Massachusetts launches ‘Literacy Launch’ grant program with $20M in state funds, $40M+ federal support

Clinton, Mass. — Governor Maura Healey, joined by Secretary of Education Pat Tottweiler and local school leaders, formally kicked off Literacy Launch at Clinton Elementary, announcing $20 million in state funding and saying the Biden-Harris administration has awarded the state more than $40 million to support the initiative over five years.

"The Legislature approved $20,000,000 to support this program," Healey said, adding districts like Clinton can apply for grants through what she called the Partnership for Reading Success, or PRISM. She framed the initiative as an effort to ensure that children from age 3 through grade 3 receive evidence-based instruction and supports across the commonwealth.

Secretary Pat Tottweiler described Literacy Launch as a grant-based, opt-in program designed to provide schools with professional development and coaching, high-quality instructional materials, early literacy screening assessments, and funding to support positions such as literacy coaches and reading specialists. "This is a grant program. It is an opt in program. It is not a mandate," Tottweiler said.

Local officials credited state support and prior curriculum work for classroom gains. Clinton Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Meyer said the district adopted an evidence-based early literacy curriculum with state assistance and an implementation partner, leading to stronger post-pandemic reengagement and a drop in chronic absenteeism. "We've been able to work with our implementation partner TNTP to build capacity, promote equity, and support early literacy," Meyer said.

Two Clinton students described their classroom experiences with the Appleseeds curriculum. "Appleseeds really helped me become a reader. It was fun, and I love learning the sounds," student Femi Abuto said, adding that decodable readers and decoding supports helped him progress to chapter books.

Officials emphasized the program’s cross-agency design: both the K–12 commissioner (Commissioner Johnson) and the early education and care commissioner (Commissioner Kershaw) were present to signal coordination from pre-K through grade 3. The administration said applications are open for districts to request grant awards to support screening, instructional materials, coaching, and staffing costs.

Healey and Tottweiler framed Literacy Launch as building on years of research about early reading instruction and as complementary to — not a replacement for — educators’ expertise. "It's meant to support, not to supplant," Healey said.

Officials did not announce district-by-district award amounts at the event; Healey said the first year of funding is expected to help 45 school districts but did not specify award sizes per district. The state and federal funding is intended to be layered with local efforts and existing programs to expand access to evidence-based early literacy supports.

The event concluded with officials thanking Clinton Elementary staff and students and inviting districts to apply for the PRISM grants that will carry Literacy Launch into classrooms statewide.