Massachusetts is making a welcome investment in early literacy, “awarding $850,000 to four organizations to increase access to evidence-based and culturally responsive literacy supports for Massachusetts preschoolers,” a press release from Governor Maura Healey’s office explains.

The goal is to help young children become “school ready” and boost their long-term academic achievement.

“Our administration is committed to improving early literacy—and we’re starting by expanding this effort into our preschool classrooms,” Healey says in the release. “We’re taking a data-informed approach to push effective literacy strategies, high quality curriculum, and professional development that can improve learning outcomes for all of our students.”

In an article about this investment, The Boston Globe explains that, “Research shows early intervention is critical, as achievement gaps in reading solidify by the end of the first grade.”

The four organizations that will receive the funding are the Pyramid Model Consortium, the Teaching Lab, the Institute for Child Success, and WestEd, the Globe says, adding:

“The state’s focus on early literacy is sorely needed. Less than half of Massachusetts third graders demonstrated proficiency on the 2023 English Language Arts MCAS exam, with scores for marginalized students even more concerning. Though the state passed a law in 2012 to target third grade reading proficiency, little came of the legislation, an October Globe investigation found.”

This new literacy initiative is a “cross-agency effort by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).”

The funding will be used in several areas, including:

• assessing “where high quality literacy materials and professional development should be targeted”

• increasing “access to preschool language and literacy assessments so educators can identify where students are struggling and make informed adjustments, known as responsive teaching,” and

• developing “a Massachusetts Preschool to Kindergarten Transition Toolkit to guide transition planning for children of all abilities across the state’s mixed delivery early education system.”

Commenting on this early literacy initiative, Massachusetts Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler says, “I am proud that our agencies are working together to further expand efforts to our preschoolers, setting up our youngest students for lifelong learning and success… We have to get this right.”

Amy Kershaw, commissioner of the Department of Early Education and Care, adds, “Early education is the start of the educational journey for our youngest learners. I am proud to be partnering with our education colleagues and these organizations to develop and provide programs with resources and supports so children can develop the language and literacy skills they need, closing the learning gap before they enter kindergarten.”