It’s a new era and a fresh opportunity, as Worcester Public Schools new superintendent of schools Dr. Rachel Monárrez is set to begin her role in July.
Dr. Monárrez, we urge you to prioritize our city’s youngest children, including k-third grade students in WPS and 0-5-year-olds in childcare, preschool, and afterschool programs.
We can help! Edward Street has decades of experience convening leaders on behalf of children and families.
Let’s add more full-day preschool opportunities and on-location SPED services
Most parents need to work full-time yet most preschool programs don’t last a full workday. Additionally, many preschoolers need to leave programs in the middle of the day to receive special education services at elementary schools.
Fortunately, Edward Street has been leading community-school strategic planning efforts, which have resulted in fresh ideas and workable solutions. Let’s collaborate to secure state funding so we can put these ideas into action.
Let’s improve access to out-of-school-time learning experiences
Experiential, effective out-of-school-time programming is everywhere in Worcester. (Check out the many opportunities provided by Woo-Labs, for example.) The problem is many families are unable to enroll in these programs due to transportation issues.
Edward Street is here to help. We can bring out-of-school time providers to the table as WPS designs bus routes for the coming school year. Greater access means equal opportunities for all Worcester children.
Let’s raise up diverse family voices from across the City
“My whole way of working with the community is bringing people to the table at the onset—as many voices as possible,” you told the Telegram.
Want to hear directly from families? We’ll connect you with childcare providers, for whom family engagement is a daily focus, so you can connect with parents.
Thank you, Dr. Monárrez for choosing Worcester! We can’t wait to work with you to ensure a better future for children and families.
As you told MassLive.com, “There is no way that I can do this by myself, no one person can and anyone who tries to do it by themselves is setting themselves, and therefore the system, up to not be the most successful that they can be,”
Edward Street is proud to support high-quality, accessible early learning and care. Donate today so children and families can thrive, and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.