Hamden, CT — June 16, 2026 — Arts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT) has been awarded a $100,000 Strategic Partnership Grant from the Connecticut Office of the Arts, a division of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), to support and expand its Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools initiative.
The grant represents a significant investment in arts-integrated education and school transformation efforts across Connecticut. Through HOT Schools, AFLCT partners with educators, administrators, and Teaching Artists to embed the arts throughout teaching and learning, helping students develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills.
“This investment reflects a strong commitment to ensuring that Connecticut students have access to engaging, innovative learning experiences,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director of Arts for Learning Connecticut. “The HOT Schools model demonstrates what is possible when schools embrace the arts as an essential component of education. We are honored by the Connecticut Office of the Arts’ confidence in this work and excited to deepen our partnerships with schools across the state.”
The Strategic Partnership Grant will help AFLCT strengthen existing HOT Schools partnerships while expanding opportunities for additional schools to benefit from arts-integrated teaching and learning. The funding will support ongoing collaboration among educators, school leaders, and professional Teaching Artists as they work together to create meaningful and equitable learning experiences for students.
About Higher Order Thinking 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.
This project is supported by the Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.