On April 27, 1989, eighteen children, acting through their parents, filed a civil action in the Hartford Superior Court alleging that their fundamental right to education was being denied due to a lack of state resources being spent in areas with majority Black and Latino populations. The lead plaintiff was Milo Sheff, the son of Elizabeth Horton Sheff, and the state of Connecticut and Governor William A. O’Neill were listed as defendants. Following a decision made in favor of the defense, the action was appealed and sent to the Connecticut Supreme Court in 1996. On July 9, 1996, in a 4-3 decision, the court ruled in favor of Sheff plaintiffs concluding that the state was constitutionally obligated to provide children with equal educational opportunities and that a student’s access to public education should not be impaired by their racial and ethnic isolation. It also ruled that school districting based upon town and city boundary lines was unconstitutional because it contributed to large, concentrated areas of minority groups in Hartford. Many years passed before the Connecticut Supreme Court passed a settlement in January 2020 that would ensure more choice seats for students and more funding for extracurricular activities for students in Connecticut.
Meet your Alumni Specialist, Elizabeth Horton Sheff:
Beginning on August 22, 2023, Elizabeth Horton Sheff joined the Goodwin University Magnet School System (GUMSS) as the Alumni Specialist, responsible for nurturing and broadening the district’s relationships with their alumni. Horton Sheff is known throughout the state as the voice behind the Sheff v. O’Neill landmark case, which ensured that students like her son, Milo, have equal access to educational opportunities.
“I have long wondered about the life outcomes of those students who attended a school in the Sheff region,” said Horton Sheff. “While I am rich in anecdotal evidence of the good accomplished, working with GUMSS will afford me the opportunity to transform that which I have heard into realities that I can see.”
“With Horton Sheff joining our community, scholars and families will have an opportunity to engage with the person who championed quality integrated education that resulted in the creation of our magnet school system. It is not often that individuals have an opportunity to work with a nationally recognized education and community leader. We look forward to Horton Sheff capturing and sharing the stories of our alumni,” said Superintendent, Dr. Salvatore Menzo.
Horton Sheff comes to GUMSS with an extensive background in education and community relations. Most recently, Horton Sheff was the director for Community Renewal Team, Inc. in Hartford and previously was an Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Manchester Community College and Goodwin University. She has also served as a councilperson for the Hartford Court of Common Council and served as Minister for Just Peace Ministries for the United Church of Christ in Hartford, CT.
“There is one thing, for certain, to which I can witness: Living one’s life answering the Call for social and racial justice will lead you to many places,” said Horton Sheff. “My dedication to such a pursuit has now brought me to GUMSS. I am grateful to GUMSS for this opportunity.
Horton Sheff holds a Bachelors of Science from Charter Oak State College and a Masters of Education, concentration in educational technology, from the University of Hartford. She is the recipient of a Doctorate of Humane Letters, also from the University of Hartford.
