LONGMEADOW, MA — Bay Path University has received a $100,000 grant from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation to support the University’s “Bay Path Encircled Literacy Initiative,” a one-year pilot program designed to strengthen early literacy instruction in Springfield Public Schools.
The initiative will focus on equipping teachers and paraprofessionals from the same classrooms with shared training in the Science of Reading, an evidence-based approach to literacy instruction. By training educators together, the program aims to create consistent classroom literacy practices, enhance educator preparedness, and improve reading outcomes for students across underserved communities.
The Bay Path Encircled Literacy Initiative is designed to serve as a scalable model that can be expanded to additional schools and districts in the future. Through collaborative professional development and practical classroom application, the program seeks to strengthen foundational literacy skills during the critical early years of learning.
“This generous support from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation reflects a shared commitment to student success,” states Dr. Ruth Lahti, dean of the School of Education, Psychology, and Humanities. “By investing in educators and evidence-based literacy instruction, we have an opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact on children’s reading achievement in Springfield.”
The pilot program will launch during the upcoming academic year and will bring together classroom teachers and paraprofessionals in a unified approach to literacy instruction rooted in research and best practices.
About Bay Path University
Founded in 1897, Bay Path University serves over 4,500 students through its traditional undergraduate program for women, Bay Path Online offering bachelor’s degrees for women and men, and a range of master’s and doctoral programs. On July 1, 2024, Bay Path acquired Cambridge College, uniting two institutions with a shared mission to provide innovative, career-focused education to students of all backgrounds, including working adults and first-generation learners.
