Curriculum Now Available!
The highly anticipated moment is here! SERC is incredibly pleased to share the results of hard work and dedication to the development of CT's African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies. History in the making! Thank you!
Request for Proposals (RFP) for the African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies Implementation
SERC RFP Number: BL072021
State Education Resource Center (SERC)
Contact Person: Michelle LeBrun-Griffin (griffin@ctserc.org)
On June 23, 2021, CT PA 21-2 identified SERC as the lead organization for coordination and provision of professional learning and implementation support for CT’s African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies.
SERC is seeking competitive proposals from qualified and interested organizations or individuals with proven expertise and experience in one or more of the following at the high school level: curriculum evaluation, content, pedagogy, instructional coaching, networking, and resource development as outlined below.
The project will span from execution of contract until June 30, 2022 with potential for continuation through June 30, 2023, and will include the following components:
Components | Description of Expectations/Deliverables | Proposer Qualifications |
|---|---|---|
Field Study |
A Field Study will be conducted by an external evaluator during the 2021-2022 school year with Initial Implementers to inform the next phase of curriculum development. Deliverables will include development and aggregation of pre, post, and post-post student self-assessments, as well as development and gathering and aggregation of end of unit and semester feedback from students, teachers, families, administrators, and coaches developed in collaboration with the SERC/CSDE Team. |
Expertise and experience with curriculum evaluation. |
Training |
Support with delivery of unit-specific content and/or instructional pedagogy for course during summer institute (virtual) or quarterly sessions (tbd) as outlined in training schedule and determined by the SERC/CSDE Team. |
Expertise and experience with unit-specific content and/or course pedagogy, including participation in curriculum development to date. |
Coaching |
Participation in full training series for Cadre 1 and/or 2, including lesson review and Coaching debriefs during sessions, as well as provision of quarterly virtual coaching during intersession as assigned by the SERC/CSDE Team (up to 4 teachers/schools for a total of 16 hours of contact time, plus 4 hours prep and reporting time). |
Expertise and experience with instructional coaching and lesson review, including participation in curriculum development to date. |
Speakers Bureau |
Ability to provide virtual mini-lecture/pre-recorded presentation on unit-specific topics to provide background knowledge for teachers, students, families, and/or community as outlined in curriculum or as determined by SERC/CSDE Team. Coordination (including recordings) of Speakers Bureau in collaboration with the SERC/CSDE Team could be an extension to proposal. |
Expertise and experience in delivery of virtual mini-lecture or pre-recorded presentation. |
Networking |
Development of structure for organization and delivery of regional networking opportunities in collaboration with the SERC/CSDE Team. This could be integrated into existing, standing Administrator or Curriculum Council meetings. And/or development of structure for strategic organization of inter-district partnerships to support intra and inter-racial dialogue and exposure to multiple perspectives in collaboration with the SERC/CSDE Team. This could be done at the classroom, school, or community level. |
Expertise and experience in coordination of formal and informal regional networking opportunities and/or inter-district partnerships. |
Resource Support |
Development of instructional materials based on level of use/requests as determined by the SERC/CSDE Team. And/or rubrics as outlined in the curriculum in collaboration with the SERC/CSDE Team. |
Expertise and experience in the development of instructional materials and/or rubrics. |
UPDATE — African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies with Training Schedule and Registration Links
The Training Schedule has been updated with Registration Links for selected sessions. Read more:
Professional Learning and Training Schedule Announced
TO: Superintendents of Schools, Directors of Curriculum and Instruction, and High School Principals
FROM: Irene E. Parisi, Chief Academic Officer
DATE: June 7, 2021
SUBJECT: African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies – Professional Learning and Training Schedule
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) is pleased to continue its partnership with the State Education Resource Center (SERC) to support the implementation of the African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies. High School educators initiating the course in the 2021-2022 school year are invited to participate in the full professional learning series, optional field study and coaching, and networking opportunities.
African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies
2021-2022 CSDE/SERC Training Schedule
LEADERSHIP LAUNCH (virtual) – July 14 – one team per school, including Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Principal, School Counseling Department Chair, Social Worker, Social Studies Department Chair, Teacher(s)
- Session 1: 8:30-10, Session 2: 11-12:30, Session 3: 1:30-3 (mixed Cadres)
SUMMER INSTITUTE (in-person with remote option) – Cadre 1: July 26-30, Cadre 2: Aug 2-6, Cadre 3: Aug 9-13, 9-3:30 – one team per school, including Social Studies Department Chair and Teacher(s)
- Day 1 – AM Overview of Course, PM Review of Expectations
- Day 2 – AM/PM Pedagogy and Considerations for Teaching Course
- Day 3 – AM Overview Unit 1, PM Overview Unit 2
- Day 4 – AM Lesson Development, PM Overview Unit 3
- Day 5 – AM Lesson Development, PM Next Steps/Overview of Field Study
QUARTER 1 TRAINING (in person with remote option) – Cadre 3: Sept 27-28, Cadre 1: 29-30, Cadre 2: Oct 1-2
- Day 1 – AM Overview Unit 4, PM Lesson Development
- Day 2 – AM Overview Unit 5, PM Lesson Development
QUARTER 2 TRAINING (in person with remote option) – Cadre 2: Nov 29-30, Cadre 3: Dec 1-2, Cadre 1: Dec 3-4
- Day 1 – AM Overview Unit 6, PM Lesson Development
- Day 2 – AM Overview Unit 1, PM Lesson Development
QUARTER 3 TRAINING (in person with remote option) – Cadre 1: Jan 31-Feb 1, Cadre 2: Feb 2-3, Cadre 3: Feb 4-5
- Day 1 – AM Overview Unit 2, PM Lesson Development
- Day 2 – AM Overview Unit 3, PM Lesson Development
QUARTER 4 TRAINING (in person with remote option) – Cadre 3: Mar 28-29, Cadre 2: Mar 30-31, Cadre 1: Mar 1-2
- Day 1 – AM Overview Unit 4, PM Lesson Development
- Day 2 – AM Overview Unit 5, PM Lesson Development
SHOWCASE – June 9, 2022 (virtual) – one team per school, including Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Principal, Social Studies Department Chair, Current and Future Teachers
- Session 1: 8:30-10
- Session 2: 11-12:30
- Session 3: 1:30-3 (mixed Cadres)
This information was published in a memorandum from the CT State Department of Education, Dated June 7, 2021. To read the complete memo, please download:
“Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2019) (a) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall include African-American and black studies and Puerto Rican and Latino studies as part of the curriculum for the school district, pursuant to section 10-16b of the general statutes, as amended by this act.”