Barbara Michelson

Hartford Board of Education

Mission Hartford's system of schools exists to provide all students with access to participation in a global economy through attainment of Academic Standards of the State of Connecticut and readiness for post-secondary education. Vision Hartford Public Schools is a system of high performing, distinctive schools of choice. The attainment of Hartford students in reading, math, science, and college readiness will reflect the high educational outcomes of the State of Connecticut. Strategy The District will employ a "Balanced" theory of action for reform governance linked to the organizational structure of an "all-choice" system of schools. A balanced theory of action is the most promising strategy relative to Hartford Public Schools' current operating environment and will advantage the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of the Managed Instruction and Performance Empowerment theories of change. Using this strategy, the District will define its relationship with each school on the basis of performance. •Relatively high performing and/or significantly improving schools will be given considerable programmatic autonomy and freedom from bureaucratic operational constraints. •Chronically low performing schools that fail to improve will be subject to district intervention, redesign, closure or replacement with higher performing school models. •Schools in the mid-range will be provided with "defined autonomy" relative to program and operations to build their capacity for improvement. Using a diverse provider strategy, Hartford Public Schools will evolve over time to a total system of choice schools. Two choice models will be employed.