West Hartford Student Initiatives Eligible For Coronavirus Grants

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker Friday announced that proposals by Hall and Conard high schools are among 150 submitted by high school students across the state that will be considered for coronavirus relief grants.

Ultimately, the Connecticut State Department of Education will determine which programs receive grants as part of the Voice4Change initiative, a first-of-its-kind campaign that is "empowering" students to decide how $1.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding for schools will be spent.

The governor launched the initiative in November, explaining that its goal is to increase student engagement by challenging students to think critically to solve real-world problems, while also giving them a voice in how the relief funds will be used. The Connecticut State Department of Education set aside funding from the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Fund to support the initiative.

Students in participating high schools were required to submit proposals to the state outlining how they would spend up to $20,000 in their schools. A total of 201 proposals were received and thoroughly reviewed by staff from the Connecticut State Department of Education to ensure they meet federal rules for ARP ESSER investments, as well as alignment with the department’s state-level priorities. From those, 150 proposals from 54 high schools were deemed eligible.

Conard's Everyone Wins Initiative and Fight for Menstrual Equity programs were chosen.

Hall's CHANGE (Creating Healthy Advocates for Needed Generational Empowerment) program and Outdoor Wellness Program were chosen.

Students from participating high schools will vote on the proposals March 29. The state Department of Education will announce the winners in early April and begin working with districts to disperse funds afterward.

Student proposals had the option of aligning with more than one state-level priority. As a result:

• 71 pendent (107) of the proposals address the social, emotional, and mental health of students and school staff
• 52 percent (78) of the proposals address learning acceleration, academic renewal, and student enrichment
• 38 percent (57) of the proposals address building safe and healthy schools;
• 35 percent (53) of the proposals address family and community connections; and
• 17 percent (25) of the proposals address the strategic use of technology, staff development, and the digital divide.

"This is the first time that any state has conducted an initiative of this kind, and I am very excited by the number of responses we received and the interest that was shown by Connecticut high school students," Lamont said. "Next, they will cast their ballots to decide which ones should be approved. This is their opportunity to help make a change in their schools, and I look forward to seeing the results."

Added Russell-Tucker, "The Connecticut State Department of Education is immensely pleased with and proud of the innovation and creativity present in the student proposals. Students responded to our call-to-action with a focus on their social-emotional well-being. Our students are not only our future leaders – they are the change makers of today."