December 1, 2023: Curriculum Update Available!
Please download and replace your PDF copy of the curriculum with this required update, which includes minor fixes to linked resources. See changelog for details.
Download the Curriculum Here
Updated December 1, 2021
Changelog: What's new in this revision?
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.
2022-2023 Training Series Openings
Based on volume of interest, the CSDE/SERC has decided to open the remaining sessions in the 2022-2023 Training Series to new participants. Please use the Google Form link below to complete the information needed to participate in the Orientation Session scheduled for Thursday, November 17th from 2:30-3:30pm, and to select the Cadre from remaining training dates below, including June Showcase that you are available to attend. (All sessions will be held virtually from 9-3.). We look forward to welcoming you to our professional learning community.
Please direct questions to Heather Dawes, Project Specialist, at SERC dawes@ctserc.org.
Cadre 1 – December 1 and 2, February 2 and 3, March 23 and 24, June 2
Cadre 2 – December 6 and 7, February 7 and 8, March 28 and 29, June 2
Cadre 3 – December 8 and 9, February 9 and 10, March 30 and 31, June 2
Google Form Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScE7ex3QVkcDPlErxtLipGSqa1pjN5AeKp9zttxO7_HID1IVQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
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
“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.”