Programs & Partnerships

Lawrence Family Development Charter School (LFDCS) Operating Hours

LFDCS operates Monday through Friday, starting the last week of August and continuing through June, from 7:45 am to 6:00 pm

The core academic schedule is as follows:

• Grades 5–8: 7:45 am – 3:30 pm
• Grades 3–4: 7:45 am – 3:20 pm
• K1 – Grade 2: 7:45 am – 3:10 pm

An extended-day academic and enrichment program is available after school:

• K2 – Grade 6: Until 6:00 pm
• K1: Until 5:00 pm

Integrated within the school day are programs designed to build essential skills for high academic achievement. These opportunities promote enrichment and holistic development, fostering the growth of the whole child.

The K1 program, which is located at The Academy for Early Academic Preparation at 7 May St along with K2, and is comprised of six classrooms with up to 18 students, each staffed by one certified teacher and one paraprofessional. These students advance in their second year to K2, where class size is twenty students per group. Extensive language development, phonemic awareness and number sense are complemented by learning and play centers, music, art, fitness, Social/Emotional Learning and Spanish. A secure welcoming environment builds strong foundational skills for transition from K1 to K2.

Students who complete K1 advance to K2, a full-day academic program aligned with the Massachusetts Common Core Curriculum. Ready to learn at an accelerated pace, K2 students are introduced to many technology and text-based programs in order to advance in oral fluency and reading. A full program of English and Spanish language instruction, supporting our dual-language mission, as well as mathematics, art, music, Social/Emotional Learning and physical education continue the advantages of a coordinated two-year program. Students are grouped in classes of twenty, each with a certified teacher; paraprofessionals are available to assist teachers as needed.

LFDCS implements a scientifically-researched reading program with extensive planning and consistent progress monitoring. The Journeys reading program is used for grades K1–4, while grades 5–8 engage with novel units aligned with the Massachusetts Common Core Standards.

In grades K–4, teachers focus on the five essential components of reading: phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and comprehension. Students in grades 3–4 participate in a one-hour Language Arts block.

Progress Monitoring & Intervention:

• Student progress is assessed three times annually using Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and Measures of Academic Progress (MAP).
• Through the Response to Intervention (RTI) process, Tier III students receive an additional 40 minutes of targeted instruction to address reading gaps.

Accelerated Reader (AR) Program:
Students independently read AR books and complete quizzes to assess comprehension. Achievements are celebrated quarterly with AR awards for points earned or quizzes completed.

Each year during the first week of March, LFDCS joins schools nationwide to celebrate the birthday of Massachusetts-born children’s author Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) and foster a love of reading.

Organized by the Student Services Coordinator and leadership team, this tradition brings community volunteers—including elected officials, police and fire personnel, board members, bankers, business leaders, and friends and families of LFDCS—to read to individual or small groups of children. Their enthusiasm energizes the school community and highlights the importance of reading.

Grade 8 students participate by visiting K1 classrooms to read Dr. Seuss books, creating connections across grade levels. Additionally, each K1, K2, grade 1, and grade 2 student receives a hardbound copy of a Dr. Seuss book, encouraging literacy and a lifelong love of reading.

LFDCS is committed to fostering literacy through dedicated spaces and resources across its facilities:

• Lower School Library (Grades 3–4): Features thousands of books, classroom and home lesson kits, and quiet spaces for special projects.
• Alekal Library (Upper School): Offers middle-grade fiction and nonfiction, reference materials, and an internet-connected computer center to support research, writing, and learning.

A Librarian/Media Specialist supports students in both the Lower and Upper Schools by integrating technology into reading, research, and digital citizenship lessons.

The school utilizes several resources in mathematics to meet the needs of each grade level. LFDCS uses Eureka Math which is aligned with the Massachusetts Common Core Standards. IXL Interventions provide support for students who are identified through Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments which is given three times annually. Based on this data, through our RTI (Response to Intervention) process, students may be grouped for specific attention to gaps in mathematics. A Title 1 Mathematics teacher for grades 3-4 provides support for these critical years when students are learning the basics upon which the understanding of mathematical processes are built.

LFDCS enrolls a student population that is 98.8% Hispanic. The overwhelming majority of students enrolling in kindergarten rank Spanish as their first or home language, necessitating a significant investment of personnel, resources and study in English Language Acquisition, particularly vocabulary development. Staff provides vocabulary-rich instructional support enhanced by visuals to increase vocabulary, comprehension and confidence. LFDCS is committed to the dual-language priority of our school (see above) and the mandates of English proficiency from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Our program for English Language Learners (ELLs) is staffed by certified educators. Federal and state laws require that ELL students be assessed annually to measure their proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking English as well as the progress they are making in learning English. In fulfillment of these laws, ELL students are required to participate in ACCESS testing, which is based on the WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) English Language Development standards. Our goal is to provide support as long as a student needs it, and only when a student reaches a proficient level of English is support discontinued. LFDCS is in 100% compliance for all ESE ESL requirements.

LFDCS recognizes the importance of preparing our students for their future through the integration of technology in our school and curriculum. Since our founding, computer labs and the skills they foster were foremost in our priorities. Multiple carts of Chromebooks enable 1:1 use in grades 1-8, and our youngest learners in K1 and K2 share multiple carts of iPads to use in class. All classrooms and resource rooms are equipped with short throw projectors and whiteboards. LFDCS is committed to Blended Learning by integrating technology into all parts of planning, assessment and instruction. LFDCS has a Digital Instructor to work with teachers to effectively integrate technology into instruction. To learn more about instructional technology and digital learning, please visit Digital Learning. Our students and teachers adapted to remote learning when necessary with high-level instruction because the technology and digital apps needed were already familiar.

LFDCS recognizes the arts as a vital component of education and child development. Participation in art and music broadens students' perspectives, fosters cultural awareness, and cultivates skills that enhance their lives.

Art and music curricula are offered to all students from K1 through grade 8, taught by full-time, certified teachers. Guided by the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for the arts, students engage with diverse artistic media and musical expressions.

The Upper School features a dedicated music room with an instrument practice center and an art room, providing all students with weekly classes in both disciplines. LFDCS also seeks opportunities for students to showcase their art and perform music throughout the year.

LFDCS houses a state-of-the-art gymnasium in the Upper School and is committed to the health and fitness of our students. Students in all grades participate in physical education (PE) classes weekly and are introduced to fitness, stretching, strengthening of muscles and breathing. Students learn individual and team fitness routines as well as team sports and sportsmanship. Our after-school fitness activities might include: soccer, a running club, volleyball, wrestling, karate, cheerleading, gymnastics (Youth Development Organizations partnership) and league basketball for girls and boys in grades 5-8.

At the start of each school year, LFDCS organizes a special team-building day for grade 8 students in place of academic classes. This program introduces students to their grade-level teaching team through “outward bound” leadership challenges.

These activities foster trust, friendships, and self-awareness while promoting teamwork among students and teachers. The goal is to emphasize the importance of communication, collaboration, and mutual respect from the very first day, helping students build a strong foundation for success throughout the year.

FDCS invests in our graduates’ futures through the Opening Doors program, guiding students in grades 5–8 and their families through the high school transition process. Secondary School Coordinators provide SSAT prep workshops, facilitate partnerships with private secondary schools and youth organizations, and connect students to after-school and summer enrichment programs in areas like journalism, robotics, fine arts, and theater.

Students receive personalized support with applications, essays, and interviews, with activities beginning in early fall of eighth grade. A High School Fair offers direct access to top schools, leading to over 50% of graduates gaining acceptance into prestigious institutions such as Phillips Academy, Deerfield Academy, Central Catholic, Concord Academy, and Greater Lawrence Technical High School.

Post-graduation, Secondary School Coordinators track alumni progress, organize reunions, and foster connections. Alumni contribute by speaking at events, serving on the Board of Trustees, and supporting future graduates, reinforcing a lifelong connection to LFDCS.

LFDCS was founded on the principle of high expectations for student success, including the life and leadership lessons learned through service to others. Building a better community through individual and collective efforts is a core goal of our school.

Students participate in meaningful projects such as keeping neighborhoods and parks clean, organizing food drives, tutoring younger peers, maintaining gardens, and assisting senior citizens with citizenship studies. These activities foster a sense of responsibility and community awareness.

In addition, grade 8 students are required to complete a Civics Project, aligned with the 2018 History and Social Science Curriculum Frameworks, to develop civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions.