MCLA Receives Grant for STEM Pathways Project

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts recently was granted $75,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education for its @Scale STEM Pathways Project.

The project, which builds upon MCLA's STEM Pathways Project, aims to further increase both enrollments in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) majors and the number of students graduating with a degree in a STEM disciplines. With this funding, MCLA will add supplemental instruction, tutoring and expanded internship opportunities.
 
"We are grateful for the support and investment in STEM education," said Monica N. Joslin, dean of academic affairs. "This will allow us to expand and enhance strategies and successful initiatives which promote students' academic, experiential, and career awareness interests, and also to reach out and work with our sister institutions on best practices in support of student success in STEM majors." 
 
Administered through the MCLA Center for Student Success and Engagement, the college's SSPP employs a STEM student success plan that begins with activities during a student's freshman year, and continues until they graduate. The SSPP delivers enhanced academic support, advising and career planning, and marshals the efforts of MCLA's academic affairs and student affairs departments.
 
The @Scale initiative was launched by the governor's STEM council to focus public and private resources in support of an integrated portfolio of education enhancement projects aligned to achieve the goals of the commonwealth's STEM plan.
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Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid. 
 
The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.
 
"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.
 
A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid. 
 
Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million. 
 
Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters. 
 
They will submit those with a school picture to the governor. 
 
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