Western Massachusetts Literacy Collaborative Secures $190,000 Grant to Enhance Early Literacy Education

The Western Massachusetts Literacy Collaborative (WMLC) has been awarded a $190,000 Early Literacy Consortium (ELC) grant by the Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

 

Established three years ago, the WMLC unites local colleges and schools to improve teacher preparation, boost student literacy, and enhance classroom practices. This collaborative model has inspired the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to encourage similar partnerships statewide.

 

Leading the WMLC is Elms College, joined by American International College, Bay Path University, Springfield College, and Westfield State University. Partnering school districts include Springfield Public Schools, East Longmeadow Public Schools, and the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership. Early education centers Educare Springfield and Square One are also integral members.

 

A cornerstone of the collaborative is the Summer Learn & Earn Literacy Corps, which trains college students aspiring to become educators in culturally responsive and evidence-based literacy practices. These students then serve as summer school tutors, assisting elementary and middle school students in enhancing their reading skills.

 

In the most recent summer session, the program engaged 34 tutors who supported nearly 200 students identified as needing additional reading assistance. The new grant will fund professional development on evidence-based literacy practices for both higher education and school district professionals. Additionally, it will enable the hiring of an evaluation specialist to assess the effectiveness of the literacy interventions.

 

Laura Porter, WMLC director and instructor in the Education Division at Elms College, expressed gratitude for the support received. She highlighted that public school students who participated in the summer sessions demonstrated substantial growth in their reading skills, underscoring the program's effectiveness in supporting new teachers and improving literacy outcomes for youth in the region.

 

In a related development, the Healey-Driscoll Administration recently awarded an additional $800,000 in early literacy grants to 17 school districts and 14 colleges. This funding aims to promote evidence-based early literacy instructional skills among prospective and existing teachers, further emphasizing the state's commitment to enhancing literacy education.

 

These initiatives reflect a concerted effort to address literacy needs through collaborative partnerships, ensuring that educators are well-equipped to foster strong reading skills among students across Massachusetts.

 

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