LYNN — Lynn Public Schools has received $942,602 in Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) grants to expand access to high-quality, affordable preschool education.
CPPI funding aims to “establish a district-wide preschool program across classes in public and community-based preschool programs,” according to a press release.
The CPPI grant was awarded to LPS for the 2026 fiscal year, and LPS partners such as Lynn Economic Opportunity (LEO) Head Start Early Childhood Education, Demakes Family YMCA, and Gregg Neighborhood House are also participating in the initiative.
CEO of LEO Head Start Birgitta Damon said along with expanding access to early education and care, CPPI grants also help create equitable access to special education and inclusion.
This year, LEO Head Start is particularly interested in being able to provide services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech services directly in the LEO classroom. Damon said this system is more ideal for the student’s regulation and learning, as opposed to transferring them to another institution and having them return to LEO for the remainder of the day.
“We’re hoping that is fully embedded in our program this year,” Damon said. “We appreciate the partnership with LPS, our community partners, to be able to work together to create a locally aligned quality across all the programs.”
Damon also thanked Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson and his administration for their “commitment to expanding access to Pre-k education in the city.”
“The support we have received from the CPPI has been transformative for our community,” Nicholson told The Daily Item.
“Thanks to this initiative, the City has been able to increase access to high-quality preschool education, improve kindergarten readiness, and close learning gaps, allowing us to provide a brighter future for our students,” Nicholson said. “Thank you to the LPS team involved, our community partners, and the early educators and families involved for the great work.”
