Mission: New Beginnings Family Academy provides students a meaningful, high-quality education through experience-based learning that helps develop essential social, emotional and critical-thinking skills. This gives all children a foundation to achieve their full potential at every stage of life. NBFA believes that children's well-being is foundational for learning; their development needs are supported; their experiences are important; and inquiry and active discovery are integral to their educational experience. Through a shared vision of progressive education, NBFA equips students to be creative, collaborative, deep thinkers and problem solvers with the social, emotional, and intellectual wherewithal for sustained success in the global community. NBFA is committed to being a leader in progressive pedagogy – meaningful, student-driven instruction that supports children in identifying their interests while mastering key skills – in an emotionally responsive environment, sharing best practices with urban districts throughout the state and nation.

Results: To accomplish our goal of preparing students for life-long success, we work with experts from Bank Street College of Education to implement a progressive education model with emotionally responsive practice. This 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. Our student-focused approach brings out the best in each child by getting to know them individually, encouraging curiosity, and fostering their personal interests. All NBFA students are selected through a blind lottery, and there is no admissions criteria.

Target demographics: Children

Direct beneficiaries per year: 499 Students

Geographic areas served: Bridgeport, Connecticut but serve the entire state

Programs: Prek-3 through eighth grade