Multiple grants from a group of philanthropic investors will support Norwalk ACTS and its membership to develop a cohesive strategy for five high-level initiatives in support of Norwalk’s children: career and college readiness, “whole child” or social emotional learning, counseling, parent engagement, and replication of successful schools.
Investors were presented with a variety of metrics regarding Norwalk’s community, schools and community programs available to help with the overall development of the prioritized initiatives. The funds for the public/private partnership will roll out over the next three years, and will support new programs and bring state-of-the-art practice to existing initiatives.
“As the convener, Norwalk ACTS provides the web that connects the Norwalk community and the process that will integrate and align multiple organizations, initiatives and programs,” said Norwalk ACTS Executive Director, Anthony Allison. “We are grateful for this public/private partnership that will allow our community to continue to be proactive in developing and implementing strategies and actions that will provide children and youth with tools to be successful both academically, and socially and emotionally.”
To further career and college readiness, Norwalk ACTS will work with community members and Norwalk Public Schools to engage Norwalk’s youth with opportunities that are age and stage appropriate. The goal is to provide summer and year-round work-based learning with real work for pay, academic credits, and 21st century skills for high school students.
The grants will also be used be to provide robust social and emotional support in school and in the community by furthering wraparound services with social workers in schools, safe spaces, and mentorship programming.
Replicating the success of this summer’s Springboard Collaborative program through Norwalk Public Schools, Norwalk ACTS will coordinate community resources and access best practices for creating parent engagement. The successful Springboard Collaborative pilot at Jefferson and Kendall Elementary Schools took place over six weeks to close the literacy gap among students, and encourage parent engagement.
Utilizing learnings from Rowayton, one elementary school with the structure, leadership and instructional capacity to meet the required growth for a “School of Distinction” will be identified by June 2021. The pilot program will be implemented over a 3-year period. With support from NACTS and NPS, the elementary school will develop a process for progress monitoring and reporting. Student development and college and career attainment will also be tracked on a long-term basis.
About Norwalk ACTS:
Norwalk ACTS is a diverse partnership of over 100 civic leaders, educators and organizations working collectively to achieve the mission of enriching and improving the lives and futures of all Norwalk’s children, cradle to career. Norwalk ACTS convenes community stakeholders around a common agenda, using shared measurement to form action plans which result in measurable and positive impact of the lives of all Norwalk’s children.
About Norwalk Public Schools:
Norwalk Public Schools is made up of 12 elementary schools, four middle schools, two high schools, and one inclusive pre-school program. NPS students come from a variety of backgrounds, with more than 41 percent of students speaking a second language at home. The NPS system delivers a learning experience that is rich in cultural diversity, as well as one that is reflective of the global society in which our graduates will work and live. The district vision is that Norwalk Public Schools will be the most successful city school system in Connecticut.