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Students showcase STEM projects as ACERA partnership expands in Lowell
Summary
Students from Robinson Middle School presented a civics project and students and Acera EI described a donor-funded STEM partnership expanding across Lowell schools with about $1 million in three-year support and reported reductions in chronic absenteeism and higher family engagement.
At the Lowell School Committee meeting on May 6, students from Robinson Middle School presented a civics project and advocates described a growing, donor-funded partnership that brings hands-on STEM learning to Lowell classrooms.
Sarah Zuckerman, executive director of Acera EI, told the committee the nonprofit now works in nine Lowell schools and will expand into the Butler and Riley next year. She said the most recent phase of the partnership is fully donor-funded for three years and estimated about $1,000,000 in supplies, professional learning and support has been provided to the district.
"We are really focused on reimagining and redesigning schools from within," Zuckerman said, describing Acera's approach of working with principal-led school teams. She invited committee members and the public to a showcase at the Sullivan School on May 27.
Robinson teacher Michelle Rhodes introduced three eighth-graders who described classroom- and school-level effects. "We need more budget funding to support two types of student groups," said Damien Gomez, an eighth-grader, urging resources for students struggling with drug use and for students with family members who use drugs. Another student, Mike, told the committee that "56 percent of students say mental health is a big problem" and described a simple check-in flyer he created to help classmates signal how they feel.
District staff and school leaders described measurable effects from the partnership. Presenters cited examples including a reported 35 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism in some partner schools and strong growth in family engagement events. Zuckerman said the program now serves roughly 4,500 Lowell students and is expected to grow by about 1,000 next year.
Committee members praised the student presenters and the Acera partnership. The committee permitted a photo with the spotlighted students and encouraged continued engagement between schools and community partners.
The program is nonprofit-run and described by presenters as free to the district; committee members were given an invitation to visit partner schools and a scheduled district showcase on May 27.
