Dr. Robert Tremblay, Superintendent of Framingham Public Schools, is proud to announce that Framingham Public Schools is one of 15 districts that have been awarded a Partnership for Reading Success in Massachusetts (PRISM) grant funded through Literacy Launch as part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s commitment to early education. As part of the budget priorities last year, Literacy Launch: Reading Success from Age 3 through Grade 3 makes sure Massachusetts schools, educators, and students have access to high-quality, evidence-based reading instruction through literacy materials, technical support, coaching, and professional development. This funding represents a key investment in the future of early learners, helping equip students with the reading and writing skills necessary for academic success and lifelong learning. 

This funding will be utilized to further support literacy growth and achievement within the district as classrooms work to implement high quality instructional materials in support of our district instructional priority that centers literacy as an area of focus. This grant will work in collaboration with the existing GLEAM, Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts Grant which targets our K-5 population and our participation in The Learning Acceleration Network (LAN) which supports district leadership teams to set and achieve goals aligned to a concrete instructional improvement priority within grades 6-8.

The first year of this new, multi-year strategy is supported by the fiscal year 2025 budget and the federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant. Awardees will receive professional development, support to create partnerships with community-based preschool providers to align evidence-based early curriculum, instruction, and assessment across the community, and funding for early literacy screening assessments, coaching support and to cover staffing costs for roles like literacy coaches or reading specialists through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in partnership with the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

“Framingham Public Schools is honored to be among the fifteen districts who received this funding to support the commitment to early education opportunities. As a district, we have worked diligently since 2021 to increase early education opportunities. Our Pre-Kindergarten expansion efforts have allowed for 216 Pre-Kindergarten seats to be offered this school year compared to 62 seats in 2021-2022 when we began the work of Pre-Kindergarten expansion. Enrollment has expanded to include three community partner sites; Framingham Metrowest YMCA, Framingham State University, Loving Nest, as well as classrooms at BLOCKS/Juniper Hill and McCarthy Elementary School. We are thankful for the commitment of the Healey-Driscoll Administration as they continue to prioritize the importance of early learning to ensure positive outcomes for our students. I am especially grateful for the hard work of our Office of Teaching and Learning, specifically Amy Bright, Assistant Superintendent for PreK-12 Education, Dr. Marybeth O’Brien, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, and Christina Shea, Early Education Manager for their collaboration on this grant.” said Dr. Tremblay. Early Education at Framingham Public Schools continues to evolve with program and placement expansion aligned to the Pre-Kindergarten Strategic Plan and the vision for Universal Pre-K.  We are now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year with a variety of schedules and programming to meet the needs of families.

Grant awardees: 

• Brockton Public Schools: $30,000 

• Framingham Public Schools: $15,579

• Gateway Regional School District in partnership with Farmington River Regional School District: $15,000

• Haverhill Public Schools: $16,260

• Holyoke Public Schools: $20,598 

• Lynn Public Schools: $30,000

• Nashoba Regional School District: $30,000 

• New Bedford Public Schools: $30,000 

• Northborough Public Schools in partnership with Southborough Public Schools: $29,640 

• Norwood Public Schools: $19,400

• Peabody Public Schools: $30,000 

• Salem Public Schools: $30,000 

• Stoneham Public Schools: $30,000