Hamden, CT— Arts for Learning CT (AFLCT) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the NewAlliance Foundation to support Higher Order Thinking Schools programming at Church Street Elementary School and Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School. This funding will help expand arts-integrated learning opportunities for students, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and social-emotional development through the arts.
“We are deeply grateful to the NewAlliance Foundation for their generous support,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director of Arts for Learning Connecticut. “This grant will empower us to continue our work in Higher Order Thinking Schools, providing students at Church Street Elementary and Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School with arts-based learning experiences that foster creativity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.”
The NewAlliance Foundation is committed to fostering a community where all people can reach their fullest potential. Through its support of organizations that advance literacy, build communities, and dismantle systems that perpetuate poverty and racism, the foundation works to create a more inclusive, accessible, and equitable society. Guided by its core values—inclusivity, accessibility, fairness, responsiveness, and a deep commitment to racial equity—the foundation invests in initiatives that strengthen education, the arts, and social well-being across Connecticut. By investing in AFLCT’s Higher Order Thinking Schools programming, the foundation reaffirms its commitment to equitable access to high-quality education and the transformative power of the arts.
About Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools:
The Higher Order Thinking Schools program is a comprehensive initiative integrating arts learning into the core curriculum to improve school and student outcomes. Its goals are to improve student engagement, enrich school culture, and expand teacher practice. It is built on the belief that arts learning promotes higher-order thinking and develops skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration. HOT Schools partner schools are characterized by their focus on Social and Emotional Learning, Culturally Responsive Teaching practice, and school culture, fostering an environment where every student is encouraged to engage actively in their learning. The program has been recognized nationally for its innovative approach to education and its success in enhancing student achievement.