OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

An Assessment of Opportunity High School - Located in Hartford, Connecticut

Marc Schoendorf

University of Connecticut

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Question 11

Question 22

Question 34

Question 46

Question 58

Question 610

Question 712

Question 813

Question 915

Question 1016

References18

An Assessment of Opportunity High School - Located in Hartford, Connecticut

Introduction

Unlike an agency whose role is to repair what is broken; my agency's goal is to prevent the breakdown. Hartford, like many of Connecticut cities, is suffering from the effects of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. Opportunity High School has in place multiple layers of support for at risk youth as they work to achieve a high school diploma. It offers adolescents a personalized learning program as well as a safety net while they struggle to gain job opportunity. This agency is unique to the city of Hartford and is serving as a pilot program for the state of Connecticut.

Question 1. What is the legal authority under which (Opportunity High School) operates?

The Hartford Public School System, as overseen by the city's Board of Education, is the unit of authority. All city schools are incorporated in the system, and Opportunity High School, established in 2009, is among them. As stated, the school system is overseen by the Board of education. This elected Board of eight members includes, at present, three men and five women.

Apart from their function as part of the unit, board members have no individual authority. Individually, a board member may not commit the district to any policy, act or expenditure. The board member does not represent a factional segment of the community but is rather a part of the body which represents and acts for the community as whole. No individual member of the board, by virtue of holding office, shall exercise any administrative responsibility with respect to the schools, nor as an individual command the services of any school employee (Hobbs, 2007). Opportunity High School is one of the secondary schools run by the city of Hartford. It is part of the larger system. Namely Hartford secondary. These schools as a unit are authorized by Connecticut General Statute 10 - 66aa. They are specifically aimed at reducing the racial, ethnic and economic boundaries under the provisions of Connecticut General Statute 10-66bb (c). State Technical Schools are certain technical-vocational regional schools that are established and maintained by the State in accordance with Connecticut General Statute 10-95, and similar programs in selected schools as established by the State Department Education (Taylor, 2001).

“The Bylaws of the Board of Education deem that it shall be responsible for maintenance and operation of the public schools as required by law and by the charter of the City of Hartford.” The Board interprets community needs, elects the superintendent, adopts the budget and evaluates the total programs of the schools in Hartford. These bylaws have been in place since 1999 and have reference in Connecticut General Statutes 10-221, 10-240 and 10-241. (Source) Opportunity High School was created out of a recognized need. The Hartford Board of Education developed a plan to service over-aged and under-credited youth within the ...