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Date: 6/11/2015
SPRINGFIELD – Three city schools received part of the more than $4 million in federal funding awarded by the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Duggan Middle School, Forest Park Middle School and the Van Sickle Middle School each received approximately $1.1 million.
One school in Worcester was also awarded funds.
“I am extremely pleased that each of these schools has been awarded these highly competitive grants,” Superintendent of Schools Daniel J. Warwick told Reminder Publications.
“Teams at each school have worked very hard to determine the needs of the students and the programming that will best suit those needs. These funds will allow them to dig into that work,” he added
The grants will be used to fund the turnaround strategies at the schools.
The three city schools are rated Level 4 or under-performing.
According to DESE, the district seeking the grants had to develop a plan that met one of the following six educational formats: the Transformation Model, which requires increased learning time and new evaluation systems for principals and teachers; the Turnaround Model, which requires that at least 50 percent of the staff be new to the school; the Restart Model, in which an educational management or charter organization will assume primary responsibility for turning around the school; the Whole School Reform Model, which requires the implementation of a school reform model supported by evidence of effectiveness; the Early Learning Model, which requires the establishment or expansion of a high quality pre-school program; and the School Closure model.
The three Springfield schools all applied under the Transformation model.
Seven schools from four districts applied for this grant.
“I am delighted these schools will be receiving support to rapidly accelerate student achievement and provide academic opportunities for all students,” Gov. Charlie Baker said. “Through this funding and a strong partnership with our schools, we hope to expand access to great educational opportunities for every child in the Commonwealth.”