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Connecticut Association of Boards of Education

Consolidated School District of New Britain

Program Title:

New Britain Academy of Health Professions (NBAHP) and Academy of Finance (AOF) at New Britain High School

Categories that best describes your program:

  • Advocacy
  • Community Engagement/Communication
  • Curriculum/Student Achievement
  • Finance

Grade Levels:

  • High School

Description of the program:

The NB Academy of Health Professions and the Academy of Finance are collaborative efforts between industry partners, community partners and The Consolidated School District of New Britain.  Both of these programs provide opportunities for students to earn college credit and job shadow in specific content areas while in high school.

The Health Academy curriculum provides students with opportunities to explore the healthcare service industry and to develop up-to-date skills and the knowledge-base needed for certification in a variety of healthcare occupations upon graduation from high school.

The Academy of Finance is part of the National Academy Foundation network.  The AOF curriculum is "vetted by partners working in the financial services and business sectors, and emphasizes literacy and project-based learning to engage students."  A large component of the AOF model incorporates a sequential learning plan of work-based experiences that lead to a compensated internship.

 

New Britain created a program to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism.  When it launched an intense focus on grade-level reading in 2012, the district found that as many as 30 percent of it K-3 students were missing more than 10 percent of school.  The district began sending attendance reports to schools every 10 days for the first 100 days of the school year.  Newly created "attendance teams" in each school reviewed reports and worked with students and parents to reinforce the importance of attendance.  School secretaries redoubled their efforts to ensure that teachers take attendance by 11 a.m. daily.  Students scoring poorly on periodic literacy tests were invited to after-school or summer enrichment.  District officials reached out to local pre-K and after-school programs to urge staffers to work closely with families to highlight the importance of regular school attendance. 

Between 2011-12 and 2013-14, chronic absenteeism dropped 17 percentage points in kindergarten and between 6 points and 14 points in 1st through 3rd grades.  Students who participated in the enrichment program last summer attended school more regularly and scored better on periodic literacy tests than those who were invited but didn't participate. (Education Week • May 13, 2015)

For more information on these programs please visit:

www.csdnb.org

Contact Information:

Sondra Sanford
CTE Department Chair
sanfords@csdnb.org
860-225-6300