Participating Schools
The following Cohort 1 schools began participation in Project Opening Doors during the 2008-09 school year and will continue to June 30, 2013:
Ansonia High School
Coventry High School
East Hartford High School
Bulkeley High School (Hartford)
New Britain High School
New London High School
Putnam High School
Westhill High School (Stamford)
Wilby High School (Waterbury)
The following Cohort 2 schools begin participation in the 2009-10 school year and continue to June 30, 2014:
Bacon Academy (Colchester)
Bassick High School (Bridgeport)
Bloomfield High School
Cooperative Arts & Humanities Magnet High School (New Haven)
Hill Regional Career Magnet High School (New Haven)
Parish Hill High School (Chaplin)
Plainville High School
Wilbur Cross High School (New Haven)
Windham High School
Windsor High School
Windsor Locks High School
Our Vision
The academic achievement gap that separates students in our wealthiest districts from those in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas is a critical issue confronting our state. Another is the fact that a large segment of the workforce is preparing to retire at the same time that Connecticut is facing a shortage of younger, skilled workers to replace them.
Our vision is that Connecticut becomes an ever-better place to learn, grow, work and prosper. Toward that end, our mission focuses on supporting business and enterprise, raising academic expectations for all Connecticut students, and preparing our youth for the challenges of today’s — and tomorrow’s — high-skill, high-demand jobs. Project Opening Doors builds on our belief in the power of public and private partnerships to make this vision a reality.
Behind the Doors
Learn more about Project Opening Doors' partners and progress.
What Is Project Opening Doors?
Project Opening Doors is a partnership between the public and private sectors that seeks to increase Connecticut students' participation in Advanced Placement courses and better ensure their success in college. This initiative, which focuses on underrepresented student populations, involves representatives from education, government and business. To date, nine schools are participating.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell (center) announces funding up to $13.2 million for CBIA to launch Project Opening Doors. She is joined by Clay Mulford, chief operating officer of the National Math and Science Foundation (NMSI), the organization that awarded the grant; John Rathgeber, president and CEO of CBIA; Don Clarke, of the ExxonMobil Foundation, which provides funding for NMSI; and Lauren Kaufman, executive director of CBIA's Education Foundation.
History
On September 6, 2007, Governor M. Jodi Rell announced that Connecticut had been awarded up to $13.2 million in grant money from the nonprofit National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) to address the underachievement of American students in science, mathematics and English and the lack of adequate training for math and science teachers. Strategies identified by NMSI as effective at addressing these problems included
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scaling up Advanced Placement (AP) and Pre-AP courses in math and science
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extensive teacher training in AP
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additional time on task for students
- financial incentives for students who earn passing grades on AP tests, as well as financial rewards for their teachers
- cultivation of mentor teachers to provide AP program leadership within their schools
Goals
Connecticut was one of only 6 states initially selected (out of 28 that had applied) to receive a grant from NMSI. The grant will fund several initiatives over six years, starting with the 2008-2009 school year. These initiatives, which form the core of Project Opening Doors, will
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foster the next generation of scientists and engineers through rigorous academics in Connecticut’s schools
- specifically encourage excellence in math, science and English by way of increased student participation in AP classes and financial incentives for achievement
- step up professional development of teachers in AP subjects and methodologies through mentoring and intensive summer programs