Marshfield — Marshfield educators are forging ahead with key curriculum improvements in literacy, math, and science this fall despite the unexpected freezing of several federal grants that previously supported instructional programming.
At the July 22 School Committee meeting, district officials shared updates on summer work by instructional coaches and staff to enhance student learning in the upcoming school year.
“Our literacy coaches and our lab teachers have been working on implementation for another piece of our elementary reading program,” said Dr. Ellen Martin, Assistant Superintendent. “What they're trying to do is put resources together for their colleagues so that it's much easier to implement in the fall”.
In math, staff are preparing updated assessments using the “Bridges” curriculum to ensure readiness for classroom use this September. Meanwhile, middle school science educators are continuing their multi-year adoption of OpenSciEd, a hands-on, inquiry-based science curriculum. Principals and instructional leaders recently met with the program’s training team to ensure that all teachers get the proper training.
However, progress hasn’t come without setbacks. The district reported that three out of four of its federal Title grants—totaling approximately $80,000 last year—have been frozen. The grants previously funded professional development, a supplemental reading program, mentoring for new staff, and support for English Language Learners (ELL).
“We have not heard any more Title I numbers. We are still waiting to hear about the budget on those. Those grant funds have not been released yet,” said Dr. Martin.
Despite the uncertain funding landscape, educators remain committed to continuing program implementation using available resources. Administrators also indicated they are actively organizing grant applications for future cycles and refining priorities for the 2025–26 school year.
As students prepare to return, Superintendent Dr. Sullivan emphasized that the leadership team is finalizing planning during early August retreats. Curriculum work, he noted, aligns closely with district goals and the strategic plan, signaling a cohesive push for instructional quality.