Current Portfolio

The Bridgeport Early Childhood Social and Emotional Learning Initiative (BECSELI) is a collaborative of key community stakeholders working to ensure coordinated, high quality SEL programming and supports for the early childhood educators, young children, and families of Bridgeport, CT. Partners include: Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, All Our Kin, Alliance for Community Empowerment , Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition at RYASAP, Bridgeport Prospers, Bridgeport Public Schools, Bridgeport School Readiness Council, Cooperative Educational Services, The Consultation Center at Yale, Housatonic Early Childhood Laboratory School and YMCA.

The Bridgeport Public Schools Social and Emotional Learning Initiative (BPS SEL Initiative) seeks to grow and sustain a district-wide learning model that actively engages all initiative stakeholders to deepen their knowledge base, understanding, and commitment to the academic, social, and emotional growth of BPS students, families, and staff. A partnership between the Bridgeport Public Schools, Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition at RYASAP, Optimus Healthcare, Parent Leadership Training Institute, Southwest Community Health Center, The Consultation Center at Yale, and Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence now in its eighth year, the BPS SEL Initiative seeks to build on the results they have achieved to date and continue to enhance SEL efforts, including RULER and Restorative Practices, within the district and the community at-large.

The four campuses of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport provide nearly 800 students in PreK to 8th grade a Christ-centered, academically rigorous learning environment, where cultural diversity is welcomed and celebrated. Students are nurtured, encouraged, and challenged in preparation for a successful life of leadership and service. The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport continues to strengthen its use of RULER across all campuses and support their staff, teachers, students, and families in the development of their social and emotional skills.

In 2019, Horizons Bridgeport, a regional network of Bridgeport-based Horizons programs, was formed in partnership with its affiliated sites, Horizons at Greens Farms Academy, Horizons at Sacred Heart University, and Horizons at Notre Dame High School to create out-of-school academic, enrichment, and social and emotional learning programs for students from pre-K through high school. Horizons Bridgeport aims to expand capacity by opening new programs and expanding current programs. Over the next several years, Horizons Bridgeport plans to serve over 1,000 Bridgeport students; increase and diversify funding to support program growth; identify and support best practices to strengthen program quality; strengthen community relationships; and, establish regional infrastructure and governance based on advancing equity.

New Beginnings Family Academy (NBFA), a public charter school in Bridgeport, provides approximately 500 students in PreK to 8th grade a meaningful, high-quality education through experience-based learning that helps develop essential social, emotional, and critical-thinking skills. Their progressive education with emotionally responsive practice model attends to the whole child, not just academics, and focuses on developing collaborative, socially responsible leaders by organically weaving ethics and character-building into daily instruction in small-class settings.  Their student-focused approach brings out the best in each child by getting to know them individually, encouraging curiosity, and fostering their personal interests.