Hamden, CT — July 1, 2026 — Arts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT) has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the American Savings Foundation to support the expansion of its Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools initiative in Waterbury during the 2026-2027 school year. The award will help bring arts-integrated teaching and learning experiences to students and educators, strengthening academic achievement while fostering creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.
HOT Schools is AFLCT’s signature school transformation model that embeds the arts across all areas of learning through sustained partnerships with classroom teachers, administrators, and professional Teaching Artists. Rather than serving as enrichment alone, the program integrates artistic processes into everyday instruction, helping educators create engaging, student-centered classrooms where learners develop the higher-order thinking skills essential for success in school and beyond.
“We are deeply grateful to the American Savings Foundation for investing in educational innovation that empowers both students and teachers,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director of Arts for Learning Connecticut. “The HOT Schools model demonstrates that the arts are not an ‘extra’—they are a powerful vehicle for improving student engagement, strengthening instructional practice, and creating school cultures where every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
The grant will support the HOT Schools program at F.J. Kingsbury Elementary School and Reed School in Waterbury, where professional Teaching Artists will collaborate with educators to integrate the arts into everyday instruction. Building on AFLCT’s longstanding partnership with Kingsbury and its expanding work at Reed, the initiative will serve more than 850 students and 100 educators, strengthening student engagement, fostering creativity, and supporting teacher practice through arts-integrated learning.
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.
About American Savings Foundation
The American Savings Foundation is a private charitable foundation dedicated to strengthening the quality of life in communities across central Connecticut by investing in education, human services, arts and culture, and community development. Through strategic grantmaking, the Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that create lasting opportunities for children, youth, and families.