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UConn Law's Black Law Students Association invites you to its fall symposium
Sheff v. O'Neill: 10th Anniversary
Thursday, November 9, 2006
University of Connecticut School of Law
Hartford, Connecticut
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Panel Discussions
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Reception
On July 9, 1996, the Connecticut Supreme Court issued its decision on Sheff v.O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1, 678 A.2d 1267 (1996), in which it held that students in the Hartford public schools were racially, ethnically and economically isolated and that, as a result, Hartford public school students had not been provided a substantially equal educational opportunity under the state constitution, article eighth, §1, and article first, §§1 and 20. 238 Conn. at 37-38, 47. The settlement agreement entered into on January 22, 2003 provides that at least 30% of Hartford students should receive an educational experience with reduced isolation by using interdistrict magnet schools, the Open Choice program, and interdistrict cooperative programs. The panels will address how Sheff has changed education in Hartford and Connecticut.
Schedule
1:00 PM Welcome Play It Now!
- Ellen Ash Peters, former Chief Justice, Connecticut Supreme Court
1:05 PM The Sheff Story: How did Sheff start? What was the initial strategy? Play It Now!
- Wesley Horton, Senior Partner, Horton Shields & Knox
- Martha Stone, Founder and Executive Director, Center for Children's Advocacy
- Elizabeth Horton Sheff, Hartford City Councilwoman
- James Thompson, Former Principal, Simpson-Waverly Classical Magnet School
2:00 PM What Sheff Accomplished: The Effect of Sheff on Hartford and the Surrounding Suburban School Districts Play It Now!
- George A. Coleman, Interim Commissioner of Education, Conecticut State Department of Education
- Susan Eaton, Author, The Children in Room E4: American Education on Trial; Research Director, Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Harvard Law School
- Robert Frahm, Education Writer, The Hartford Courant
- Susan Freedman, Partner, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP
2:45 PM Break
3:15 PM Past and Current Legislative Efforts: The settlement aggreement, magnet schools, and other programs Play It Now!
- Andrew Fleischmann, Co-Chair, State House Education Committee
- Jack Hasegawa, Chief of the Office of Educational Equity, Connecticut State Board of Education
- Phil Tegeler, Executive Director, Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC)
4:15 PM Sheff & Beyond: What is the future of Sheff? What will be the legacy of Sheff? Play It Now!
- Karen DeMeola, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Finance, University of Connecticut School of Law
- Regina Hopkins, Program Coordinator, Hartford Host Interdistrict Magnets & HPS Choice One Schools
- Lois Luddy, Teacher, Simpson-Waverly Classical Magnet School
- Allan Taylor, Partner, Day, Berry & Howard LLP
5:00 PM Closing Remarks Play It Now!
- John C. Brittain, Chief Counsel and Senior Deputy Director, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
5:05 PM Reception
Free admission to all who RSVP by calling (860) 570-5024 or by
Sponsored in part by the Bingham McCutchen LLP Diversity Programming Fund at the University of Connecticut School of Law.
If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact Jane Thierfeld Brown at (860) 570-5131 at least two weeks in advance.