development Program takes place at the Carver Community Center, Norwalk’s four middle and two high schools, and at Side by Side Charter School.

Carver conducts a 5th Grader Scholars Transition Program in four NPS elementary schools. CASPER is a K-5 after school program at the Carver Community Center that offers intensive project-based learning in science, literacy and math.

Carver’s Summer Enrichment Programs for 5 to 13-year-old students are conducted at the Carver Community Center and Columbus Magnet School; Freshman Summer Success Academies for graduated 8th-grade students transitioning into 9th grade are conducted at Norwalk and Brien McMahon High Schools; and Summer Middle School Transition Programs are provided for 5th-grade students transitioning into Norwalk’s four middle schools.  

Carver also provides college scholarships; parent leadership training; health and wellness programming; spring and fall college tours; food drives and community holiday events for the benefit of the Norwalk community.