About
A clearer path back to the classroom.
Second Bell is an independent, student-led project examining and improving how Connecticut high schools support students returning from significant medical or behavioral-health treatment.
The problem
Students return to school after inpatient medical or psychiatric hospitalization, partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient programs, and other health events that keep them out for 5+ days or require temporary accommodations. Yet how schools handle that return varies widely and there is little shared guidance.
Why Connecticut
Connecticut's districts make many of these decisions locally. By mapping current practice across the state, we can identify what works, where gaps exist, and whether school, district, or state-level guidance could help.
Our approach
- Research — surveying schools on existing practice.
- Resources — practical tools for schools, students and families.
- Reform — evidence-based recommendations for policymakers.