Press Release: 8/7/2025

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $3.3 Million in Literacy Grants

 



Funding supports 25 districts to buy high quality instructional materials for grades 4-12 with coaching and professional learning support 



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:



8/06/2025



MEDIA CONTACT



Karissa Hand, Press Secretary



 Phone



Call Karissa Hand, Press Secretary at 617-725-4025



BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that it is awarding $3.3 million in Partnership for Reading Success – Massachusetts (PRISM) III literacy grants to 25 school districts and collaboratives. These grants will help school districts implement lasting improvements in English language arts and literacy instruction for grades 4–12 through the evaluation, selection and implementation of high-quality instructional materials.



“Massachusetts has the best education system in the country, but we know more needs to be done to ensure all of our students have the tools they need to be lifelong readers and learners,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Today’s grant awards are a key piece of our administration’s commitment to making sure our school districts have the resources and support they need to improve literacy among their students.”



“Ensuring every student has access to high-quality, evidence-based instruction in literacy is essential for Massachusetts students and families,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "Through PRISM III grants, we are providing more students the support they need to excel and thrive in the future.”



In the first year of PRISM III, grant recipients will engage in one of three tracks based on their readiness: preparing to evaluate and select materials, purchasing selected materials, or deepening implementation of materials already in use. All grantees will receive leadership coaching from a DESE-approved PRISM curriculum and instruction coach to analyze current curriculum and instruction systems and to support the establishment of a PRISM Curriculum Council. Recipients can also use the grant for professional learning and for substitute coverage or stipends to compensate educators for their time in support of grant activities.



“We know that there are students across all grade levels struggling to read. The Healey-Driscoll Administration continues to maximize every opportunity to promote evidence-based literacy teaching and learning, from Literacy Launch to our new high dosage tutoring initiative. The PRISM III grants build on these efforts, investing in the literacy skills of older students,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.



“The PRISM III grants are designed to help districts build sustainable structures to make lasting improvements in literacy success for secondary students,” said Pedro Martinez, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. “This is an important investment in our secondary students.”



Literacy, particularly early literacy, is a priority for the administration. Governor Healey created Literacy Launch, a multiyear strategy to promote high-quality, evidence-based reading instruction so our youngest students can read and read well. Through her Fair Share supplemental budget, Governor Healey also expanded high dosage early literacy tutoring to help students in kindergarten through third grade build foundational reading skills. This school year, 272 schools in Massachusetts will receive free, high-dosage early literacy tutoring.



The PRISM III grant recipients are:




  • ACCEPT Educational Collaborative: $54,900

  • Attleboro Public School District: $156,982

  • Barnstable Public School District: $21,000

  • Billerica Public School District: $357,050

  • Bi-County Collaborative (BICO): $127,500

  • Boxford Public School District (in consortium with Topsfield): $111,496

  • Brookline Public School District: $207,072

  • Easthampton Public School District: $66,500

  • Everett Public School District: $132,000

  • Gateway Public School District: $18,000

  • Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical School District: $54,500

  • Haverhill Public School District: $197,000

  • Hudson Public School District: $57,681

  • Lowell Public School District: $549,500

  • Mansfield Public School District: $92,115

  • Milford Public School District: $96,245

  • Nantucket Public School District: $123,132

  • New Salem-Wendell School District: $83,022

  • Northampton Public School District: $18,000

  • Sharon Public School District: $126,316

  • Somerville Public School District: $338,000

  • Spencer–East Brookfield School District: $62,015

  • Stoneham Public School District: $57,195

  • Uxbridge Public School District: $189,530

  • Ware Public School District: $18,000