Departmental Overview

Departments and Programs


Administration

Administrative services provide leadership through the Office of the Executive Director, and infrastructure support through human resources, finance, development, and grants management.

After School Programs

The Collaborative operates a network of 21st Century Community Learning Centers, providing high quality after school programming to support the academic and developmental needs of elementary and middle school youth.

Collaborative Conversations

Through this initiative, we offer avenues for meaningful conversation about creative partnerships, shared resources, and collaborative solutions across sectors to address issues facing learners statewide.

Department of Youth Services (DYS) Programs

The Collaborative provides professional development throughout the Commonwealth to all teachers serving students incarcerated in residential facilities under the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, and hires and supervises staff at many DYS sites. An innovative arts initiative, Unlocking the Light, trains teachers in DYS to integrate the arts into their teaching of core academics.

Early Childhood

The Early Childhood department offers a comprehensive range of training and consulting services to early education and care providers, parents, childcare centers, schools, and communities. It administers Community Partnerships for Children grants, and oversees the Family Networks. The department also provides technical assistance to programs seeking accreditation and educators seeking certification.

Learning Supports

The Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth (SPIFFY) and other learning supports programs work to foster safe, healthy, and engaged students.

Professional Development and School Improvement

The Professional Development department offers extensive opportunities for educators and school systems to improve teaching and learning through high-quality, evidence-based professional development programs such as professional licensure, curriculum and instruction, and literacy learning.

Projects and Resources

The Collaborative offers a number of community-based projects and resources that focus on building the resilience of children and youth who face serious risk factors by growing up in highly stressed families or resource-deprived communities.

Special Education

The Special Education department provides high-quality services and programs to fully support youth ages 5 to 21 years old with a wide range of disabilities in reaching their full potential. Services and programs include assessment, direct student services, licensed specialists, consulting, training, inclusive classrooms, and alternative middle and high school programs.

Special Education in Institutional Settings (SEIS)

The Collaborative has been selected by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide special education services for children and youth in institutional settings throughout the Commonwealth. 

Student and Adult Services

Student and adult services enable older students and adults to increase their options in the workforce by completing their GED, earning their high school degree through alternative education, or by participating in entrepreneur, small business development, and vocational skills development programs.

Technology

The Technology department is on the cutting edge of research into today's pedagogical technology. A strong background in open-source technologies informs the technologies used at the Collaborative, which are available to our member districts.