School Readiness through Partnerships Project

In 2016 we were awarded a National Leadership Grant to continue the work started through the Race to the Top Grant. This project: School Readiness through Partnerships: Museums and State Early Learning Systems Project focused on increasing the capacity for museums, libraries, community agencies and state early learning systems to work together to enhance adult engagement and kindergarten readiness skills among children and families, especially those in low-income communities. Over the three years of the grant we strengthened the existing museum and library network in Boston and identified lead organizations in eight other communities who served as hub leaders for their regions. The regions and hub leader organizations were:

Cape Cod & the Islands: Cape Cod Children’s Museum
Central Massachusetts: Woods Memorial Library
Metro West: Early Childhood Alliance
North Shore: Imajine That
Pioneer Valley: Springfield Museum
South Shore: Children’s Museum of Fall River
Western Massachusetts: Berkshire Museum
Worcester: Ecotarium

As part of the project we redeveloped our Tinker/STEM kit and produced the guide:

Family Tinker Kit Everyday Tools for Play and Learning and Summer Learning Resources.