Autonomous Schools: Hartford public schools that have been identified as relatively high performing and/or significantly improving schools and have been given considerable programmatic autonomy and freedom from bureaucratic operational constraints.

Choice Parent-Student Information Sessions: A series of information sessions held throughout the city where representatives from Hartford Public Schools will be available to provide all of the information families need to make a school choice and answer any questions about the Choice process in Hartford. Families are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible.

Choice System of Schools: Available to Hartford families only. For the 2009-2010 school year, all Hartford parents and students will be able to apply to any non-magnet public school in the district. These schools feature a variety of highly distinctive academic themes at the elementary and secondary school levels. Each school has specific mandatory uniforms. Any student either in the final grade at their current school or wishing to transfer schools must fill out a Choice application. Placement will be determined based on the student’s success in the Choice lottery run by the Office of Admissions for Choice.

CREC: The Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) works with and for member districts in the Capitol Region to develop a wide array of programs and services to meet the educational needs of children and adults. In addition to providing services such as professional development workshops for educators, school construction, operations and facilities services, and customized educational programming, CREC runs eight inter-district magnet schools for grades preK-12. The application process for CREC magnet schools will be run by the Regional School Choice Office.

Incubation Schools: Incubation Schools are newly created Hartford Public schools. Most incubation schools will not open with instruction at all grade levels, but will start with a few select grades and add one grade level every year.

Interdistrict Magnet Schools: These schools are available to students from Hartford and the Greater Hartford Region. Hartford Host Interdistrict Magnet Schools are select public schools that have been approved for “magnet” status by the State Department of Education and the Hartford Board of Education. Each school’s core program is designed to meet the highest state and national standards for curriculum, instruction and student achievement. Each Magnet School has its own curriculum “theme” or approach to teaching students. The characteristics of each school are intended to attract parents and students committed to particular programs. Some Magnet Schools also feature an extended day and an extended school year. Each school has specific mandatory uniforms. The application process for all magnet schools in Hartford and the Greater Hartford Region will be run by the Regional School Choice Office. All Hartford residents applying to a magnet school who are in the final grade at their current school must also fill out a Hartford Public Schools Choice application through the Office of Admissions for Choice.

Magnet School Open Houses: An opportunity for students and their parents to learn about the academic offerings and environment at each of the Hartford area magnet schools. For your application to be considered for a Magnet School, the parent(s)/guardian(s) and student must attend at least one Open House session at that school or schedule an appointment with the school principal.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB): NCLB was signed into law on January 8, 2002, proposing that every child is capable of learning regardless of race, socio-economic status, disability or native language. NCLB calls for a highly qualified teacher in the core subjects in every classroom, the use of proven, research-based instructional methods, and timely information and options for parents. Schools that underperform are held accountable, providing their students with free tutoring or transfer to a better performing public school.

Office of Admissions for Choice, Hartford Public Schools: The Office of Admissions is responsible for overseeing the transition to a system of full public school choice in Hartford, educating Hartford parents and students about their right to apply to any non-magnet public school in the district, collecting CHOICE applications, and running the Hartford Public Schools Choice selection process.

Project Choice: Established as part of the settlement in the case of Sheff v. O’Neill, Project Choice allows Hartford students to attend schools in participating suburban school districts.

Regional School Choice Office (RSCO): The RSCO is responsible for implementing a "Comprehensive Management Plan" to coordinate all Sheff remedies and ensuring that all city and suburban students have full and equal access to information about their choices. The RSCO will oversee the lottery for all Hartford magnet schools, suburban magnet schools, and regional vocational agriculture centers.

Student Orientations: At the beginning of the school year, schools hold mandatory student orientations at which incoming students receive the information they need about the upcoming school year.

Student Placement (Hartford Public Schools Choice System): Overseen by the Hartford Public Schools Office of Admissions for Choice. Every student in the final grade at their current school or wishing to change schools within the Hartford Public Schools system must fill out a Choice application and receive placement based on his or her success in the Choice selection process. Student placement will occur after the application deadline.

Student Registration: Once a student has received his or her placement at a Hartford public school from the CHOICE Office, that student must go to the specified school with appropriate documentation to be registered. Students and families are encouraged to contact the school for registration dates and times.

Transition Grade: A student attending the last grade at their school