Out of the 302 school districts in Massachusetts, Harvard is one of just 16 to qualify for federal funds from the Afghan Refugee Support to Schools program. According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which identified the districts, Harvard has been awarded a grant of $35,229.
Bromfield students Asma Kabir and Auesha Niazy pose for a photo at a recent school event. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
To take part in the program, school districts must have six or more school-age newcomers from Afghanistan who enrolled between October 2021 and November 2022. Districts can use the grant money to support the new students with supplemental educational material and coaching “to help them catch up in a way” with their age peers, Superintendent Linda Dwight told the School Committee when she announced the grant Monday. The funds can also be used to offer access to additional learning activities for both the students and their parents.
With 12 Afghan children of school age, Harvard is the only district in Central Massachusetts other than Worcester to qualify for the federal funds.
