From left, Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, BICO Professional Development and Curriculum Specialist Ann Buckley, DESE ELA/Literacy Content Specialist Octavia Nixon, Department of Early Education and Care Early Literacy Practice Specialist Jennifer Crandell, Bi-County Collaborative Executive Director Jeanne Sullivan, and DESE ELA/Literacy Content Specialist Lori McNally at the Literacy Launch event at the Easthampton Public Library on Aug. 18. (Photo Courtesy Bi-County Collaborative)
WALPOLE — Bi-County Collaborative is pleased to announce that it has received more than $420,000 in competitive state grants to expand access to high-quality English Language Arts (ELA) instruction and professional development for teachers.
BICO was awarded $294,000 through the state’s PRISM II grant program to support early literacy instruction in grades K-3, and an additional $127,500 through the PRISM III program for literacy instruction in grades 4-12.
These substantial awards, part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s multiyear investment in literacy education, will allow BICO to purchase brand-new, high-quality instructional materials for students in all grade levels and provide extensive professional development for educators.
“This funding is transformative for our Collaborative,” said Ann Buckley, the Professional Development and Curriculum Specialist for BICO. “It ensures our students have access to rigorous, high-quality instructional materials, while also giving our teachers the time, resources, and coaching they need to strengthen instruction. Ultimately, it’s about equity and making sure every student, regardless of background or disability status, has access to the same level of opportunity.”
With the PRISM II grant, BICO will roll out HMH Into Reading as its new K-5 ELA curriculum. The PRISM III grant will fund the adoption of StudySync for grades 6-12. Both selections were made last year after a collaborative vetting process involving BICO educators, with support from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and its high-quality instructional materials curriculum evaluation networks.
The grant funds will also cover costs for staff participation in professional development and curriculum planning, including substitute coverage and teacher stipends for work beyond the school day; support instructional coaching from The New Teacher Project; and provide long-term investment in curriculum materials, with funding supporting a four-year adoption cycle.
Through these initiatives, BICO will strengthen early literacy instruction, enhance high school literature studies, and close achievement gaps by ensuring equitable access to world-class materials and teaching practices.
“These grants represent a significant investment in our students and educators, and we are extremely grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for this funding,” said Executive Director Jeanne Sullivan. “They will allow us to expand access to the very best instructional tools and practices, while also providing the time and support teachers need to make them successful in the classroom. This work strengthens literacy from the earliest grades through high school and will have a lasting impact on achievement and equity across our Collaborative.”
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