Woburn Public Schools Wins Grant For Out-of-School Programming

WOBURN, MA — Woburn Public Schools recently received a $15,000 grant for out-of-school educational programming for low-income and English Language Learners, Superintendent Matthew Crowley said.

Of the $15,000, $10,000 will go to programs for students in Grade 14 to 12 including trips to museums and historic sites in Boston during school vacations. The funds will pay for transportation, admission costs for all attendees, and stipends for educators who coordinate and chaperone the activities.

The other $5,000 will go to an "Educator Grants Program," "educator-inspired projects aimed at improving the educational experience of low-income and English Language Learner students in kindergarten through third grade," according to the news release.

The district applied in August for the grant funding from Winning Home, a Concord-based nonprofit organization that supports the needs of disadvantaged children.

"I'm grateful for this support for economically-disadvantaged students provided by Winning Home," Crowley said. "Reducing learning gaps is a major focus of ours, and the educational opportunities these grant funds enable us to create outside of school will help level the playing field for all students."

The news release continued: "Research has shown that learning gaps can quickly widen outside of school due to differences in resources between families, depending on income level, because students from higher socio-economic backgrounds participate in more learning activities during nights, weekends, and school vacations."

Lack of learning opportunities during vacations can have a major negative effect on academic progress.

"For many students — through no fault of their own — visiting museums or historical landmarks during school vacation is out of reach, but these grant funds will enable us to open those doors for students and to keep their minds engaged in the learning process even when school is not in session," Crowley said. "This grant funding will make a difference for Woburn's most at-risk students in every grade and at every school in the district, and I’m extremely grateful to our community partners for their continued generosity."

To learn more about Winning Home, click here.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.