Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $1.2 Million in Grants to Support Playful Learning in Preschool through Third Grade

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $1.2 Million in Grants to Support Playful Learning in Preschool through Third Grade 

7 school districts to participate in second cohort of DESE’s Playful Learning Institute pilot, accessing professional development and coaching 

 
BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that it is awarding $1.2 million in grants to seven school districts to incorporate playful learning strategies into preschool through third grade classrooms. The funding will provide professional development and coaching to district and school leaders, classroom educators and other specialists on how to use play as an effective instructional approach that leads to deeper learning and more equitable access to learning while also supporting students’ physical, social and emotional development. 

“We are committed to helping our youngest students have a strong foundation for success as they begin their educations,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Guided play has been proven to improve students’ language development, skills needed for mathematics, and physical and emotional health. This funding will help make sure that our teachers have the training and resources they need to incorporate these strategies in the classroom.” 

“We are grateful to the district and school leaders and to the preschool through third grade educators who are partnering and innovating to improve supports for our youngest students through play-based learning,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “A high-quality education contributes to students’ academic success and ability to build healthy relationships with their peers and teachers.”   

These awardees will participate in the second cohort of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Early Learning Team pilot of the Playful Learning Institute. The first cohort included five schools where district educators and leaders created an action plan focused on the implementation of playful learning/instructional practices. DESE is working with NORC at the University of Chicago to evaluate the impact of the Playful Learning Institute.  

“Play-based learning provides young children with engaging experiences that support their cognitive and social-emotional development. These grants will help provide our schools, from Northampton to Fall River, with funding to create environments that reflect the ways in which young children learn,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.   

Here is a sampling of feedback DESE received from the first pilot: 

“Students are excited and motivated. Students are engaged in activities that are supporting many areas of need.” – Teacher 

“Kids love studios from Playful Learning Institute because it gives them voice and choice. They are motivated to learn, collaborate, play, and produce.” – Teacher 

“Students are highly engaged during the playful learning practices…students are using more vocabulary and language across their day and centers.” – Administrator 

“[English Learner] children are not always picking the activity that is the less language-dense necessarily. And that is really an interesting takeaway for me…it’s expanded use of oral language rehearsal for these kiddos. Those things I suspected could be barriers…[have] really been quite the opposite. It’s really increased access and equity for those students.” – Administrator  

The following recipients receive $175,000 each for grant activities: 

• Amesbury Public Schools 
• Fall River Public Schools 
• Lowell Public Schools 
• Newburyport Public Schools 
• Northampton Public Schools 
• Norwood Public Schools 
• Revere Public Schools