Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Partnerships topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Nonprofit Acera outlines $1 million, three‑year STEM partnership with Lowell Public Schools; reports drops in chronic absenteeism
Summary
Acera told the Lowell School Committee its free, nonprofit program now operates in nine district schools, providing $1 million in supplies and professional learning over three years and reporting examples of lower chronic absenteeism and higher family engagement; students and teachers described hands-on STEM activities and growing attendance at family nights.
Acera representatives told the Lowell School Committee they are delivering a three‑year, $1,000,000 partnership of supplies, professional learning and school support to Lowell Public Schools.
"We are a free program. We are a nonprofit, and we really work towards improving school culture and expanding opportunities for students," Acera representative Miss Zickerman said as she described the program’s work in nine district schools and plans to expand into Butler and Riley next year.
Teachers and students described changes inside classrooms. A McAuliffe School teacher said teachers are "more comfortable doing hands‑on learning" and have expanded enrichment options from four choices to eight per grade level. Fourth‑grader Daniel told the committee, "This challenge make us learn new stuff and make school fun," describing rocket‑launcher and pulley challenges and basic electric circuits.
Acera provided district examples for outcomes the program is targeting: partner schools have seen as much as a 35% decrease in chronic absenteeism in some grades and a reported 230% increase in family engagement at academic events such as STEM and math nights. The presenter said the program currently serves about 4,500 children in Lowell and expects to grow by roughly 1,000 next year.
Committee members praised the partnership, with one member saying a reported 200% rise in family engagement is the kind of improvement districts seek. The presenter invited committee members to visit a showcase at Sullivan School on May 27 from 3:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. to see the work in action.
The presentation included student testimony about enrichment activities such as art and gardening; a student, Aurora, said she planted radishes and wants to "learn how to take care of the earth." Committee members encouraged continued expansion and noted connections between increased engagement and falling absenteeism.
The committee did not take any formal action on the presentation at the meeting. Staff said they would follow up through regular channels with more information and logistics about visits and a short program video that was not shown because of technical issues.
