The Foundation for MetroWest and MathWorks partnered to fund the Equity in Education program with Literations and Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, to promote literacy and address social determinants of health for families in Framingham Public Schools. Based on its success, this program is expanding into additional schools.
The primary objective of the Equity in Education Action Project is to increase literacy rates for MetroWest students in grades 1-4 and address math performance outcomes for middle school students.
The two-pronged initiative focuses holistically on addressing students’ literacy skills and basic needs for students and their families. Literations’ proven evidence-based literacy intervention program supports students in grades 1-4 to improve their reading by an average of 1.5 grade levels through twice-weekly, 30-minute sessions throughout the school year.
The program pairs volunteers from the community with students for one-on-one learning and social support and fostering intergenerational networks. In turn, students benefit from improved social-emotional learning and growth in decision making, personal responsibility, and relationship skills, contributing to the overall health and wellbeing of the region. Jewish Family Service of Metrowest is partnering with Literations to increase their family assistance support for students and their families to ensure basic needs are met to aid in academic achievement.
An important milestone in a student’s career, 3rd grade reading proficiency rates are strongly tied to future academic achievement, including high school graduation. These persistent gaps in achievement for racially and ethnically diverse students, as well as students from low-income households exist in Framingham and other MetroWest communities.
To learn more about our Action Projects and how you can support them, contact Matt Jose, Senior Program Officer, Action Projects.