• WATCH NOW | Charting the Path to Excellence and Equity Part 3: Worcester Public Schools’ New Literacy Curriculum

• Event slides

In the 2023-2024 school year, Worcester Public Schools adopted a new literacy curriculum for elementary school students called Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA). What is Amplify CKLA and why was it chosen? What do teachers and students have to say about it? What is the district doing to support its effective implementation? 

We answered these questions and more in the third installment of Charting the Path to Excellence and Equity, a series of community forums hosted by the Worcester Education Equity Roundtable exploring student learning and achievement in the Worcester Public Schools. 

Part 3: Worcester Public Schools’ New Literacy Curriculum featured a presentation from Amanda Taylor, WPS Elementary ELA Curriculum Specialist, Colleen Murray, WPS Integrated Coach, and Kate Aselton, WPS Integrated Coach, on the process the district underwent to select Amplify CKLA, what the curriculum looks like at each grade level, educators’ and students’ experiences with it to date, and the district’s strategies for supporting implementation.

This event is available in English and Spanish and is designed for anyone invested in education, including parents, families, educators, policymakers, and community advocates.

Program Overview:

• Welcome | Jennifer Davis Carey, Worcester Education Collaborative

• Amplify CKLA | Amanda Taylor, Worcester Public Schools (WPS); Colleen Murray, WPS, Kate Aselton, WPS

• Panel Discussion and Q&A

Sponsored by the Worcester Education Collaborative and the Worcester Education Equity Roundtable, this event is intended to help our community work together towards a stronger, more inclusive educational system for our children and our community. The Worcester Education Equity Roundtable is generously supported by The Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

• WATCH NOW | Charting the Path to Excellence and Equity Part 2: Monitoring Progress in the Worcester Public Schools

• Event slides

Worcester Public Schools is committed to leveraging a variety of assessment tools to enhance student learning. In Part 1 of our Charting the Path to Excellence and Equity series—a set of community forums exploring student achievement in Worcester—we examined how the district utilizes data from the MCAS, the state’s standardized test. What other data does the district collect to track student progress throughout the year and adjust instruction as needed?

On Monday, January 27, from 4:30 to 6:00 PM, WEC continued the series with Part 2: Monitoring Student Progress in the Worcester Public Schools.

Dr. Marco Andrade, WPS Director of Research and Accountability, provided an overview of the STAR and DIBELS assessments, explained how the results are utilized, and shared general trends from the 2024 beginning-of-year results. Erin McMahon, Principal at Lake View School, then discussed how her school leverages this data. Following the presentations, Dr. Andrade and Ms. McMahon were joined by Mia McDonald, a Worcester Public School parent, for a panel discussion on student achievement in Worcester and the support parents and caregivers believe are critical to ensuring all students reach their full potential.

This event is available in English and Spanish and is designed for anyone invested in education, including parents, families, educators, policymakers, and community advocates.

Program Overview:

• Welcome | Jennifer Davis Carey, Worcester Education Collaborative

• STAR and DIBELS Assessments | Dr. Marco Andrade, Worcester Public Schools

• Lake View School’s Use of Data | Erin McMahon, Worcester Public Schools

• Panel Discussion and Q&A | Dr. Marco Andrade, Erin McMahon, and Mia McDonald

Sponsored by the Worcester Education Collaborative and the Worcester Education Equity Roundtable, this event is intended to help our community work together towards a stronger, more inclusive educational system for our children and our community. The Worcester Education Equity Roundtable is generously supported by The Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

• WATCH NOW | Charting the Path to Excellence and Equity Part 1: MCAS Achievement Data

• Event slides

• Read more about the event (article published by The Worcester Guardian on December 16, 2024)

Worcester Public Schools’ new 5-year Strategic Plan, Our Promise to the Future, sets ambitious goals to increase overall student achievement and close performance gaps for historically underserved students.  What do the latest MCAS results—the state’s standardized assessment—reveal about Worcester’s progress toward these goals? What initiatives are in place to ensure that all students succeed? How do parents and caregivers view these efforts? What additional supports do they believe are needed to help their children thrive?

The Worcester Education Equity Roundtable’s new community forum series, “Charting the Path to Excellence and Equity,” is exploring these important questions as part of a broader effort to examine student achievement in Worcester. 

Part 1: MCAS Achievement Data was held on Monday, December 9th, from 4:30 – 6:00 pm. This event featured two representatives from Worcester Public Schools: Dr. Marco Andrade, Director of Research and Accountability, and Craig Dottin, Principal on Assignment for Student Supports. Dr. Andrade presented the district’s 2024 MCAS results, highlighting performance trends among student groups, providing historical context, and comparing Worcester’s results to similar urban districts. Mr. Dottin discussed key initiatives the district is implementing to support student success.

Following the presentation, Dr. Andrade and Mr. Dottin were joined by Ron Waddell, a Worcester Public School parent, for a panel discussion on student achievement in Worcester. They explored what supports parents and caregivers believe are critical to ensuring all students can reach their full potential.

Program Overview:

Welcome | Noe Medina, Worcester Education Collaborative

2024 MCAS Results | Marco Andrade, Worcester Public Schools

District Initiatives to Support Student Achievement | Craig Dottin, Worcester Public Schools

Panel Discussion | Ron Waddell, WPS Parent; Marco Andrade, WPS; Craig Dottin, WPS 

Q&A

Sponsored by the Worcester Education Collaborative and the Worcester Education Equity Roundtable, this event is intended to help our community work together towards a stronger, more inclusive educational system for our children and our community. The Worcester Education Equity Roundtable is generously supported by The Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

WATCH NOW | 2nd Annual Bassett Symposium

View the Event Program Booklet

WEC’s 2nd Annual John E. Bassett Symposium highlighted the need for collective community action to ensure all children experience the transformational power of literacy.  The event began with the presentation of the prestigious "Apple of a Different Color" award to Ralph Smith, Managing Director of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, in recognition of his decades-long commitment to advancing literacy and educational equity. 

Mr. Smith then shared his insights on the event’s theme – Empower Every Child: Literacy For All. He called for a community effort starting for children at birth that engaged schools, families, community organizations, and businesses “so that each child will have the capacity to contribute to their own journey to adulthood and citizenship in our community.”

Following Mr. Smith’s keynote, he was joined by Dr. Patrick Proctor, Department Chair for Teaching, Curriculum & Society at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education, for a fireside chat on the intersection of research, practice, and community engagement for advancing literacy. The chat was moderated by Jason Homer, Executive Director of the Worcester Public Library. They discussed the importance of schools engaging parents and families as assets in addressing the literacy challenge. They also emphasized the importance of multilingualism, culture, and storytelling to improve children’s reading. “Finding out where those reading gaps are and closing them – that is our job and we hope it’s yours as well.”

Dr. Rachel Monárrez, Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools, closed the event by reaffirming the district’s commitment to this community-wide effort. She reported that progress was already being made in improving reading achievement but that much more needed to be done. “This is a collective journey that we all need to be on because we can all agree that getting all children to read is a fundamental civil right.”

View the Presentation Slides | Ralph Smith, Campaign for Grade Level Reading

WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED IN ENGLISH AND ESPAÑOL

Download flyer

This workshop is free to attend, but registration is required.

PLEASE REGISTER USING THE LINK IN YOUR PREFERRED LANGUAGE.

(ENGLISH) Pathways to PARENT LEADERSHIP

Tuesday, November 12th | 6:00 - 8:00 pm

• Confidently advocate for your child’s needs and rights

• Join and lead parent councils that drive equity and student success

• Use your voice at the school, district and state levels to build an equitable system for all students

(ESPAÑOL) RUTAS HACIA EL LIDERAZGO DE PADRES

Martes, 12 de Noviembre | 6:00 - 8:00 pm

• Defiende con confianza las necesidades y derechos de tu hijo

• Únete y lidera a través de los consejos de padres que promueven la equidad y el éxito estudiantil

• Haz valer tu voz en los diferentes niveles: Escolar, Distrital y Estatal para construir un sistema equitativo para todos los estudiantes

These events are hosted by Collaborative Parent Leadership Action Network (CPLAN and Worcester Education Collaborative (WEC).

• WATCH NOW | The MCAS Ballot Question: Perspectives from Both Sides

• Event Summary | The MCAS Ballot Question: Perspectives from Both Sides

• FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions from The MCAS Ballot Question event

• Official Press Release | Worcester Education Equity Roundtable Hosts Engaging Debate on MCAS Ballot Question

• Read more about the event (article published by Telegram & Gazette on Sept 30, 2024)

This November, voters across the Commonwealth will have the opportunity to weigh in on a key question facing education in Massachusetts: should students be required to pass the MCAS, the state’s standardized test, to graduate from high school? This citizen-initiated ballot question would eliminate this requirement. 

Those in favor of removing the requirement, led primarily by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, argue that the requirement forces teachers to “teach to the test,” causing significant stress to students and harming disadvantaged students such as Emergent Bilinguals and students with disabilities. Proponents of the requirement point to research that links the MCAS to long-term success, and contend that the assessment is a critical tool for promoting equity. Supporters include the Protect Our Kids’ Futures: Vote No on 2 Coalition, which counts former education leaders and members of the business community among its members, as well as state officials such as Governor Maura Healey and Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler.

On September 30th, Worcester Education Collaborative invited representatives from both sides of the issue to engage in a lively point-counterpoint debate. Melissa Verdier, President of the Educational Association of Worcester, argued in favor of the ballot measure. Timothy Murray, President & CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce argued in opposition of the measure. The discussion was moderated by Dina Tedeschi, a Worcester parent and Family & Community Engagement Specialist at Worcester Education Collaborative. 

MORE RESOURCES

• Register to vote, apply to vote by mail, and find your polling location here: Elections: What would you like to do today? (state.ma.us)

• See the early voting schedule in Worcester (available in English and Spanish): early-voting-schedule-nov.pdf (worcesterma.gov)

• Learn more about MA Question 2: Eliminating the MCAS Requirement

• View Information for Voters (published by MA Secretary of State)

• Watch the 2022/2023 MCAS Series hosted by WEC

Sponsored by the Worcester Education Collaborative and the Worcester Education Equity Roundtable, this event is intended to help our community work together towards a stronger, more inclusive educational system for our children and our community. The Worcester Education Equity Roundtable is generously supported by The Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

***SPANISH INTERPRETATION WILL BE RELEASED SOON***

Please check back.

SOBRE EL EVENTO

Pregunta sujeta a votación del MCAS: Perspectivas de ambos lados

Este noviembre, los votantes de todo el estado tendrán la oportunidad de opinar sobre una cuestión clave a la que se enfrenta la educación en Massachusetts: ¿debería exigirse a los estudiantes que aprueben el MCAS, examen estandarizado del estado, para graduarse de la escuela secundaria? Esta pregunta sujeta a votación iniciada por los ciudadanos eliminaría este requisito.

Los que están a favor de eliminar el requisito, liderados principalmente por la Massachusetts Teachers Association, argumentan que el requisito obliga a los docentes a "enseñar para el examen", causando un estrés significativo a los estudiantes y perjudicando a los estudiantes desfavorecidos, como los bilingües emergentes y los estudiantes con discapacidades. Los defensores del requisito apuntan a investigaciones que vinculan el MCAS con el éxito a largo plazo y sostienen que la evaluación es una herramienta fundamental para promover la equidad. Entre los partidarios se encuentra la Protect Our Kids' Futures: Vote No on 2 Coalition, que cuenta entre sus miembros a ex líderes educativos y miembros de la comunidad empresarial, así como a funcionarios estatales como la gobernadora Maura Healey y el secretario de Educación Patrick Tutwiler.

Únase a nosotros el lunes 30 de septiembre de 6:30 p. m. a 7:45 p. m., ya que invitamos a representantes de ambos lados para participar en un debate de punto y contrapunto animado sobre esta cuestión. Melissa Verdier, presidente de la Educational Association of Worcester, argumentará a favor de la medida de la votación. Tim Murray, Presidente y Director Ejecutivo de la Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, se opondrá a la medida. El debate estará moderado por Dina Tedeschi, madre de Worcester y especialista en participación de la familia y la comunidad en Worcester Education Collaborative.

Este acto está dirigido a los padres de Worcester y de otros lugares, así como a cualquier persona interesada en la educación.

Más información sobre la Pregunta 2 de MA: Eliminación del requisito del MCAS

Patrocinado por la Worcester Education Collaborative y la Worcester Education Equity Roundtable, este evento tiene como fin ayudar a que nuestra comunidad trabaje en conjunto para lograr un sistema educativo más sólido y más inclusivo para nuestros niños y nuestra comunidad. La Worcester Education Equity Roundtable cuenta con el generoso apoyo de la Nellie Mae Education Foundation

On May 29th, Worcester Education Collaborative and Worcester Public Schools hosted Dr. Shawn Ginwright, Jerome T. Murphy Professor of Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, for a fireside chat focused on his recent book, "The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves".

The book boldly asserts four revolutionary pivots for better activism and collective leadership – focusing on awareness, connection, vision, and presence. In the book, Dr. Ginwright provides ways to discover new lenses and asserts our need for transformation, trust, wholeness, and healing.

Dr. Ginwright is joined by Worcester Public Schools Superintendent, Rachel H. Monárrez, PhD, and Raquel Castro-Corazzini of Worcester’s Division of Youth Opportunities.The discussion was moderated by Barry Maloney, President of Worcester State University.

Many thanks to the Esler Family Foundation for sponsoring this event.

WATCH NOW | The Four Pivots: A conversation with Dr. Shawn Ginwright

RAISING READERS TOGETHER | COMMUNITY FILM SCREENING

Join Worcester Education Collaborative, along with their state and local partners, as they host Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler for a screening of the film The Right to Read.

The film shares the stories of an activist, a teacher, and two American families who fight to provide our youngest generation with the most foundational indicator of life-long success: the ability to read. Learn why one of the film’s stars calls literacy “the greatest civil rights issue of our time.”

Join the conversation about ways we can better support our children in becoming strong readers and critical thinkers. Following the screening there will be remarks by Dr. Rachel Monárrez, Worcester Superintendent of Schools.

Sponsored by United Way of Central Massachusetts, Fontaine Brothers, Inc., and Webster Five.

This event is part of the Raising Readers Together Initiative, a collaborative effort to address the literacy crisis facing our communities locally, and across the United States. Partners include Worcester Education Collaborative, City of Worcester Division of Youth Opportunities, Education Reform Now Massachusetts, Edward Street, Friendly House, Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, The Reading League of Massachusetts, United Way of Central Massachusetts, Worcester Family Partnership, Worcester Public Library, Worcester Public Schools, and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Join us for a FREE event for Worcester Public Schools families with K-3 grade children!

**Offered in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Pashto and Arabic**

• Learn the best strategies for reading stories with your kids

• Storybook read alouds with activities

• Overview of Worcester Public Schools’ new reading curriculum

• Activities for supporting your children with learning to read at home

• FREE books to take home

• Childcare, interpretation & refreshments

Saturday, April 27, 2024

10:00am - 12:00pm

YMCA Central Community Branch

(766 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610)

Space is limited. Registration is required. 

Register in English: https://qrco.de/readers

(Spanish) Inscríbase aquí: https://qrco.de/readers-sp

(Portuguese) Inscreva-se para participar: https://qrco.de/readers-por

(Haitian Creole) Enskri pou ale: https://qrco.de/readers-cre

(Pashto) د ګډون لپاره راجستر کړئ: https://qrco.de/readers-pa

(Arabic) سجل للحضور:  https://qrco.de/readers-ara

Community posters in each language can be found below.

This event is a part of the Raising Readers Together literacy partnership. 

Many thanks to our partners: Worcester Public Schools, Worcester Family Partnership, Worcester Public Library, and YMCA of Central Massachusetts, as well as our broader partners in this initiative: Friendly House, Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, United Way of Central Massachusetts, and Edward Street.

This event is funded by the United Way of Central Massachusetts After School and Out-of-School Time Rebound Grant.

Community Posters (all languages):

English

Spanish

Portuguese

Haitian Creole

Pashto

Arabic

RAISING READERS TOGETHER | LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES

After learning about the challenges of achieving high literacy rates among students and what supports already exist in Worcester, we turn our eyes to the future. What are best practices for parent and community engagement in supporting student literacy? Which of these practices can Worcester adopt, and what new ideas can we come up with to address literacy rates in our city? What are the actions we can commit to now to assure student success?

—

Mejores prácticas y una respuesta compartida de Worcester 

Después de conocer los retos que plantea el alcance de altos índices de alfabetización entre los estudiantes y los apoyos que ya existen en Worcester, volvemos la vista hacia el futuro. ¿Cuáles son las mejores prácticas para la participación de los padres y la comunidad en el apoyo a la alfabetización de los estudiantes? ¿Cuáles de estas prácticas puede adoptar Worcester, y qué nuevas ideas se nos pueden ocurrir para abordar las tasas de alfabetización en nuestra ciudad? ¿Cuáles son las acciones a las que podemos comprometernos ahora para garantizar el éxito de los estudiantes?

Watch Now | English

Mire ahora | Español

Download: Best Practices and a Shared Worcester Response | Presentation Slides

Download: Community Strategies (infographic)

Download: Parent Strategies (infographic)

RAISING READERS TOGETHER | LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES

Watch Hanover Research present a community scan on the supports currently available in Worcester to help students and families develop literacy skills. This presentation also provides an update on how Worcester Public Schools is supporting students’ literacy achievement.

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Apoyo a la alfabetización en Worcester 

Únase a Hanover Research, ya que presentan una exploración de la comunidad sobre los apoyos actualmente disponibles en Worcester para ayudar a los estudiantes y las familias a desarrollar habilidades de alfabetización. También compartiremos una actualización sobre cómo las Escuelas Públicas de Worcester están apoyando los logros de alfabetización de los estudiantes.

Watch Now | English

Mire ahora | Español

Download: Literacy Support in the Worcester Public Schools | Presentation Slides

RAISING READERS TOGETHER | LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES

Watch Ron Noble, Chief of Teacher Prep for the National Council on Teacher Quality, lay out the challenges today’s students face in achieving reading proficiency. Ron is joined by parent advocate, Dignamar Figueroa, who shares her perspectives on the challenges caretakers face in trying to help their children achieve their literacy goals. This discussion provides an eye-opening look into the current literacy crisis happening in Worcester and nationally.

Download: Early literacy in Massachusetts: A summary of related policies and opportunities for WEC | Presentation Slides by Ron Noble

In their new Strategic Plan, Our Promise to the Future, the Worcester Public Schools has committed to ensuring that each of our school facilities has the infrastructure to support equitable access to a 21st-century teaching and learning environment. This forum outlines the promise of Worcester Public Schools, the steps we’ll need to take to get there, and how community members can support efforts to realize this vision.

Watch now  |  English

Mire ahora  |  Spanish

Download: WRRB Briefing | Slides by Paul Matthews (Worcester Regional Research Bureau)

Featured Report, published by the Worcester Regional Research Bureau:

Building the Future: Investing In Worcester Public Schools Facilities

Sponsored by Worcester Education Collaborative, the Worcester Education Equity Roundtable and in partnership with the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, this event is intended to help our community work together towards a stronger, more inclusive educational system for our children and our community.

On Wednesday, February 7th, the FY25 WPS Budget Forum was presented by Worcester Education Collaborative, the Worcester Education Equity Roundtable (WEER), and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau.

The event kicked off with an overview of Paying for a Public Education, the WRRB's report on the FY24 budget, including how the state funds public schools and how aid to Worcester compares to its neighbors and to other Gateway Cities in Massachusetts. An overview of Worcester Public Schools’ FY25 budget followed.

The discussion featured Josh Boucher, Research Associate at the Worcester Regional Research Bureau and Brian Allen, Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Administration for the Worcester Public Schools.

Watch now to gain valuable insights into the allocation of resources, funding priorities, and the decision-making process that shapes our educational landscape.

Click here to watch in English.

Click here to watch in Spanish.

Download: Budget Presentation | Slides by Josh Boucher (Worcester Regional Research Bureau)

Download: FY25 Preliminary Budget Estimates | Slides by Brian Allen (Worcester Public Schools)

Join JDAI’s S2PP Working Group to Disrupt & Eliminate the School-to-Prison Pipeline on March 29th, 3 to 6pm, on Zoom to hear from people with lived experiences and experts in education and youth justice as they share resources, tools, and role-specific opportunities to create a School-to-Possibility Pipeline in Massachusetts.

Learn more and register.