What We Do

Over the 2010-2011 year, the Collaborative will be hosting a series of Community Briefings on critical topics in education with particular relevance for Worcester.  The first of these, Education Reform at Seventeen:  Where We’ve Been, Where We Are and Where We’re Going was held on June 29th and co-hosted with the Colleges of Worcester Consortium and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.  Following this, with the Office Superintendent, the Collaborative will hosting Superintendent of Schools Melinda Boone for her State of the Schools Address.  Together, these two events will lay the groundwork for more topical conversations on education issues important to our city.

The schedule for these quarterly briefings is as follows:

Fall:

State of the Schools with the Office of the Superintendent
Dr. Melinda Boone

Practices in Developing Positive School Climate

Winter:

Early Literacy

Survey of Worcester K-12 Business and Community Partnerships

Spring:

The Pre-K through 16 Educational Continuum

Beginning in the fall of 2010 the topical briefings will be followed by a series of gatherings, Table Talks for parents, community members, and advocates to probe each topic more deeply and to consider the relevance of each of these matters for families and neighborhoods.  In addition, a written discussion document will accompany each series and serve as a point for continuing conversation.

Work In Progress

  • With multiple community partners, WEC is working on a Community Accountability document to support the work of the District detailed in its Accountability Framework.
  • In collaboration with the Coalition to Revitalize Education in Worcester (CREW), Black Legacy, Worcester Interfaith, the Latino Education Institute, WEC is working on a plan for the substantive engagement of parents in the schools and for the meaningful support of their child’s learning.
  • An environmental scan of organizations involved in education in our city.
  • A survey of the various business, higher education and other partnerships supporting our schools and our students
  • A library of information for parents including co-curricular programs for students and a primer on curriculum