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Above, J. K. Rowling reads from her novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (wikimedia image)
The Commonwealth has aannounced that 338 schools across 102 school districts (including Franklin Public Schools), charter schools and collaboratives will receive no-cost, high-impact early literacy tutoring during the 2026-27 school year. The initiative will provide at least 8,485 tutoring seats for students in kindergarten through third grade, with priority given to first-grade students who demonstrate the greatest need in foundational reading skills.
The Fiscal Year 2027 state budget includes $20 million to continue the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Early Literacy Tutoring Initiative. The funding builds on the prior investments to strengthen early literacy instruction and help more students become strong readers.
“Strong reading skills set students up for success throughout their education,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re giving schools and educators more tools to support students early, meet their individual needs and help them build the skills and confidence they need to succeed.”
This is the third round of early literacy tutoring funding in recent years. The first round supported 272 schools, followed by an additional 84 schools in the second round. Some schools and districts have participated in more than one round.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve early literacy, including investments in high-quality instructional materials, professional development for educators, early literacy screening, and targeted support for students. The announcement also builds on recently enacted literacy legislation to strengthen reading instruction and Help schools identify students who need additional support earlier.
“High-impact tutoring is one of the most effective strategies we have for accelerating student learning,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “By continuing to expand access to evidence-based tutoring while strengthening districts' overall literacy systems, Massachusetts is helping more students become successful readers.”
Tutoring will be provided at no cost to participating districts through state funding, remaining Fiscal Year 2026 Fair Share funding and a federal Education Innovation and Research grant from the U.S. Department of Education. DESE-approved tutoring providers will use evidence-based instruction, student data and flexible service models to meet the needs of participating students and schools.
This year, DESE will also launch the Building Ongoing Outcomes in Student Tutoring (BOOST) pilot with support from the federal grant. A subset of participating districts will take part in the pilot, which will help DESE and research partners study different tutoring approaches and how they can both improve immediate literacy gains and long-term student outcomes.
“Districts across Massachusetts continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction,” Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez said. “This initiative allows us to partner with schools to provide targeted support for students while continuing to strengthen literacy outcomes across the Commonwealth."
More information about the Massachusetts Early Literacy Tutoring Initiative is available online.
The 338 schools other than Franklin recommended to receive no-cost early literacy tutoring during the 2026–27 school year are located in the following districts and collaboratives:
Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School (in Worcester)
Abington Public Schools
Acushnet Public Schools
Agawam Public Schools
Alma del Mar Charter School (in New Bedford)
Barnstable Public Schools
Belchertown Public Schools
Berkley Public Schools
Beverly Public Schools
Bi-County Collaborative
Blackstone-Millville Regional School District
Boston Public Schools
Bridge Boston Charter School
Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District
Chelsea Public Schools
Chicopee Public Schools
Clinton Public Schools
Codman Academy Charter School (in Boston)
Collegiate Charter School of Lowell
CREST Collaborative
Danvers Public Schools
Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District
Dracut Public Schools
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District
Easthampton Public Schools
Edgartown Public Schools
Everett Public Schools
Fall River Public Schools
Fitchburg Public Schools
Foxborough Regional Charter School
Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District
Gardner Public Schools
Gateway Regional School District
Greater Commonwealth Virtual School
Greenfield Public Schools
Hanover Public Schools
Haverhill Public Schools
Holbrook Public Schools
Holyoke Community Charter School
Holyoke Public Schools
Hoosac Valley Regional School District
Lawrence Public Schools
Learning First Charter Public School (in Worcester)
Lee Public Schools
Leicester Public Schools
Leominster Public Schools
Lowell Community Charter School
Lowell Public Schools
Ludlow Public Schools
Lunenburg Public Schools
Malden Public Schools
Manchester Essex Regional School District
Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School of Excellence (in Springfield)
Match Charter Public School (in Boston)
Methuen Public Schools
Milford Public Schools
Monomoy Regional School District
Neighborhood House Charter School (in Boston)
New Bedford Public Schools
North Andover Public Schools
North Middlesex Regional School District
Northampton Public Schools
Northbridge Public Schools
Norton Public Schools
Oak Bluffs Public Schools
Old Sturbridge Academy Charter Public School
Peabody Public Schools
Petersham Public Schools
Pittsfield Public Schools
Plainville Public Schools
Prospect Hill Academy Charter School (in Cambridge)
Quabbin Regional School District
Quaboag Regional School District
Randolph Public Schools
Reading Public Schools
Revere Public Schools
Rockland Public Schools
Salem Public Schools
Saugus Public Schools
Somerville Public Schools
South Hadley Public Schools
Southbridge Public Schools
Southern Berkshire Regional School District
Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
Springfield Prep Charter School
Springfield Public Schools
Stoughton Public Schools
Taunton Public Schools
Triton Regional School District
Tyngsborough Public Schools
Wakefield Public Schools
Wareham Public Schools
Watertown Public Schools
Webster Public Schools
Westfield Public Schools
Weymouth Public Schools
Winchester Public Schools
Woburn Public Schools
Worcester Cultural Academy Charter School
Worcester Public Schools
Wrentham Public Schools
