The Worcester Education Collaborative (WEC) is committed to supporting, facilitating, and developing a wide variety of partnerships among families, schools, organizations, and businesses that will both enhance the quality of public education in Worcester and the quality of our common life. As a non-profit education fund, WEC's independent voice speaks for the children and for the community to create a system of effective schools in which every child is prepared for success in college, career, and life.

WEC works to ensure that students in the Worcester’s public schools are given the opportunity to succeed at the highest possible level and to acquire the skills and knowledge to master the challenges of the 21st century.

Our local thought and practice partners include the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Health Foundation, Edward Street Child Services, Office of the City Manager, WPI, Clark University, Worcester State University and UMass Medical School. Our sound relationships with our local colleges also allow us to tap the enthusiasm of undergraduates through our intern program.

Through strategic collaborations with other organizations, the Worcester Public Schools, and the city, WEC has made significant strides in focusing our community on key issues in education. We have seen changes in the high school graduation requirements, dramatic reduction in study halls, a change in the policy of tardiness as grounds for school suspension, a renewed focus on the work to improve attendance, increased focus on social and emotional learning, school-based leadership, and literacy. Our reputation for not only spurring discussion but for spurring action and lending meaningful expertise assures us a seat at the table and allows us to keep a city-wide focus on our children and schools.

In addition, a significant part of WEC’s portfolio focuses on catalyzing collective impact in support of the Worcester Public Schools and the district’s students. We firmly believe that, as noted in the Stanford Social Innovation Review in 2011, “Large scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination…Collective impact initiatives are long term commitments by a group of important actors from different sectors to a common agenda for solving specific social problems.”

WEC Annual Appeal - 2022

By Worcester Education Collaborative

WEC Annual Appeal - 2022

Our Board’s leadership in supporting our organization strengthens our case to individuals, corporations, and philanthropies in our community.