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!
Download the Curriculum Here
Updated October 1, 2021
Changelog: What's new in this revision?
Leadership Launch video – June 7, 2023
To support the effective implementation of the African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies, district and school leaders and educators initiating the course in the 2023-2024 school year were invited to participate in the Leadership Launch sessions on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Watch the video below for information regarding the model curriculum, expectations, and training series.
Leadership Launch slide deck: (pdf)
June Virtual Curriculum Showcase and In-Person Reception
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) is pleased to continue its partnership with the State Education Resource Center (SERC) to support the effective implementation of the African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies. We invite you to attend the Virtual Showcase scheduled for Friday, June 2, 2023 from 8:00-10:30 a.m. and 11:30-2:00 p.m., as well as the In-person Reception at SERC’s new location in Waterbury from 3:00-5:00 p.m. The purpose of these sessions is to spotlight the dynamic and inspiring experiences of high school teachers and students, from across the state, involved in the second year of implementation of the model curriculum for this legislated history class. The agenda for these sessions is as follows:
| Virtual Showcase Agenda | Session A | Session B |
|---|---|---|
Welcome |
8:00-8:10 |
11:30-11:40 |
Concurrent Sessions Round 1 |
8:15-8:55 |
11:45-12:25 |
Concurrent Sessions Round 2 |
9:00-9:40 |
12:30-1:10 |
Concurrent Sessions Round 3 |
9:45-10:25 |
1:15-1:55 |
Closing/Evaluation |
10:25-10:30 |
1:55-2:00 |
In-Person Reception Agenda | Session C* |
|---|---|
Arrival/Set-Up/Light Refreshments |
3:00-3:15 |
Welcome |
3:15-3:30 |
Gallery Walk Round 1 |
3:30-4:00 |
Break/Networking |
4:00-4:15 |
Gallery Walk Round 2 |
4:15-4:45 |
Closing/Networking |
4:45-5:00 |
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to CSDE Project Manager and Director of Equity and Language Dr. Maribel Olivero at maribel.olivero@ct.gov, or the following members of the SERC Team:
- Nitza Diaz, Consultant for Puerto Rican/Latino Content at diaz@ctserc.org;
- Paquita Jarman-Smith, Consultant for African American/Black Content at Jarman-Smith@ctserc.org; or
- Michelle LeBrun-Griffin, Consultant for Project Coordination at griffin@ctserc.org.
Leadership Launch Registration
Leadership Launch Registration
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) is pleased to continue its partnership with the State Education Resource Center (SERC) to support the effective implementation of the African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies. District and school leaders and educators initiating the course in the 2023-2024 school year are invited to participate in one of the Leadership Launch sessions scheduled for Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Information regarding the model curriculum, expectations, and training series will be shared. Registration links can be found below. (Participants from the same school are encouraged to register for the same session as schedules permit.)
Leadership Launch |
Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (via Zoom) |
|
Session A |
8:00 am to 9:00 am |
Registration: https://serc.info/leadership-launch-a |
Session B |
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm |
Registration: https://serc.info/leadership-launch-b |
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to CSDE Project Manager and Director of Equity and Language Dr. Maribel Olivero at maribel.olivero@ct.gov, or the following members of the SERC Team:
- Nitza Diaz, Consultant for Puerto Rican/Latino Content at diaz@ctserc.org;
- Paquita Jarman-Smith, Consultant for African American/Black Content at Jarman-Smith@ctserc.org; or
- Michelle LeBrun-Griffin, Consultant for Project Coordination at griffin@ctserc.org.
2023-2024 CSDE/SERC Training Series: Dates announced!
Dear High School Social Studies Educators:
To assist with district planning, we are releasing “save-the-date” information for the 2023-2024 CSDE/SERC Training Series for the African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies (SCED Course Code 04901). Educators (i.e., high school social studies teachers, district/school department and curriculum coordinators, and principals) in public, charter, private, adult education, or specialized schools and programs who will be implementing the course next year are invited to participate.
The series is planned to be a combination of virtual and in-person sessions and will be at no cost to districts with the exception of release time/substitute coverage needed. Each cadre will be capped at 60 schools/registrants to serve the anticipated number of new schools/educators participating. It is suggested schools/participants reserve dates for each Cadre until registration is made available and cadre selection is confirmed. As this training is organized to be a professional learning community, it is suggested that staff from the same school/district attend the same cadre. Switching between cadres to accommodate schedules will be accommodated on a case by case basis.
Please contact Heather Dawes, Project Specialist, SERC at dawes@ctserc.org with any questions you may have.
African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies
2023-2024 CSDE/SERC Training Series
Cadre 2
| Cohort 3 | Cadre 2 |
|---|---|
| Leadership Launch | |
| Summer Insititute | July 31-Aug 4, 2023 9-3 |
| September Quarterly | Sept. 28-29, 2023 9-3 |
| December Quarterly | Dec. 7-8, 2023 9-3 |
| February Quarterly | Feb. 8-9, 2024 9-3 |
| March Quarterly | Mar. 21-22, 2024 9-3 |
| June Showcase | June 4, 2024 Time TBD |
Cadre 2
Preserving Our History; Preparing for Our Future: Progress on Public Act 19-12, An Act Concerning the Inclusion of Black and Latino Studies in the Public School Curriculum
Monday, FEBRUARY 27TH
2:00pm-3:00pm In-Person: 165 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT
Conference Rooms D & E
virtual: ZOOM
Presented by The Governor’s Council on Women and Girls
With moderators:
Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz
State Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker
Register:
In person by Feb. 23: email Christine.Jean-Louis@ct.gov
ZOOM: https://bit.ly/COWAGBH
Download and Share the flyer:
https://files.serc.co/files.serc.co/documents/20230223-CoWaG%20BH%20Panel%20Flyers.pdf
In the News: Hamden Library Podcast: Teaching Black History
The Hamden Library Podcast’s discussed the CT African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Curriculum, and includes interviews with people involved in the curriculum’s development as well as those currently teaching it to CT students.
Listen to the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1846599/12172116
In the News: Connecticut introduces Black and Hispanic studies class to high school curriculums
News 8 recently featured the Black and Hispanic Studies Curriculum in a news story that included remarks from Governor Lamont, teachers and staff, and students who are taking the course.
Watch the story here: https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/hartford/connecticut-introduces-black-and-hispanic-studies-class-to-high-school-curriculums/#new_tab
In the News: New NHS Class Expanding History Using Local Reference Points
The Newtown Bee recently published an article about the new curriculum at Newtown High School, including interviews with teachers and students.
Read it here: https://www.newtownbee.com/01102023/new-nhs-class-expanding-history-using-local-reference-points/
In the News: Will teaching Black and Hispanic history help replace ignorance with cultural understanding? (Editorial)
Weruché George writes in the Opinion section of the CT Mirror:
“Two years ago this month, the State of Connecticut took a bold step when it included the teaching of Black and Latino studies in the curriculum. More noble is the fact that Connecticut was the first state in the country to roll this out … Just as we honor human rights this month, I celebrate what looks like the beginning of the end of racism — and hope other states in America will follow suit.
Weruché George
Curriculum Book Bundle Information
There is no single text for this course. Please refer to full the curriculum document for curated unit materials and updated reference list, located at https://pa1912.serc.co/curriculum-download/. Note, SERC has arranged for centralized purchasing of a Book Bundle with Barnes and Noble on behalf of the CSDE. This allows schools across the state to receive both the education and quantity discount. It is anticipated that the Book Bundle will be purchased as a complete set by each school and exclusively available to teachers of the course and Social Studies Department. A second set will be provided by SERC, at no cost to school/district, to be housed in the library of each school for general teacher, student, and community access. (Additional copies of individual items in the Book Bundle, Supplemental Teacher Resources, and Student Resources on reference list may be purchased based on need and/or at the discretion of each school/district.)
- To purchase a bundle, please reach out to your Barnes & Noble representative listed below with your district approved purchase order and contact/shipping information by January 6, 2023.
- If you have already purchased a bundle, please reach out to your Barnes & Noble representative for books on updated reference list with your district approved purchase order and contact/shipping information.
- If you have purchased bundle from another district approved vendor, please provide copy of invoice to Heather Dawes, Project Specialist, SERC at dawes@ctserc.org and your contact/shipping information for second set.
- If financial hardship is impeding the purchase of first set, please contact Ingrid M. Canady, Executive Director, SERC at canady@ctserc.org.
Based on the above, a second set of Book Bundle will be distributed to schools automatically on behalf of the CSDE/SERC using the same contact and shipping information. (Note, school licensing, digital access information, and facilitation guides for films from private filmmakers are in process.)
Barnes & Noble Regional Representatives: Lacey Byrne (Northwest, Northeast, and Central Connecticut) Mobile: 860-817-8477 lbyrne1@bn.com, Tricia Tierney (Southern & Coastal CT) 401-602-5263 ptierney@bn.com, Lisa Colombo (Southeast CT) 401-486-6057 lcolombo@bn.com.
“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.”