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?
In the News: Students, teachers praise Black, Latino studies course in mandate’s first year: ‘This is U.S. history’
In the Hartford Courant, Alison Cross writes, “This school year marks the first time that Connecticut districts were required to offer the course, which 54 high schools piloted during the 2021-2022 year. The full-year history elective covers African American, Black, Puerto Rican and Latino political movements, cultural contributions, struggles and more.” She further interviews a variety of students taking the course, and teachers, administrators, and others involved in the course’s creation.
Request for Proposals (RFP) for the African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies Implementation (Round 3)
SERC RFP Number: BLC082022
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 external evaluation.
Updated Reference List and Book Bundle Information
June 17, 2022 – Based on book availability and new resource suggestions, a revised Reference List for course has been posted (see below). There is no single text for this course. As noted in each CSDE/SERC Information Session conducted, it is anticipated that Book Bundle items will be purchased by each school and exclusively available to teachers of the course and Social Studies Department. A second set will be provided by SERC (contingent on funding) to be housed in the library of each school for general teacher, student, and community access. Additional copies of Book Bundle items and items in the Supplemental Teacher Resources and Optional Student Resources sections may be purchased based on need and/or at the discretion of each school.
SERC has been able to arrange for centralized purchasing of the Book Bundle items as a complete set with Barnes & Noble. This will allow all schools to receive both the education and quantity discount.
Read the Book Bundle Purchasing Information (below) for more details. Download the revised (6/17/22) Curriculum Reference List below.
More than 1,000 students participated in first year of CT’s Black and Latino curriculum: ‘It really does open your eyes’
Diedre Montague of the Hartford Courant writes:
As the school year winds down, Connecticut high school students and teachers recently shared their experiences from the first year with the state’s new African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies.
Read the full article at Yahoo News
June Curriculum Showcase – Registration is Open!
Attention stakeholders:
The State Education Resource Center (SERC) invites you to participate in the African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies Showcase scheduled for Thursday, June 9, 2022. The purpose of this virtual event is to spotlight the dynamic and inspiring experiences of high school teachers and students, from across the state, involved in the first year of implementation of the model curriculum for this legislated history class.
There will be three rounds of concurrent breakouts in both the morning and afternoon, giving participants the opportunity to hear and learn from multiple stakeholders and perspectives throughout the day.
Please refer to format and registration links below (Zoom links will be sent out 24 hours prior) and plan to join us in celebration as your schedule permits.
|
AGENDA |
SESSION A |
SESSION B |
| Welcome |
8:00-8:10 |
11:30-11:40 |
| Concurrent Breakouts Round 1 |
8:15-8:55 |
11:45-12:25 |
| Concurrent Breakouts Round 2 |
9:00-9:40 |
12:30-1:10 |
| Concurrent Breakouts Round 3 |
9:45-10:25 |
1:15-1:55 |
| Closing |
10:25-10:30 |
1:55-2:00 |
| Registration Links | https://serc.info/showcasea | https://serc.info/showcaseb |
2022-2023 Training Series – Registration is Open!
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. High school educators, including curriculum and department coordinators, who will be implementing the course next year are invited to participate. All sessions are planned to be virtual and at no cost to districts with the exception of release time/substitute coverage. Each cadre will be capped at 50 schools/150 participants to serve the anticipated number of new schools participating. Additional staff from schools currently participating in the 2021-2022 training series will be added, as space permits. As this training is organized as a professional learning community, it is highly suggested that staff from the same school/district register for and attend the same cadre.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the CSDE Project Manager and Director of Equity and Language Dr. Gladys Labas at Gladys.Labas@ct.gov, or the following members of the SERC Team:
- Michelle LeBrun-Griffin, Consultant for Project Coordination, at Griffin@ctserc.org;
- Paquita Jarman-Smith, Consultant for African American/Black Content, at Jarman-Smith@ctserc.org; or
- Nitza Diaz, Consultant for Puerto Rican/Latino Content, at Diaz@ctserc.org.
| Cohort 2 | Registration Link | Summer Institute | September Quarterly | December Quarterly | February Quarterly | March Quarterly |
June Showcase |
| Cadre 1 | https://serc.info/tngcadre1 | June 20-24, 2022 9-3 |
Sept. 20-21, 2022 9-3 |
Dec. 1-2, 2022 9-3 |
Feb. 2-3, 2023 9-3 |
Mar. 23-24, 2023 9-3 |
June 2, 2023 Time TBD |
| Cadre 2 | https://serc.info/tngcadre2 | July 18-22, 2022 9-3 |
Sept. 22-23, 2022 9-3 |
Dec. 6-7, 2022 9-3 |
Feb. 7-8, 2023 9-3 |
Mar. 28-29, 2023 9-3 |
June 2, 2023 Time TBD |
| Cadre 3 | https://serc.info/tngcadre3 | Aug. 1-5, 2022 9-3 |
Sept. 28-29, 2022 9-3 |
Dec. 8-9, 2022 9-3 |
Feb. 9-10, 2023 9-3 |
Mar. 30-31, 2023 9-3 |
June 2, 2023 Time TBD |
Leadership Launch – Recording
Registration for Leadership Launch 2022 is now open!
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) is pleased to continue its partnership with 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 2022-2023 school year are invited to participate in one of the Leadership Launch sessions scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, 2022. At this session, information regarding the model curriculum, expectations, and training series will be shared. Participants from the same school are encouraged to register for the same session as schedules permit. Session times and registration links can be found below. A session recording will be available on the website for future reference. Questions regarding registration for sessions may be directed to Heather Dawes, Project Specialist, at dawes@ctserc.org and content for sessions to Michelle LeBrun-Griffin, Consultant, at griffin@ctserc.org.
Registration Links: Wednesday, April 27
Session A – 8:00 am to 9:30 am – https://serc.info/launch22a
Session B – 11:00 am to 12:30 pm – https://serc.info/launch22b
Session C – 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm – https://serc.info/launch22c
New Poll Shows That People Think There’s a Lack of Teaching in African-American History
From NBC Connecticut:
A new Quinnipiac University poll shows that most people don’t feel they got a good Black history education in school.
The poll’s findings were released Thursday amid Black history month.
The poll shows that in general, American history falls short when taking into account the role of African-Americans. 66% of people surveyed agree with that statement.
Watch the report at NBCConnecticut.com
2022-2023 CSDE/SERC Training Series for the African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies
To assist with district planning, we are releasing “save-the-date” information for the 2022-2023 CSDE/SERC Training Series. Please note, all dates are tentative and contingent on funding. Educators, including department and curriculum coordinators, and administrators, who will be implementing the course next year are invited to participate. All sessions are planned to be virtual and at no cost to districts with the exception of release time/substitute coverage. Each cadre will be capped at 50 schools/150 registrants to serve the anticipated number of new schools participating. Additional staff from schools currently participating in the 2021-2022 Training Series will be added, as space permits. It is suggested schools save the dates for each Cadre until registration is made available, and Cadre selection is confirmed. As this training is organized as a professional learning community, it is suggested that staff from the same school/district attend the same training. Given this advance notice, switching between Cadres to accommodate schedules will not be permitted. 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 |
|||||||
Cohort 2 |
Leadership Launch |
Summer Institute |
September Quarterly |
December Quarterly |
February Quarterly |
March |
June Showcase |
Cadre 1 |
Apr. 27, 2022 |
June 20-24, 2022 |
Sept. 20-21, 2022 |
Dec. 1-2, 2022 |
Feb. 2-3, 2023 |
Mar. 23-24, 2023 |
June 2, 2023 |
Cadre 2 |
Apr. 27, 2022 |
July 18-22, 2022 |
Sept. 22-23, 2022 |
Dec. 6-7, 2022 |
Feb. 7-8, 2023 |
Mar. |
June 2, 2023 |
Cadre 3 |
Apr. 27, 2022 |
Aug. 1-5, 2022 |
Sept. 28-29, 2022 |
Dec. 8-9, 2022 |
Feb. 9-10, 2023 |
Mar. |
June 2, 2023 |
Please note: there was an error in the originally posted March 2023 dates. Corrected dates are shown.
“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.”