Help us celebrate extraordinary individuals, youth, and organizations who are trailblazers in their fields and share our mission to inspire lifelong learning in the next generation of STEM professionals. Nominations for the 2024 STEM Achievement and Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Awards are open now through May 24, 2024. Click here to submit your nomination and to learn more about the awards and past winners.

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THESE CATEGORIES:
– Innovator Honoree
– Industry Honoree
– Organization (Non-profit) Honoree
– Student Honoree
– Higher Education Honoree
– NEW Dr. Theodore S. Sergi K-12 Educator of the Year Award
Submit Your Nomination
Explore the 2023 Honorees

Introducing the Dr. Theodore S. Sergi K-12 Educator of the Year Award

The Connecticut Science Center is proud to introduce the Dr. Theodore S. Sergi K-12 Educator of the Year Award. This prestigious award recognizes exceptional K-12 Educators who are making significant contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning in their classrooms. Read more.
Submit Your Nomination

This project is for grades 6 and 7 math teachers who have at least one ML/EL student in their class. VAM is a free professional learning course as part of a research study. Participation in VAM will enable you to:

• Engage in mathematics tasks to deepen your understanding of using visual representations for proportional reasoning content.
• Integrate mathematics problem solving and language strategies to support ELs/MLs.
• Learn about interactive online tools to enhance mathematics learning.
• Collaborate and network with teachers from across Connecticut.

Check out this flyer to learn more and to register for an upcoming information session.

The American Institutes for Research® (AIR®) is conducting a study of the Simulated Instruction in Mathematics Professional Development (SIM PD) program. This innovative professional learning opportunity is offered at no cost to districts. SIM PD is designed for 4th and 5th grade math teachers and leverages a simulated classroom, where teachers work in small groups with the support of a coach to practice math questioning and discussion strategies. What makes this program especially unique is that teachers have the opportunity to collaborate and try out instructional approaches with avatar students prior to implementing these strategies with their own students. The AIR team is currently seeking districts to participate in SIM PD during the 2024-25 school year. See the attached flyer for additional information.

Please click here to schedule a time with a member of the AIR® team to learn more!

Defined Professional Learning Opportunities

The CSDE, in partnership with Defined, will offer two introductory professional learning opportunities in February. Defined Learning and Defined Careers are two of the three components of the Defined ecosystem available to all CT districts at no cost.

Defined Learning

This immersive and collaborative professional learning session is designed to introduce teachers and curriculum leads to Defined Learning’sstandards-based resources and best practices for implementation. The session will be held February 27th from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST at 165 Capital Avenue, Hartford. This session is designed for educators who are new to Defined Learning.

To learn more about the Defined Learning, watch this short video.

Click here for more information and to register.

Defined Careers

This immersive and collaborative professional learning experience brings together school counselors and educators to deepen their understanding of how to utilize Defined Careers in the classroom, in advisory, and for career guidance. The Defined Careers resources are aligned to 16 Career Clusters and 79 Career Pathways to provide broad exposure for students.  The session will be held February 28th from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST at 165 Capital Avenue, Hartford.

To learn more about the Defined Careers, watch this short video.

Click here for more information and to register.

All inquiries can be sent to Cheryl Tokarski at Cheryl.Tokarski@ct.gov

Superintendents of Connecticut Schools received the following communication from the Commissioner of Education on Thursday, January 11, 2024:

Financial Literacy 

In response to Public Act 23-21 (An Act Concerning Financial Literacy Instruction), the CSDE has reviewed endorsements appropriate for teaching financial literacy courses. In an effort to provide flexibility to districts, it has been determined that these courses may be taught under any of the following endorsements: 

• 010 Business Education 
• 026 Social Studies/Economics  
• 029 Mathematics  
• 045 Family Consumer Science 
• 089 Marketing Education 
• 104 Cooperative Work Education  

  

Also, a new EDS assignment code has been created for districts to properly identify educators teaching these classes: Financial Literacy/Personal Finance (90120). 

Additional Financial Literacy Course Guidance will be forthcoming from the CSDE Academic Office. 

 

The Financial Literacy Guidance is going to be in a format of a “Course Kit” which will guide the implementation of a FinLit Course or accumulation of the credit in flexible learning models. The CSDE hopes to release the artifact to the field at the end of January.

 

We thank you for your patience as we work to bring you tools to help successfully equip your students with the skills they need to be prepared for Learning, Life, and Work Beyond School.  Please feel free to contact Suzanne.loud@ct.gov with any questions.

We are pleased to announce that registration is OPEN for the 2024 ATOMIC Conference

Please join us on

March 25, 2024
7:00 am – 4:00 pm

Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CLICK HERE FOR CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Non-Member or Member Renewal Price

$140 (includes 1-year ATOMIC membership)

Member Price

$115 

Pre-Service Educator Price

$40

Continental breakfast, coffee all day and buffet lunch are included with registration as well as parking! The parking has been updated from last year to include two garages and no need to visit a teller.

Legends of Learning is hosting a fluency contest for students in grades K-8. Please see the attached flyer for additional information and to get involved.

CT – Legends of Learning Math Fluency Proposal.pdf Updated