Officials hear autism program update, forward student-led middle school recess petition
WORCESTER—The Worcester School Committee approved a new elementary math curriculum, received an update on expanding autism services and reviewed a student-led petition calling for middle school recess during its April 2 meeting.
The decisions and discussions reflect the district’s ongoing efforts to expand academic support and student services across grade levels.
Autism update highlights growing demand
Representatives from Worcester Public Schools’ Special Education Department reported continued growth in the number of students diagnosed with autism — particularly in lower grades — while outlining progress in the district’s Specialized Approaches to Individual Learning, or SAIL, program.
The district currently serves 5,672 students with disabilities, including 1,085 whose primary disability is autism. The number of students with autism increased most significantly during the 2022-23 school year, as students returned following the COVID-19 pandemic. The current projected increase for 2025-26 is 5.2%, though officials noted the figures may still change.
About 40% of students with autism are educated in full or partial inclusion settings, while more than 51% are served in substantially separate classrooms and 7.8% attend out-of-district placements.
Tammy Murray, director of special education, said the data reflect increasing demand for services and help guide future planning.
“These data points reinforce the need for continued early identification and intervention,” Murray said. “As a proactive response, the district is launching the Communication and Readiness Enhancement Preschool Program, known as the CARE Program, next school year. This initiative is designed to provide targeted early intervention through structured 90-minute sessions with a goal of strengthening communication and readiness skills at the critical developmental stage.”
Officials also highlighted the rollout of the SAIL program, which consolidates several prior programs into a three-tiered system designed to better align services with student needs.
Looking ahead, the department plans to introduce a new evidence-based curriculum for SAIL classrooms, expand recruitment and licensure support for paraeducators and teachers, and increase de-escalation training. District officials are also examining potential space needs as part of broader school realignment discussions later this year.
Committee approves Reveal math curriculum
The school committee also approved the purchase of the Reveal elementary math curriculum, following a recommendation from the Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning and Student Success.
The six-year, $3.2 million contract replaces the expiring enVision curriculum. District leaders said many teachers had supplemented enVision with additional materials, prompting the search for alternatives.
Reveal is already in use at the secondary level, and administrators said adopting it for elementary grades would improve continuity across grade levels. Officials also cited its differentiated instruction options and broader learning supports as key advantages.
Deputy Superintendent Marie Morse said the district prioritized reducing teachers’ workload in selecting a new curriculum.
“We wanted to reduce the amount of work for teachers,” Morse said. “So, when we looked at this curriculum, it seemed to have a lot of the things we thought were ideal, and what our teachers felt were ideal. Beyond the price, we were also looking for the need of the educators in the classroom.”
The committee voted to file the item, effectively authorizing the administration to proceed with the purchase.
Committee member Sue Mailman also successfully requested that the administration develop a schedule of expiring curricula to help inform future decisions.
Students push for middle school recess
Students from Sullivan Middle School presented a petition calling for dedicated recess time in Worcester middle schools, arguing the change would support mental health, physical activity and academic performance.
The petition was developed as part of a civics action project and signed by Sullivan eighth graders. Students proposed a 15- to 20-minute recess period, suggesting slightly shorter class periods to accommodate the change.
“We believe that adding recess to the school day wouldn’t mess up the schedule too much,” the students wrote in the petition. “Even just 15 to 20 minutes could make a big difference in how students feel and perform.”
“If each of the seven class periods were shortened by just two or three minutes, we could make time for recess without losing much learning time. This small change could actually help classes go better, because students would come back more focused and ready to learn.”
The school committee referred the petition to the Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning and Student Success for further review.
Jason Bleau can be reached at bleau.jason@yahoo.com
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