Worcester moves 36 alternative‑education students to Central Mass Collaborative amid cost and service debate

Worcester School Committee members spent an extended portion of Monday’s finance meeting on a proposal to move 36 students from the district’s Worcester Alternative program into the Central Mass Collaborative (CMC) for the 2026–27 year.

Administrators said the move responds to fiscal and programmatic pressures. "Our per‑pupil estimate for the Worcester Alternative program is about $74,000; the Central Mass Collaborative rate is roughly $40,000," said the district’s administrative team, noting a $200,000 rental cost tied to the current alternative‑school facility.

Why it matters: Committee members said the difference — roughly $34,000 per pupil in the district’s accounting — raises questions about service parity, staffing and long‑term costs. Dr. Murray, who leads special‑education programming, told the committee the collaborative will provide the IEP‑specified services: "They will receive the same exact services that they receive in Worcester Public Schools," she said, adding that the district is holding IEP meetings and contacting families individually.

Committee members pressed for detail on how daily staffing and classroom sizes compare. Administrators said the collaborative commonly operates classrooms with up to 12 students and 1–2 para‑educators, while the district’s in‑house alternative classrooms had smaller sizes that would require staffing reductions to match CMC costs. The district said positions vacated by program changes will be shifted to other vacant roles in the system rather than creating net new hires.

Members asked about parent outreach and options if families reject the transfer. The district said it has notified families through ParentSquare, phone calls and emails and is meeting with each family; it also said families may pursue options including mediation if they do not agree with the IEP team’s recommendation.

Several committee members who toured the collaborative described it positively. "I had the pleasure of going to the Central Mass Collaborative today … it was very impressive," said Member Mailman, who described visiting classrooms and open‑house plans for parents.

What’s next: The committee approved the budget line items under review at the meeting and asked administration to continue outreach and to provide a clearer public explanation of program differences and what families should expect. No final vote on program closures beyond the budgetary allocations was recorded during the open session; the committee moved into executive session later in the evening to discuss labor and litigation matters.