Every child has different needs, and every family deserves the option to customize their children’s education. When education funds are allowed to follow students to the school of their choice, families win. The American Federation for Children believes all parents should have a wide range of high-quality educational options to choose from, regardless of income. That’s why we seek to empower families, especially lower-income families, with the freedom to choose the best K-12 education for their children.
We carry out this work in three main areas: (1) By educating the public about the value of school choice and the research supporting it, (2) By advocating for school choice in statehouses across the country, and (3) By supporting candidates for office who prioritize these issues and will fight to fund students, not systems. Throughout our work, we are proud to stand alongside a diverse coalition of state and local partners who strive every day to make sure every child has a chance to succeed.
The Connecticut Center for Educational Excellence carries out this mission every day by raising funds and issuing scholarships for children in the state to attend non-public schools of their family’s choice. The American Federation for Children recognizes the outstanding work the Center does to support children and families in Connecticut and to provide educational options that best fit their needs. Families in every state deserve options, and the Center works to ensure Connecticut families are no exception.
Over the last several years, the momentum for school choice has only intensified, as families have become aware of the severe challenges in the traditional system and empowered to make a change. Now more than ever, we must continue the fight to ensure every child has the right to learn, and we are proud to stand alongside allies like the Connecticut Center for Educational Excellence in this cause.
Dear Friends,
It is my privilege to introduce you to the new and very exciting Connecticut Center for Educational Excellence (CTCEE).
As you review the information contained throughout this website, you will learn of the Imperative and Need for a Center that will serve Connecticut families with scholarship support to private schools of their parent’s choice. CTCEE will offer opportunities that meet the unique needs and honor the potential of low-income children throughout Connecticut.
You will also see CTCEE plans to become leaders for parents, schools and communities that are anxious to make sure all options for excellent educational opportunities are available to our precious low-income children throughout all of Connecticut. Opportunities that will impact students, families and our communities.
A career in higher education with a concentration on educational opportunities for students who would be the first in their family to attend college influenced study on how we could better serve our children as young as grades K-8, overcome barriers of poverty, language, and lack of education often found within families. The students who were never encouraged or even thought of high-school or college graduation. Statistics showed some students never matriculated from eighth to ninth grade. The parents who only dreamed of such accomplishment for their children.
The questions: What could we do to further support parents who KNOW what their children need to succeed with an excellent education and a future beyond what they, as parents could accomplish.
What would it take to open doors for children who can succeed despite the need of special attention to their family and individual unique needs?
After eight years working with the wonderful low-income families and students in Connecticut who are receiving scholarships to private schools, the answer is simple — give them a chance! Their success is amazing!
As is often the case, with hard questions, comes the challenge of bringing about the desired change.
Yes, there are wonderful existing opportunities for Connecticut’s low-income children to obtain scholarships to their chosen schools. However, there are often more than twice the number of eligible applications as there are dollars to fund scholarships. The reality is that there are hundreds of families that would like to at least apply and work for their child’s education but do not live in the right city or fit some requirements of the available private scholarships. There is so much more we can do to help. CTCEE intends to become part of the solution — a new member of a community dedicated to educational excellence for all our CT children.
I invite you to read some of the student accounts of what scholarship assistance, professional support and guidance to families accomplished. The difference environments that were able to focus on the needs of individual children and their families have made.
Words like hard work, success, high-school and college, careers of service to others and giving back are sincere and a true victory for all who work to make scholarships available to our low-income K-8 students. As recently reported, parents having “Skin in The Game” is making all of the difference. When a scholarship is awarded, parents are responsible for the balance of tuition determined by the school of the parent’s choice.
Please consider the material contained in this website. We welcome your questions for additional information. We sincerely invite you to join the Connecticut Center for Educational Excellence family, to help us provide the much-needed financial support for our families and celebrate the success of our children as we work together for the future.
Carolanne Marquis
Chief Executive Officer
Connecticut Center for Educational Excellence
