Magnet Schools Win $11 Million, Vallas To Begin Community Conversations

Superintendent of Schools Paul Vallas will kick off a series of community conversations Thursday, 5:30 p.m. at Jettie Tisdale Elementary School, 250 Hollister Avenue. Vallas says it’s an opportunity to update parents and community members on the state of city schools and solicit input about priorities and goals. Parents and others unable to attend are encouraged to send their ideas or concerns to communications@bridgeportedu.net. Meanwhile, Vallas today announced the Fairchild Wheeler Campus in support of its four new magnet high schools has been awarded a three-year, $11 million grant from the federal Department of Education aiding curriculum, teacher development and school and classroom resources.

News release from Vallas:

Bridgeport Public Schools have been awarded $3.2 million by the US Department of Education in year one of a three-year grant to help the City’s four new inter-district magnet high schools provide top-of-the-line educational programs. Over the three-year grant cycle, BPS will receive up to $11.1 million in funding. The US DOE awarded the grant through its Magnet Schools Assistance Program, which assists school districts build capacity to ensure equitable access to innovative education practices. BPS will use the funds to develop the schools’ STEM-based curricula, provide additional learning opportunities for teachers, and deliver cutting-edge classroom resources.

“There are three key components to raising achievement: ensuring every student is able to attend an effective school, investing in teachers, and providing teachers the tools they need,” said Superintendent Vallas. “We are grateful to the US Department of Education for awarding us with this generous grant for our magnet schools. It provides Bridgeport with the funds to ensure that each of these priorities are met.”

Each of the new magnet schools is designed around a core theme connected to career-readiness skills. The Fairchild Wheeler Campus is comprised of the Information Technology High School, the Zoological Science High School, and the Engineering and Aerospace High School. The Bridgeport Military Academy focuses on skills and careers related to emergency first responders, such as police, fire and EMT. The additional funds available through this grant will be used to make the themes come alive for students through purchases of flight simulation equipment, robotics technology, additional software for the development of student-created computer applications and emergency assistance simulation equipment for BMA programs.

The grant will also be used to partner with local universities to enhance curriculum design and provide professional development that focuses on STEM content integration and project-based learning. BPS additionally plans to hire Magnet Resource Teachers for continuing, on-site professional development through peer coaching and further integrating STEM-related career skills into lesson planning.

Finally, the funding permits BPS to expand its recruitment efforts as part of the ongoing work to continue the integration of urban and suburban students. Seventy percent of students are from Bridgeport, with the remainder from surrounding school districts. Enrollment in each of the magnet schools is through lottery after completion of an application. A total of 750 ninth and tenth graders are enrolled in the three STEM-based high schools at Fairchild Wheeler. Bridgeport Military Academy’s inaugural freshman class has 150 students.