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Contact
CREC Welcome Center
openchoice@crec.org
860-509-3700
RSCO Application
The 2025-2026 RSCO application is open!
Learn more at crecopenchoice.org
Testimonials
“In Simsbury, we continue to build upon our successful partnership with Open Choice. By welcoming students and families into our system, we enrich the experiences of all involved. We are pleased to welcome preschool students into our district, providing families and students the opportunity to begin our journey together by engaging in an interactive and developmentally sound early childhood program.”
-
Matthew T. Curtis
Superintendent of Simsbury Public Schools
About Open Choice
RSCO Application Information
The RSCO application period for the 2025-2026 school year is now open!
(Closes February 7, 2025)
For your Open Choice school choice options, visit crecopenchoice.org.
The CREC Welcome Center is also available at (860) 509-3700
Reminder: Accepting a RSCO placement and completing the registration process ensures your child a seat for the new school year.
For more than 50 years, the Hartford Region Open Choice Program (formally Project Concern) has been offering Hartford students the opportunity to attend public schools in suburban towns, and suburban students the opportunity to attend public schools in Hartford, at no cost to the student's family.
The goal of the Open Choice Program is to improve academic achievement, reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation and provide all children with a choice of high quality educational programs.
Research studies show that students in integrated schools are more likely to graduate from high school, go on to college, and graduate from college than their segregated peers. Many Open Choice students are also performing at rates that are higher than their peers statewide.
The Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) is one of three agencies in Connecticut that is legislatively mandated to manage the statewide program. Open Choice is funded by the State Department of Education.
Our Staff
Our multilingual Open Choice team works closely with school districts to help support students and their families. Together, we help your child participate in a rewarding, diverse, educational experience that will prepare him/her for a successful future.
Benefits of Open Choice
- Full Day Preschool and Kindergarten programs are available.
- Free tuition and transportation.
- Athletic programs in all districts.
- After School Academy for middle and high school students in Hartford.
- Once enrolled, students attend school in the Open Choice district until high school graduation.
- Summer programs for elementary, middle & high school students.
- Effort is made to place siblings in the same school district at the time of placement.
- Open Choice serves all children, including gifted and talented, English language learners, and special needs students.
- Literacy & Math facilitators for kindergarten students.
- The majority of Open Choice graduates attend post-secondary education programs, including four-year colleges such as Clark, UConn, ECSU, Lesley, CCSU, Western New England, the University of Hartford (grants available for Hartford residents), Johnson and Wales, and the University of Florida.
Benefits of an Integrated Education
Students who attend genuinely integrated schools are more likely to:
- Go to integrated colleges.
- Live in integrated neighborhoods.
- Have friends of other races and ethnicities.
- Work in nontraditional occupations with higher status.
