Clark and Worcester Schools Sign Agreement to Expand Student and Teacher Opportunities
WORCESTER, MA — For a Worcester student interested in taking college classes or a school employee considering a teaching career, a new agreement between Clark University and Worcester Public Schools could lead to more options. What those options will look like, and when people can use them, has yet to be announced.
Leaders signed the memorandum of understanding Sept. 17 at Claremont Academy. It sets out plans to work together on dual enrollment and early college, scholarships, summer and after-school programs, and a “Grow Our Own” pathway for Worcester students, paraprofessionals and other residents interested in education careers.
The agreement also covers classroom partnerships, research and professional development for WPS staff. Clark students may take part in internships and other placements in Worcester schools. Leaders from both institutions are expected to meet regularly to review their progress.
The agreement describes goals; it does not open applications for a new program. Clark and WPS have not announced the number of new college seats or scholarships, eligibility rules, funding or start dates.
Some opportunities are already in place. Students at Claremont Academy and University Park Campus School have been able to take classes at Clark for more than 15 years, according to WPS. Clark also offers University Park Partnership scholarships to eligible neighborhood residents. This fall, eight University Park Campus School graduates and two South High School graduates are attending Clark tuition-free through that existing program.
The teacher connection is longstanding as well. Clark’s Master of Arts in Teaching program places aspiring educators in partner schools. As of September 2025, 217 Clark alumni worked for WPS, including approximately 120 teachers who graduated from the program, according to the district.
At the signing, speakers included Anahit Marutyan, a Claremont Academy graduate now studying at Clark, and Nate Kapiloff, a Clark teaching-program graduate who works at Claremont. Their experiences show paths that already exist between Worcester schools and the university.
Families interested in current college pathways can start with WPS college pathway information and Clark’s University Park Partnership scholarship page. For the programs proposed under the new agreement, they will need to watch for further announcements from Clark and WPS about eligibility and how to take part.
W.U.W. Verification Box
- Project / Topic: Clark University–Worcester Public Schools memorandum of understanding.
- Current Status: The institutions signed an agreement outlining areas for continued and expanded collaboration.
- Key Dates or Decisions: Signed Sept. 17, 2026, at Claremont Academy.
- Estimated Cost: Neither institution announced a cost or funding amount.
- Timeline: Start dates for proposed new or expanded programs have not been announced.
- Immediate Next Steps: Clark and WPS leaders are expected to meet regularly to assess progress.
- Primary Sources: WPS announcement, Clark announcement, Clark’s MAT program and UPP scholarship information.
- What We Do Not Yet Know: Which opportunities will be newly created, how many people they will serve, their eligibility rules, funding and application dates.
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