WORCESTER – Monday, August 12, 2024 – Governor Maura Healey’s administration recently announced the awarding of $337,671 to Worcester Public Schools (WPS) as part of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) STEM Equipment and Professional Development Grant Program.
The MLSC grant will provide further expansion of the already in-place biotechnology curriculum at WPS high schools, including the Chapter 74 biotechnology program at Worcester Technical and biotechnology electives at Doherty Memorial High School and North High School. It will also launch a new biotechnology elective program at South High Community School starting in the 2024-25 school year.
The MLSC grant will also allow for implementation of the BioTechBuilder curriculum, shifting instructional focus from exploring topics in biotechnology to include more skill development that will support students that choose careers in biomanufacturing.
“The Worcester Public Schools is grateful for support from the Commonwealth that helps our scholars become future-ready,” said Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez, PhD. “The biotechnology field has a large impact on our world today. We must ensure our scholars have all the opportunities available to succeed.”
"I am incredibly thankful for MLSC's continued support of biotechnology instruction in WPS,” said WPS Science Curriculum Liasson David Mangus. “This grant will be particularly powerful as it will help us expose students to lucrative careers in the growing biomanufacturing industry, providing them skills to become successful members of the workforce.”
The MLSC grant program awards funding to schools and curriculum providers for the purposes of teacher professional development and the purchasing of equipment, materials, supplies and technology needed to support or expand life sciences curriculum. WPS received the largest MLSC grant among all public school districts awarded.