The Healey-Driscoll Administration last week announced that 30 school districts, in partnership with over 100 community-based preschool programs, will receive a total of $20.3 million in Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) grants to expand access to high-quality, affordable preschool for children and families across Massachusetts.

As part of the CPPI funding, Lowell Public Schools received $1-million, the third large influx of money to the school system from the state in August.

Earlier this month, LPS received a $549,500 literacy grant and another $798,000 literacy grant, accounting for nearly $2.4-million dollars in additional state funding in August alone. That money is on top of the more than $261-million LPS received in Chapter 70 funding as part of the state’s annual budget.

You’ll recall, much of May, June and July saw squabbling between Lowell and it’s School District over the city’s $10-million cash contribution, a $4-million reduction from the previous year’s $14-million amount. Eventually, the City Council moved to add back an additional $2-million in cash to the schools, on top of the roughly $58-million for Maintenance of Effort the city is contributing to school facilities.

Budget issues aside, moving towards universal Pre-K – providing access to free public preschool for all 3 and 4-year-olds in the city – has been a focus of the Lowell Public Schools for the last several years.

“Children who attend preschool enjoy multiple long-term benefits including better performance in reading and mathematics, fewer special education placements, as well as higher high school graduation and college attendance rates,” said Superintendent of Schools Liam Skinner. “Lowell Public Schools and its partners remain dedicated to closing the achievement gap before it begins by ensuring that all children enter kindergarten ready to learn, grow, and thrive. We are very grateful the Healey-Driscoll administration shares our commitment to increasing the accessibility to quality public preschool, particularly in Gateway cities like Lowell.”

The district has been collaborating with center-based preschool programs since 2015, when the City of Lowell first received funding from the U.S. Department of Education through the Preschool Expansion Grant (PEG).

In 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care launched the first round of Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) Grants, enabling Lowell to open three full-day preschool classrooms at the Cardinal Early Learning Center, while maintaining our original PEG-funded classrooms.

By 2021, Lowell expanded its preschool partnership network to include Community Teamwork Inc., Lowell Day Nursery, Greater Lowell YMCA, Small Steps, Bartlett Elementary, Greenhalge Elementary, and Murkland Elementary.

This most recent award of $1 million allows Lowell Public Schools and its partners to continue strengthening early childhood education across sixteen full-day preschool classrooms. Through CPPI funding, classrooms benefit from:

•      Instructional coaches and professional development for educators
•      Special educators, speech and language pathologists, and a mental health clinician
•      Family engagement opportunities
•      Educators with at least a bachelor’s degree
•      Evidence-based curriculum and instruction

“We know that far too many parents are being held back from returning to the workforce because of the daunting cost of child care. That’s why we have been focused on expanding access to universal pre-k through our schools and community-based programs across the state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Access to high-quality pre-k helps close learning gaps before students enter kindergarten, leveling the playfield and setting children up for success in school. I am grateful to the Legislature for their partnership in this year’s budget, and our administration is committed to building on this progress and working toward expanding access to child care and pre-k in more communities.”    

“As a former Mayor, I know how important access to high-quality preschool is for children, families, businesses and communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This new data shows that our pre-k expansion in cities and towns where families are more likely to face gaps in access is having an impact – reaching children who need it the most.”