COMMITTEE TO BE FORMED TO DETERMINE BEST MODEL FOR WRIGHT TECH

High School Design Committee Will Work This Summer to Recommend Future School Model

(Hartford, CT) State Education Commissioner Mark K. McQuillan today announced that he will form a study committee to review alternative models for J.M. Wright Technical High School and recommend to the State Board of Education the most effective design to serve the students, families and businesses of lower Fairfield County. The Committee will seek broad-based input from business and community leaders, educators, parents and students as it develops its recommendations. 

“J.M. Wright has been struggling with low enrollment for several years.  It is clear that the program offerings have not appealed to students and families.  At the same time, business leaders continue to point out the severe shortages of skilled workers in many technical fields.  We need to retool our programs and our school design to reconnect this vital institution with the needs of the greater Stamford region.”

J.M. Wright will continue to function as a four-year technical high school during the 2008-09 school year.  Approximately 50 freshmen students will enter the school this September.  With the recent decline in student enrollment at Wright Tech, Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele and the Stamford Delegation have been working with the Commissioner and CTHSS Superintendent Abigail L. Hughes to develop a high school model in partnership with Norwalk Community College that will attract students in lower Fairfield County. 

The high school design committee will explore many options including a partnership with Norwalk Community College and will study and review different models as part of the discussion. Two models, the “dual–enrollment” and the “early college high school” will figure prominently in the review.  The committee will include the Commissioner, CTHSS Superintendent Hughes, NCC President David Levinson and other education, business and community leaders. The committee’s goal is to bring a proposal to the State Board of Education in September.

Under the early college high school model, students have the potential of graduating with a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit.  Recently, a group from the CTHSS visited an early college high school model in partnership with University of Hartford.  The group spoke with faculty, staff, and students at University High School of Science and Engineering at the University of Hartford.  The visiting group from the CTHSS will present to the high school design committee how the early college model could work at Wright Tech.  The group will discuss how the future students enrolled at Wright Tech will be able to take college credit courses throughout their high school tenure for academics and technologies in partnership with Norwalk Community College and other state universities.

The dual-enrollment model allows students already enrolled in high school in their home town a unique opportunity to include one or two years of full-time study at J.M. Wright in 11th and/or 12th grade as part of their high school education. This program allows area students a chance to earn a trade/technology certificate as well as academic credits in order to achieve a high school diploma from their home town high school.  Under this model, students would continue to participate in extra-curricular activities such as athletics and clubs at their local high school.  Currently, the Connecticut Technical High School System has a successful dual-enrollment model in Bristol.

“We all want the model that is best for the students, parents and industry,” said Superintendent Hughes.  “We will continue to look at different models and speak with business, education and community leaders to determine which high school model will best fit the needs of the students and the regional workforce in Fairfield County.”