FRANKLIN — The Washington Street K-2 School has been selected to participate in the Winter/Spring 2026 Early Literacy High-Dosage Tutoring initiative through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to offer targeted, evidence-based reading support to first and second grade students.
The program will provide ongoing, small-group tutoring focused on building foundational literacy skills, including phonics, decoding and reading fluency. The initiative is designed to accelerate student growth while remaining closely aligned with classroom instruction.
PreK-12 Director of Curriculum Humanities Elizabeth Morrison secured the funding in conjunction with the district’s Office of Teaching and Learning.
“This opportunity reflects our district’s ongoing commitment to early literacy and student growth,” said Tina Rogers, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. “Investing in first- and second-grade literacy ensures we are building strong readers early and setting students on a path toward long-term academic achievement.”
Through DESE’s Literacy Launch program, the Washington Street K-2 School will be able to serve first and second grade students who may need additional literacy support. Tutoring will take place in small groups through frequent, structured sessions designed to complement core classroom instruction.
“We are committed to meeting students where they are and helping them grow as confident readers,” said Morrison. “By connecting tutoring directly to classroom learning and using data to guide instruction, we can provide meaningful, targeted support that makes a real difference.”
In the coming weeks, district and school leaders will work collaboratively to identify participating students, coordinate with literacy specialists and tutoring partners, align instruction with classroom teachers and build out progress-monitoring practices to gauge impact.
Franklin’s program is expected to begin in early March, and will go through June.
DESE’s Early Literacy High-Dosage Tutoring initiative is designed to help students develop essential reading skills by third grade, opening doors to long-term academic success. The Washington Street K-2 School was selected based on demonstrated need and a strong commitment to high-quality literacy instruction aligned with statewide goals.
“This is about investing in our students at the moment it matters most,” Rogers said. “We are proud to bring this opportunity to Washington Street and grateful for the collaboration that made it possible.”
###
Discover more from John Guilfoil Public Relations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.