The Cambridge Mayor and School Committee Recognized Collaboration, Coordination, and Scholarships to Support High Priority Children

June 1, 2021, Resolution  

Whereas, the organization formerly known as Agassiz Baldwin Community, Cambridge Community Center, East End House and Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House are long standing organizations that have served Cambridge children and families and collaborated with the Cambridge Public Schools for decades; and

Whereas, during the fall and winter of the 2020-21 school year, almost all CPS 4th and 5th graders attended school remotely; and

Whereas, due to the number of City and community run programs that were operating remotely during COVID, there were limited options for high needs students who needed in-person support for their virtual learning outside of their homes; and

Whereas, the organization formerly known as Agassiz Baldwin Community, Cambridge Community Center, East End House and Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House collaborated closely with the Cambridge Public Schools, Cambridge Agenda for Children Out-of-School Time, and the City of Cambridge to provide in-person child care and supports to high priority and high needs CPS students during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; and

Whereas, the aforementioned community-based, non-profit organizations were able to provide in-person programming and learning support during the school day as state-licensed childcare centers to more than 30 high priority CPS 4th and 5th graders and their siblings that were referred by CPS Elementary Schools; and

Whereas, the Agenda for Children OST worked with the families, schools and the programs to establish their eligibility to receive one-time CIty of Cambridge funded scholarships so that the students could attend the programs at no cost; and

Whereas, this unique approach to funding scholarships was underwritten by the City of Cambridge during an extremely challenging time for our community and many families; and Whereas, this approach to supporting high priority students was successful because of the commitment to effective partnering approaches by CPSD, Cambridge Agenda for Children OST, the CIty of Cambridge, the organization formerly known as Agassiz Baldwin Community, Cambridge Community Center, East End House and Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House; now therefore be it

Resolved that the Cambridge School Committee thanks the organization formerly known as Agassiz Baldwin Community, Cambridge Community Center, East End House, and Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House for their exemplary service to children and families this school year; and be it further

​Resolved that all CPS departments and schools will use the successes and lessons learned through this collaborative endeavor to deepen partnerships with community-based, non-profit programs in Cambridge in support of CPS students and families.

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