About Stonehill Graduate Teacher Education
This grant supports Stonehill College's graduate teacher education programs, which offer flexible, cost-effective, and rigorous experiential preparation.
Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Early Literacy Grants to Colleges and School Districts
Funding advances early literacy teaching and learning through prep program partnerships.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced Friday, May 2, 2025, that it is awarding $371,660 to a total of 11 colleges and 13 school districts to promote the early literacy instructional skills of prospective and existing teachers. These partnerships provide Pre-K–12 educators and educator preparation faculty with opportunities to share effective practices, learn from each other, and better prepare educators in evidence-based early literacy, resulting in elevated early literacy instruction at the school, district, and higher education level.
“In Massachusetts, we know that a strong literacy foundation is essential to unlocking future success,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Through the Early Literacy Consortium program and our Literacy Launch initiative, more students than ever will have high-quality literacy instruction to build the skills and support they need for years to come.”
“All students need access to teachers who have the content knowledge and skills to be successful early literacy instructors,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “The Early Literacy Consortium program will enable districts to partner with educator preparation programs to help existing educators and teacher candidates provide high-quality early literacy instruction that will help students from the very beginning of school all the way through graduation.”
This grant program is part of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Early Literacy in Educator Preparation initiative and is one of the many investments the administration is making in early literacy, including Literacy Launch. Literacy Launch: Reading Success from Age 3 through Grade 3 is designed to give Massachusetts schools, educators and students access to high-quality, evidence-based reading instruction through literacy materials, technical support, coaching and professional development.
“The Early Literacy Consortium program offers targeted professional learning for educators in service of improving students' early literacy outcomes,” said Education Secretary Patrick A. Tutwiler. “Efforts like these are fundamental to helping all students have a strong and equitable start.”
Early literacy consortium grant levels depend on where applicants are in planning vs. continuing a consortium. The grant recipients and the districts and programs they will work with are:
- Hadley Public Schools: $36,773 with University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District: $110,000 with Agawam Public Schols, Dudley Public Schools, Gateway Regional School District, West Springfield Public Schools, American International College, Springfield College, Western New England University and Worcester State University
- Hoosac Valley Regional School District: $20,000 with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
- Northampton Public Schools: $50,000 with Frontier Regional School District, Mount Holyoke College and Smith College
- Springfield Public Schools: $105,267 with East Longmeadow Public Schools, American International College, Elms College and Springfield College
- Stonehill College: $49,620 with Milton Public Schools, Randolph Public Schools and Curry College