The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced Monday, Aug. 4 that 272 schools in Massachusetts were selected to receive free, high-dosage early literacy tutoring this school year, designed to help students in kindergarten through third grade build foundational reading skills — with Grade 1 as the top priority.
Peabody Public Schools is one of the 272 school districts and charter schools included.
High-dosage tutoring provides one-on-one or small-group tutoring sessions multiple times a week for at least 10 weeks. This program was created by Gov. Maura Healey as part of her comprehensive strategy to improve literacy for all Massachusetts students and is funded through a $25 million investment in Fair Share dollars.
“It’s crucial for our teachers and schools to have access to the resources they need to support every young reader,” said Healey. “This initiative will help bring high-dosage early literacy tutoring directly to students who need it most, giving them the foundational skills essential for long-term success. With the partnership of the Legislature, we are delivering schools the support they need to reach all their learners.”
“Through Literacy Launch and other initiatives like high-dosage tutoring, we are advancing our commitment to improve literacy education in Massachusetts,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “This type of tutoring has been proven to be highly effective. We’re investing in early literacy practices to strengthen the foundation of our education system.”
Offered through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), this initiative will provide participating schools and districts with tutors at no cost to the school or student. The tutoring will offer flexible models — including in-person and virtual formats — designed to meet local needs during and after the school day. DESE has selected qualified tutoring providers to partner with schools and work with students across the state.
“When our schools have access to evidence-based, culturally sustaining tutoring options, students are more likely to achieve the critical milestone of reading proficiently by third grade,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “This opportunity targets first grade, a crucial year for learning to read.”
Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez added, “Learning to read in first grade is a milestone on the pathway to future success in school, and in life.”
“It’s hard to overstate the importance of learning to read in the early grades, and we want each and every Massachusetts student to get the support they need to achieve that,” Martinez said.
This opportunity was open to all Massachusetts public schools and districts, with priority given to those demonstrating a clear need for ELA/literacy support and a commitment to evidence-based early literacy practices. School districts were required to show in their application that they use a high-quality early literacy model, which tutoring will strengthen.
Tutoring will use student-centered approaches grounded in diagnostic data, evidence-based methods led by highly trained tutors, and flexible service models to meet the unique needs of each district and accelerate student learning.
“Every child deserves the chance to become a confident reader, and this investment in high-dosage tutoring will give thousands of young students the support they need to thrive,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The Senate is proud to have championed Fair Share investments that directly strengthen our public schools, and I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for making early literacy a top priority.”
“Strong reading skills are key to the success of our students and their future contributions to the workforce,” State Rep. Ken Gordon, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, added. “This initiative affirms the Commonwealth’s commitment to improving literacy for our young learners.”
In addition to this new tutoring initiative, Healey also created Literacy Launch: Reading Success from Age 3 through Grade 3 initiative. Literacy Launch provides educator training, curriculum support, and district grants, such as the Partnership for Reading Success – Massachusetts (PRISM) grant awarded earlier this year to 15 school districts.
This spring, the administration opened applications for additional school districts to apply for $5.5 million to help implement high-quality early literacy instructional materials that will be awarded soon.
