Hamden, CT — July 14, 2026 — Arts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT) has received a $2,500 grant from the Charter Oak Federal Credit Union Community Giving Grants Program to support Creative Learning and Student Engagement through the organization’s Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools partnership at Regional Multicultural Magnet School (RMMS) in New London. The award will help expand arts-integrated learning opportunities for students during the 2026–27 school year.
The grant will support AFLCT’s nationally recognized HOT Schools model, which embeds professional Teaching Artists alongside classroom educators to integrate the arts into daily instruction. Through collaborative planning, artist residencies, and arts-based instructional strategies, the program strengthens student engagement while supporting academic achievement, creativity, critical thinking, communication, and social-emotional learning.
Regional Multicultural Magnet School has been a longtime HOT Schools partner, working closely with AFLCT to create a school culture where the arts are woven throughout the curriculum. The program equips teachers with sustainable instructional strategies while providing students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences that encourage curiosity, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.
“We’re grateful to Charter Oak Federal Credit Union for investing in innovative educational opportunities that help students thrive,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director of Arts for Learning Connecticut. “This grant will strengthen our longstanding partnership with Regional Multicultural Magnet School and ensure that students continue to benefit from high-quality arts-integrated instruction that makes learning more engaging and meaningful.”
This award reflects Charter Oak Federal Credit Union’s commitment to strengthening the communities it serves by investing in educational opportunities that enrich the lives of young people throughout southeastern Connecticut.
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.