The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that it is awarding $326,477 in Partnership for Reading Success in Massachusetts (PRISM) grants to 15 school districts across the state that are funded through Literacy Launch. One of Governor Maura Healey’s 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. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler made the announcement today at South Memorial Elementary School in Peabody, one of the districts receiving a PRISM grant.
“Massachusetts is #1 in the nation for education, and we’re on a mission to be #1 for early literacy as well. We’re doing that through Literacy Launch, which is making the best reading materials available to more districts and more students. I am pleased to see the first funding from this going out the door to districts today,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I want to thank the Legislature for their partnership in this important work – seeing that every child in this state is able to read and read well.”
“We know that early literacy can change the trajectory of a child’s life,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These grants are a critical step in ensuring that every student in Massachusetts has the opportunity to reach their full potential. We’re excited to see the innovative ways our schools will use this funding to inspire a love of reading and learning.”
“Learning to read is a fundamental skill critical to every aspect of students’ education, but more importantly throughout their life,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “Literacy Launch is giving districts and community-based early education and care programs the tools and resources they need to bring these impacts to classrooms across the state. With Governor Healey’s budget proposal last week, we aim to reach even more districts with Literacy Launch and add high dosage tutoring to accelerate skill development for students who missed that foundation during the pandemic.”
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).
“The PRISM grants are designed to help districts build sustainable structures to make lasting improvements in early literacy across the Commonwealth. These structures will continue supporting student success long after the grant period ends.”
Russell D. Johnston, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Acting Commissioner
“Early education is where the literacy journey starts for our youngest learners. Literacy Launch, and these first round of grants, build on our investments in local partnerships that create more equitable, consistent and quality learning experiences across our diverse mixed delivery system, closing the learning gap before children enter school and setting students up for school and life success,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw.
The administrations fiscal year 2026 budget further invests $50 million in early literacy. This includes $25 million for year two of Literacy Launch and $25 million for literacy high dosage tutoring. The high dosage tutoring funding aims to reach 10,000 students in grades K-3, with priority given to students in grade 1, to address pandemic learning loss and accelerate skill development in this critical area.
“Investing in early learners is one of the most important things we can do for our youngest residents, their families, and our state’s future,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Literacy Launch was a point of pride in the Legislature’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, and I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for continuing to implement the program with the speed and energy that it deserves.”
“Peabody is proud to be among the first school districts in the state awarded funding through Literacy Launch, the administration’s program to expand access to evidence-based literacy learning,” said Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Healey-Driscoll administration for including Peabody in the Literacy Launch program. High quality early literacy instruction and materials are critical to our youngest learners. Literacy Launch is truly innovative in that it partners school districts with local preschool providers to ensure access to strong, evidence-based literacy materials for all children within the community. Peabody is excited to strengthen our community partnerships and expand the literacy opportunities throughout the city,” said Peabody Public School Superintendent Josh Vadala.
“Literacy is an essential part of students development, and the learning opportunities created by the Literacy Launch program will have lasting impacts on our students through the rest of their academic careers,” said Senator Joan Lovely (D-Salem). “Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Education Secretary Tutwiler for your commitment to our students’ education.”
“Early literacy education is an important cornerstone of a student’s education and future success. I look forward to the Literacy Launch program having a positive impact on our elementary students here in Peabody and across the Commonwealth,” said Representative Thomas Walsh (D-Peabody).
“Reading and literacy set the stage for every child to succeed in life. I applaud the Healey-Driscoll administration for making them a priority,” said Representative Sally Kerans (D-Danvers).
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
Th above press release was submitted to us by the Office of Governor Maura Healey.
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