Kids Court Academy 2024 Schedule

Kids Court Academy

The CT Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities in cooperation with state and federal partners is co-sponsoring the CT Kids Court Academy.  This attorney pipeline program is an outgrowth of the CT Kids Speak and Kids Court Competition developed on the campus of UCONN Law School in 1993.

What is CT Kids Court Academy?

CT Kids Court Academy is a pipeline program to develop interest in youth regarding civil and human rights law. More information can be found here

What is the focus of Kids Court Academy?

The focus of the program is civil and human rights law enforcement and social justice.  The Program is designed to raise the social consciousness of youth regarding civil and human rights law in a series of one hour sessions where students will explore the law, its effects and power through attorney guidance and peer exercises and interaction.

What are the objectives of Kids Court Academy?
  • To support the development of youth leadership and develop their interest in the law by exposing them to the law early
  • To reduce discrimination and prejudice by having students participate in the program from rural, urban and suburban areas
  • To create a pipeline for CT law schools 
  • To inspire the next generation of change agents and civil rights leaders
  • To offer an after school activity that will serve as academic enrichment, as well as recreational fun
  • To provide an opportunity for youth to elevate their voices
  • To expose  youth to legislative and law-making processes
Program Description

The Program  will feature attorneys, law students, investigators and other civil rights and social justice professionals, who will present and do an activity with the student participants on a bi-weekly basis for one hour.  The bi-weekly meetings will be remote and held over Microsoft Teams.

Eligibility

Students are eligible to apply for the Academy if they are in middle school (6th-8th grade) or high school (9th-12th grade) in Connecticut.  Students will be eligible to participate in the Academy from year to year, once accepted, until they graduate from the Program.

Attendance

In order to get the greatest benefit from the Academy, attendance is required. Students may not miss more than 3 weeks of the Academy or they will be in danger of being  removed from the Program. 

When does it start?

Kids Court Academy begins on Tuesday February 13, 2024.  The Program will run from 3:45-4:45 via Microsoft Teams.  The Academy will run every other Tuesday with the exception of Holidays and scheduled days off. The full schedule is available here.

Registration

To register, please fill out this form for each student. The forms can be completed either by the student's teacher or parent.