Award will support expanded arts learning at R.J. Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts in Hartford
HAMDEN, CT – August 25, 2026 – Arts for Learning Connecticut has received a $2,000 grant from the Zayas Law Fund for Arts and Education at Greater Hartford Gives. The award will support AFLCT’s Higher Order Thinking Schools program at R.J. Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts in Hartford during the 2026-27 school year.
The grant will help underwrite professional Teaching Artist fees and associated implementation costs for the year-long program. At Kinsella, HOT Schools is planned to serve all 465 students in grades PK-8 through two school-wide performances, five days of hands-on arts workshops, two 10-day arts-integrated residencies, and three professional development sessions for educators.
“We are deeply grateful to the Zayas Law Fund for investing in the students and educators at Kinsella,” said Jed Kornbluh, Director of Business Development at Arts for Learning Connecticut. “This support helps the school build on two successful years of HOT Schools and makes sustained, high-quality arts learning part of the school day for every student.”
The program addresses a significant need at Kinsella. Sixty-six percent of the school’s students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, nearly 20% are English Language Learners, and 24% receive Special Education services. Although Kinsella’s magnet theme centers the performing arts, its operating budget cannot independently provide the breadth and depth of arts programming envisioned through HOT Schools.
Evaluation results from the 2024-25 school year demonstrate the program’s impact. Every Kinsella teacher surveyed agreed that students were actively engaged in learning through HOT Schools and that the program supported students’ creative expression. Sixty percent reported learning and using new strategies, skills, or ideas in their teaching. As one sixth-grade student reflected, “I learned I can do things I never thought I could do.”
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 Greater Hartford Gives Foundation
Greater Hartford Gives Foundation is a community foundation, a hub for community-driven change. We fuel impact throughout Greater Hartford and beyond by making connections, providing funding, and sharing knowledge. Our goal is to create an inclusive region where everyone prospers. Together, with a powerful network of changemakers, we identify our neighbors’ most pressing needs and invest resources in initiatives that dismantle racial and economic barriers and improve quality of life. In our 100-year history, we have invested more than $1 billion throughout the region. Join us in building a Greater Hartford full of opportunity. Learn more at greaterhartfordgives.org.