WORCESTER - The state announced nearly $25 million in funding to help increase early literacy among elementary students, with many districts in Worcester County getting a piece of the funding to help with initiatives aimed at the earliest readers getting up to grade level.
Gov. Maura Healey announced last week that $24.7 million would be handed out to 71 different school districts across the state to strengthen literacy instruction, with a particular focus on students between first and third grade.
"Reading is the foundation for everything students do in school and throughout their lives," Healey stated on Thursday, Aug. 6. "That's why we're making historic investments to strengthen literacy instruction, support educators and help every student build the skills they need to succeed."
The money will be distributed through the state's Partnership for Reading Success-Massachusetts, which comprises four different programs that each focus on a different aspect of literacy.
$10.2 million will be distributed to 13 different districts as PRISM I continuation grants, which will allow the districts to continue helping improve their early literacy programming so that all students can read at or above grade level by grade 3. This includes $579,750 for Northborough-Southborough Public Schools and $289,875 for Nashoba Regional School District.
$2.9 million will be distributed to 13 different districts as PRISM II continuation grants, which strengthen early literacy through the implementation of high-quality instructional materials in pre-K through third grade. None of the recipients are located in Worcester County, with the largest recipient being Pittsfield Public Schools getting $466,500.
$5.9 million will be distributed to 36 new districts as PRISM II second cohort grants, which aim to support the evaluation, selection, purchase, launch and implementation of high-quality instructional materials for pre-K through third grade. This includes $313,538 for Southbridge Public Schools, $289,000 for Leominster Public Schools, $221,804 for Mendon-Upton Regional School District, $214,000 for Westborough Public Schools, $146,000 for Berlin-Boylston Public Schools, $117,000 for Quabbin Regional School District, $70,000 for Winchendon Public Schools and $25,000 for Lunenburg Public Schools.
$5.6 million will be distributed to 19 new districts as PRISM III second cohort grants, which support resources, targeted coaching and professional learning support to evaluate, select, purchase, launch and implement high-quality instructional materials for grades 4–12. This includes $261,263 in funding for Southbridge Public Schools, $236,835 for Worcester Public Schools and $221,145 for Quaboag Regional School District.
In recent years, reading scores across the state have been in decline following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, state reading scores were a full grade level above the national average, but as of this most recent school year, Massachusetts reading scores are only a half-grade above the national average.
A study and review conducted by Education Scorecard cites that students from wealthier communities have made bigger improvements recovering from COVID-19 than students from lower-income districts, meaning any extra funding from the state can help bridge the gap high-needs students might be facing.
"We're committed to strengthening implementation of high-quality literacy instruction and continuing to address persistent disparities in access and achievement," Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez stated. "Our work through PRISM grants and Literacy Launch Institutes is designed to help all students become strong readers and writers."
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: State kicks in nearly $25 million in extra funding for literacy programs