CENTRAL MASS WRITING PROJECT RECEIVES FUNDING

(Worcester, MA – March 27, 2003) The Central Mass Writing Project (CMWP) received $38,000 from the National Writing Project (NWP) and the Department of Education to continue its program and to hold the second Summer Invitational Institute for teachers in central Massachusetts. The CMWP Summer Institute will be from July 7 to July 31, 2003 at Worcester State College. Applications are now being accepted.

The Central Mass Writing Project is one of four sites in Massachusetts. The others are located in Boston, Amherst, and South Dartmouth. The CMWP covers all of central Massachusetts and is in its second year. It is facilitated by Robert Walker, Worcester State College (WSC); Gail Gilman, Brimfield Elementary School; and Jim McDermott, Worcester Public Schools.

“The great advantage of applying the National Writing Project model to the situation in Massachusetts is that it addresses the literacy aims of MCAS without teaching to the test,” said Walker. “As teachers from the Central Mass. Writing Project and the other three NWP sites in the state return to their classrooms with improved writing skills, the reading, writing and thinking abilities of their students will be reflected in improving test scores.”

The NWP started with 25 teachers at the University of California, Berkeley in 1974; by 2001, more than 212,724 teachers at 167 sites in all 50 states were involved in writing projects. The NWP is a collaborative higher education/public schools initiative that improves student writing abilities by improving teaching and learning of writing in the nation’s schools; provides professional development programs for classroom teachers; and expands the professional role of teachers.

Congress recognized NWP as one of the most successful education programs in improving student learning and performance and has funded the NWP since 1992. This year alone, the NWP will receive an appropriation of just under $17 million, an increase of almost $3 million over the previous year’s funding level. This increase in funding comes despite the fact that the Bush Administration had previously recommended eliminating federal funding for most small categorical education programs, including NWP. Congressman James P. McGovern was one of many members to sign the “Dear Colleague” letter circulated to members of the House of Representatives in support of the appropriation.

Any teacher of Central Massachusetts who would like to apply to the Institute should call Robert Walker at 508-929-8577.

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