An initiative of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
Across Connecticut communities are partnering with the Memorial Fund to improve the lives of young children, from birth through age eight. In 2001, nearly 50 communities accepted an invitation to join the Discovery Initiative. These are among the communities identified by the State Department of Education as priority districts, transition districts, or districts with severe needs schools. Over half of Connecticut’s children, from birth through age 17, live in these communities, according to the 2000 Census.
Based on what the Discovery collaborative groups have learned about local resources and families’ needs, the communities are using the direct grants, technical assistance, convening and other Discovery supports to develop a local or regional action plan. Two core values also support the work: parent engagement and collaboration. Experience shows that communities that work collaboratively and meaningfully engage parents are more successful over the long term.
The Memorial Fund is committed to supporting the Discovery Initiative through 2009. Based on the communities’ interests and the availability of funds, the Trustees plan to make available a total of $32 million to work with communities and other partners to build a broad base of support for the early school success of all children.
What we want to accomplish: The Memorial Fund intends to partner with communities, collaborations and organizations that share these objectives:
#1. to expand the supply of high quality early childhood education
#2. to increase the quality of existing early childhood education
#3. to build strong connections between early care and elementary education
#4. to improve students’ social, emotional and academic performance
Discovery Grant Programs
Engaging Connecticut communities in building and implementing an early care and education agenda: The Trustees of the Memorial Fund plan to make available annual grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to each community. Other supports include technical assistance, convening and sharing information among the Discovery communities.
Developing a statewide and regional network that supports the local communities and seeks state level change in policy and practice: To create such a network of communications, policy research, advocacy and civic engagement resources, we are working closely with partner organizations, agencies and communities.
Fostering instructional leadership, a strategy implemented by the Connecticut Center for School Change: The Center focuses at both the district and school levels on improving student outcomes and integrates its work with the Memorial Fund’s initiative; for example, the Center directs at least half of its program effort to those communities participating in Discovery.
