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Nashoba officials warn early‑literacy tutoring may end if state funding isn’t restored
Summary
District leaders told the school committee that state cuts to the governor’s proposed literacy launch jeopardize the PRISM tutoring program; administrators said they’ll continue advocacy but cautioned the district may have to discontinue tutoring if funds aren’t reinstated.
Superintendent Downing and assistant superintendent Friend told the Nashoba Regional School District School Committee on May 13 that state budget action has put a key early‑literacy grant at risk, and that the district may have to stop paid tutoring programs unless funding is restored.
Assistant Superintendent Friend said legislators recently visited PRISM classrooms to see the tutoring and intervention model in action and that the district is pressing for renewal after a large state funding cut. "The literacy launch funding of $25 million that was in the governor's budget was reduced to zero in both the house budget and the ways and in the senate budget," the superintendent said, describing the line that supports PRISM as currently at risk. The administration added it is engaged with the local delegation to seek reinstatement in conference committee.
Committee members pressed for details about program scale and contingency planning. When a committee member summarized the trade‑off, an administrator confirmed: "If this funding doesn't come through, then we'll have to discontinue the tutoring program." Officials said they delayed budgeting permanent positions tied to the grant because the funding remains uncertain; they will only commit staff if grant dollars are secured.
Administrators described measurable progress tied to the PRISM grant: the district reported a 27% reduction in the number of K–3 students requiring literacy intervention (Renaissance/STAR screening cited as the metric). District staff said the district is using early screening, monitoring and targeted tutoring to move students out of urgent‑intervention categories, and that some positions were funded with short‑term or earmarked support while advocacy continues.
Superintendent Downing and assistant superintendent Friend said they recorded video and provided talking points for legislators and are seeking other funding mechanisms and earmarks. They cautioned that any restoration would likely not be known until mid‑to‑late June and that the budget’s final vote is in July.
What’s next: district leaders said they will continue legislative outreach and report back on June budget developments. If funding is not reinstated, the district will need to decide which tutoring services it can sustain with operating funds; officials said that would reduce intervention capacity for students identified as needing urgent support.
Quote sources: Superintendent Downing; Assistant Superintendent Friend.
