Introduction:
Project Choice and CREC propose to establish and operate a Student Support Center, based on the agency’s highly successful academic assistance programs. The Academic Support Center will enhance the academic experience for both Project Choice students and Hartford students attending interdistrict magnet schools.  This center will provide intervention services that address “high risk” behavior that leads to suspensions and expulsions which often results in students not achieving success in Project Choice and provide academic support for those students requiring additional intervention for academic success.

Target Population and Services:
The Choice Student Support Center will offer programming based on the framework of Developmental Assets for adolescents. Using a culturally responsive, asset-building model that takes a comprehensive view of students and their internal and external resources, the center will provide services in each of the asset areas.

The targeted group for enrollment in the Choice Student Support Center will be 50-80 students from grade six to grade twelve who are not making adequate academic achievement and/or are exhibit behavioral or social problems which interfere with their academic success. The students will be referred to the Support Center by receiving district staff, Choice/magnet school staff or student families.

Click here to download the Student Support Referral Form.

In addition to the provision of culturally responsive programming, the Choice Student Support Center will provide the following services to program participants:

Student Support

• Career Development
• Tutoring
• Job Search Assistance
• Community Service
• Anger Management
• Truancy Prevention
• Homework Labs
• Life Skills
• Peer Mediation
• Behavior Modification
• Mentoring
• Case Management and Counseling
• CMT, CAPT, and SAT prep
• Financial Aid workshops

Family Support

• Outreach to parents/guardians
• Financial Aid workshops
• Case Management and short-term intervention counseling with referral to outside providers
• Parenting/ communication skills
• Mentoring
• Homework labs

The staff of the Student Support Center will make every effort to increase the involvement of parents/guardians of participating students and help them understand why their support is critical to student success. CREC will collaborate with major stakeholders involved in youth intervention/enrichments activities in the Greater Hartford Region in order to develop meaningful partnerships that will benefit our youth.

Staffing and Location
The staffing pattern is based on CREC’s intent to serve 50-80 students after school. The Center will be open Monday – Thursday from 3:30 p.m. through 6:30 p.m. beginning October 8th and concluding June 12th. Parent/guardian workshops will be conducted on periodic Saturday mornings throughout the school year.

Program staff will include math and reading specialists, social worker, program coordinator, university interns and specialized facilitators for Saturday parent/guardian workshops. Other staff and educational specialists will be hired as needed.

The Student Support Center will be housed at the CREC Coltsville facility on Sequassen Street in Hartford, utilizing the second floor classrooms, computer lab, and conference room space. Students will be transported by bus directly from their host schools in the afternoon and then bused home at 6:30 p.m.

Accountability of Progress of Student Support Center
The Center’s performance will be based upon the data collection and review regarding the following indicators:

• Student attendance
• Student engagement
• Academic progress
• Reduction of discipline referrals
• Increased communication with schools regarding student progress
• Increased communication with families regarding student progress