The Open Choice Program allows urban students to attend schools in nearby suburban areas, and suburban and rural students to attend an urban school. The program includes Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven, and their surrounding areas. There is no cost to parents for tuition or transportation.
Call the regional educational service center (RESC) nearest your home or closest to the largest city in your region for information and application materials. You can also find information on the RESCs in the Connecticut State Report on School Choice. Contact the Office of Educational Equity at the State Department of Education (860-713-6592) for general questions about the program.
New Haven Interdistrict School Choice
The New Haven Interdistrict Public Schools of Choice program consists of 13 schools within New Haven Public Schools that admit students from 25 area school systems. Any students within the 25 districts may apply for the program. The 13 schools, eight of which are magnets, offer rigorous programs to attract students from the surrounding area. Students do not have to pay for tuition or transportation.
School Choice and Sheff v. O’Neill
Since the Connecticut Supreme Court’s 1996 decision in Sheff v. O’Neill, the state has been trying to integrate its public schools, especially around Hartford. There are plans to expand the Open Choice program to include an additional 800 Hartford students and construct eight new magnet schools which will each serve around 600 students.
Intradistrict Choice
The state of Connecticut does not mandate that school districts provide intradistrict school choice but some districts do allow transfer within the district. Check with your local school district to find out their policy.
Additional Resources:
For more information on choosing schools in Connecticut, see the GreatSchools.net School Choice Center.
November 2005
