Partners for Student Success Schools

Schools selected to be part of PSS have three key characteristics. Elementary studentsThey are:

  1. 'Change ready' schools,
  2. Led by a committed principal with a vision for aligning in-school and out-of-school learning activities, programs, and services to meet the needs of their students, and;
  3. Willing to coordinate resources.

The PSS initiative will be piloted in 15 public elementary schools over three years. Selected schools will receive a package of supports aimed at expanding, enhancing, and coordinating key services for struggling students. PSS will support schools through the addition of the MELS position and capacity building to ensure that schools are positioned to succeed.


PSS targets schools that are in “Corrective Action” for failure to make “Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as designated under the No Child Left Behind Act, or have been classified as under “Restructuring” by the Massachusetts Department of Education for at least two years. 

Year 1 Schools

Selected in January 2006, the first five schools to participate in the initiative are:

Year 2 Schools

Five year 2 schools were selected in January 2007. They are:


Managers for Extended Learning and Services (MELS) for Year 2 schools are expected to be hired by March, 2007. Once hired, MELS will lead a planning process for their school, to be completed by the beginning of the school year. Full implementation of the PSS initiative in Year 2 schools will begin with the start of the school year, September 2007.

Year 3 Schools

Application to participate in Year 3 of PSS will be available Fall 2007. Year 3 schools will be selected by January 2008.