The mission of the Worcester Education Collaborative is to advance excellence and equity in education for all Worcester Public School students.
If you believe strategic investment in education not only changes lives, but also boosts quality of life and economic vitality across entire communities, look no further than the future-focused work of the Worcester Education Collaborative.
Our work at the Worcester Education Collaborative (WEC) is propelled by the belief that education is the single-most powerful engine for upward mobility, healthy communities, and a strong economy. We believe in the strength of our schools, our children, and our city. And we believe in the strong future that we can craft together if we build on a foundation of excellence and equity in education.
While Massachusetts consistently ranks atop the nation in education, the reality is that success is not experienced equally among out children. Many of our students face everwidening achievement gaps that limit their prospects for a bright future. This is particularly true for historically marginalized young people.
Worcester experiences these challenges more sharply than most communities across the state. Despite our City’s assets – a burgeoning business sector, vibrant creative arts, a diverse higher education community, generous philanthropies, and a population representative of the increasing pluralism of
our nation – only 26% of Worcester 3rd graders demonstrate proficiency in English Language Arts. Travel 7 miles down the road to neighboring Shrewsbury and proficiency more than doubles.
These inequities follow our children throughout their educational journeys. With ample evidence of the strong link between 3rd grade reading proficiency and postsecondary success, it is no surprise that Worcester’s 48% college enrollment rate lags behind the Commonwealth’s 63% average. Considering that 80% of good-paying jobs in today’s economy require a postsecondary degree, the consequences of these disparities can be devastating to individuals and to the city overall.
Doing better is up to us. We cannot expect our children - or our City - to thrive unless we work hand-in-hand to change this reality. With new and visionary district leadership, an update to the strategic plan underway, and changes in school funding there is a rare opportunity to break down decades-long barriers and create lasting change for every one of our learners.
Worcester Education Collaborative (WEC), with our partnership-focused approach and impressive history of pioneering education improvement, is working to assure the deep and meaningful change our students deserve.
WEC's Principal for a Day program matches local civic leaders oneon-one with a WPS principal for a personalized, immersive experience.
During the visit, participants have the chance to spend time with the school's staff and students, allowing them to learn about the challenges and triumphs of education in Worcester, as well as the demands and rewards of educational leadership in the urban environment of a Gateway City.
WEC opened its doors in 2010 with a simple aim: to advance excellence and equity in education for each one of our children. We envision a transformational education community that enables all Worcester Public School students to achieve their full potential.
As the only organization of its kind, WEC works to achieve our vision through collective impact believing that real change requires the broader community to work together toward shared goals. Our deep history of mobilizing partners to translate valuable ideas into action has delivered tangible improvements to education that enhance the quality of life in our City.
Among the shared achievements resulting from our tireless efforts to champion students, WEC has spearheaded:
WEC led efforts in 2017 to draft the district's first strategic plan in 25 years–charting the course for improved equity and district accountability and effectively elevating the voices of students, families, and community partners.
WEC’s advocacy efforts decreased exclusionary discipline rates and prompted the district to shift from punitive to developmental discipline. At the state level, WEC successfully pushed for legislation to minimize suspensions and support more equitable disciplinary practices.
WEC collaborated with partners across the Commonwealth to enact the Student Opportunity Act (SOA), which revised the state funding formula and is channeling an unprecedented and long-overdue increase in education funding for Worcester students.
According to Dr. Robert Block, the former President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Adverse childhood experiences are the singlegreatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today.” To support our community in addressing this challenge, WEC created an innovative, multi-media training series, Understanding TraumaSensitive Practices, for practitioners in the youth development, education, and juvenile justice sectors. Our over 300 participants report gaining knowledge and strategies to better support students.
Recognizing the need of increasing collaboration among community organizations, higher education institutes, parents, and the school district, WEC established the Worcester Education Equity Roundtable in 2020. Together, partners promote school improvement through strategic advocacy, resources, and events. The Roundtable responds to in-the-moment needs while also tackling entrenched issues.
In 2022, the Roundtable launched “Uplifting Community Voice,” a set of reports and resources on communityidentified topics such as school governance, transportation, and early college. Our recent 3-part series on the MCAS attracted nearly 250 registrants and is generating productive dialogue in our city and across the state about more holistic and complementary student assessment methods.
The academic benefits of a home library are well-known, yet 61% of low-income families lack a single ageappropriate book in the home. WEC responded to this crisis by developing an early literacy program called Reading Together. Since 2014, Reading Together has engaged over 2,400 students annually through quarterly hands-on reading activities across 74 Worcester K-3 classrooms, providing 16,000 books a year.
This proven program consistently sees boosts in students' English Language Arts attainment, as well as
Disparities in educational opportunities outside of the school day account for up to two-thirds of the achievement gap between low-income students and their peers. In 2020, WEC convened a set of community-based partners to tackle this issue through the creation of “Woo-Labs.” This initiative builds the capacity of out-ofschool time programs to provide highquality, culturally responsive, projectbased learning to historically marginalized Worcester K-6 students. Our 12 program partners have reached over 2,500 students to date. By deeply engaging in professional development, partners increased their program quality in all 13 metrics according to third-party observers.
And students are reaping the benefits: 60% have demonstrated significant growth in crucial social emotional competencies such as critical thinking and communication.
"This session provided me new knowledge and understanding of what kids go through so I can do better at my job."
Participant, Understanding TraumaSensitive Practices
Thanks to our deep partnerships across the community and our strong track record of improving educational excellence and equity, WEC is poised to catalyze substantial and lasting change in Worcester.
To build upon our successful, comprehensive efforts to create positive change by strengthening education opportunities and nurturing community engagement, WEC is launching Journey to Excellence, a $4 million comprehensive growth campaign to ensure that Worcester’s young people are supported by an education system focused on excellence in tandem with equity.
Supporting the Worcester Education Collaborative is an investment in a suite of strategic, evidence-based approaches that are closing achievement gaps and strengthening outcomes for Worcester youth. Your contribution is a direct investment in initiatives already improving grade-level reading, fostering social emotional skills through project-based learning, enhancing professional development for educators, and building collaborative partnerships that enhance learning opportunities for every child.
Together we can ensure that our students’ education journeys equip them with the experience and tools necessary to thrive in an ever-accelerating economy and create a brighter future for our entire community.
Provide 2,400 students with access to engaging literacy programming as well as high-quality, culturally relevant books and family literacy activities through WEC’s Reading Together program; enhance grade level reading across the city through a comprehensive community approach to literacy.
Support WEC’s evidence-based Woo-Labs initiative, where more than 2,000 students engage in project-based learning and consistently make impressive gains in social emotional and 21st century skill development.
Ensure that students, families, and the community are equal partners in district decision-making and promote equity-based accountability through WEC’s Education Equity Roundtable and our evidence-based research, events and training portfolio.
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We hope you will consider joining us as we write the next chapters in Massachusetts’ storied history, in which every child can realize their potential and contribute to our community’s growth and success.