The Massachusetts Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program provides financial assistance of up to 500 dollars per credit, with a maximum of 4,500 dollars per semester, to prospective and currently employed early childhood and out-of-school educators seeking to advance their education. Eligible applicants must be permanent legal residents of Massachusetts employed for at least one year in a licensed early education and care program.

The scholarship supports enrollment in certificate, associate, bachelor's, or master's degree programs in approved study areas. The program is funded subject to appropriation by the Massachusetts Legislature under M. G.

L. c. 15A, Section 16.

It is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Office of Student Financial Assistance / Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Stay informed about COVID-19 and the latest health and safety guidance for higher education. Stay informed about COVID-19 and the latest health and safety guidance for higher education. We will be performing scheduled maintenance on the Refund Worksheet and Year End applications beginning on Friday, August 25 at 5:00 PM.

The applications are expected to be back online by Monday, August 28 at 8:00 PM. Please visit this page for updates. Office of Student Financial Assistance > State Financial Aid Programs > Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program *The following is a brief description for students.

Institutions should refer to the most recent guidelines for information. The Early Childhood Educator’s Scholarship program is funded subject to the availability of funds and appropriation from the Massachusetts Legislature M. G.

L. c. 15A, Section 16.

The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance for prospective and currently employed early childhood and out-of-school educators and providers who enroll in a certificate, associates, bachelor's, or master’s degree program in an approved area of study.

The Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program was funded as a pilot initiative by the Legislature for the purpose of increasing the quality and availability of teachers and care providers to work with young children and youth, in inclusive settings including infant/toddler, preschool and school age programs.

To be eligible for the Early Childhood Educators Scholarship, an applicant must: Physically reside in Massachusetts for at least one year, as of the start of the enrolled term, with an intent to remain in Massachusetts consistent with Board of Higher Education policy; and Have approved eligibility status as a “High School Completer,” 1 per the Massachusetts tuition equity law, 2 or be a U.S. Citizen, permanent legal resident, or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations.

Have applied for financial aid, using the standard Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a FAFSA equivalent application authorized by the Department of Higher Education. Not be in default of any federal or state Student Loans for attendance at any institution or owe a refund for any previous financial aid received.

Enroll, as a matriculated student, in an approved college certificate or degree program, full or part-time, in an eligible institution. Be employed as an educator or provider in an early education and care program (FCC, center-based, after/out-of-school time, residential placement or contracted FCC system) that is licensed or funded by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

Be considered a “prospective student” which is defined as unemployed or not employed as an early education and care provider at a facility or program, licensed or funded by the Department of Early Education and Care, but plan to enroll in an approved course of study as defined in the eligibility requirements of the ECE Scholarship.

Prospective students must demonstrate they are seeking employment with an early education and care provider in the commonwealth and will have one year to secure eligible employment. Sign an agreement to continue employment as an early childhood educator or provider in Massachusetts upon completing the degree requirement, or repay funds as defined.

Students must either be pursuing their first bachelor’s degree or pursuing a master’s degree in an approved program, as defined. 1 See www. mass.

edu/tuitionequity for more details. 2 Pursuant to Section 9 of Chapter 15A, as amended by Section 11 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2023. Students must acknowledge and agree the following scholarship stipulations which are also outlined via the online application: Applicants may only apply as a prospective student once and must demonstrate they are seeking employment with an early education and care provider in the commonwealth .

These students must have obtained eligible employment the following application cycle for continued consideration of ECE Scholarship funds. Recipients must acknowledge that eligible employment DOES NOT include any part of a public school system. Subsequently positions/and or employment within a public school are NOT eligible.

(ex. Paraprofessionals, teachers, guidance counselor, etc.) The Massachusetts public school system falls under the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) , not EEC . Eligible employment is defined as such: Licensed or Authorized Employer : All eligible programs must have a Program Number issued by the Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC) and have an active account in LEAD .

Such programs have been authorized to operate direct care to children in the following settings: Group and school-aged center based care Residential and Placement programs Family Child Care Systems that have contracts with EEC to provide financially subsidized care to children are also eligible employers.

Eligible positions : Those that provide direct care to children, such as: Family Child Care (FCC) owners/educators Residential and placement care providers This also includes specific positions within Family Child Care Systems that have contract agreements with EEC, such as home visitors, mentors, coaches, and educational leaders.

(Early education and care includes formal programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children during out-of-school time, and residential and placement programs.)

For the purpose of the Early Childhood Educators Scholarship, an eligible institution is defined as a regionally accredited public or private college or university in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that offers a program in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Family Studies, Child Care Administration or fields that directly name early child development and its specific areas of inquiry.

The following are the eligible colleges and universities: American International College Berkshire Community College Bridgewater State University Bristol Community College Bunker Hill Community College Cape Cod Community College Fitchburg State University Framingham State University Greenfield Community College Holyoke Community College Massachusetts Bay Community College Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Massasoit Community College Middlesex Community College Mount Wachusett Community College Northern Essex Community College North Shore Community College Quinsigamond Community College Roxbury Community College Springfield Technical Community College University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Massachusetts Boston University of Massachusetts Dartmouth University of Massachusetts Lowell Westfield State University Worcester State University The scholarship under this program is based on a per credit rate, depending on the type of institution as provided below.

Applicants may receive scholarships to assist with the cost of no more than three courses per semester during the traditional fall, spring and summer: University of Massachusetts $750 per credit, maximum of $6,750 per semester Private College/University $750 per credit, maximum of $6,750 per semester $550 per credit, maximum of $4,950 per semester $350 per credit, maximum of $3,150 per semester Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

You can file your FAFSA electronically here . Create a MASSAid Student Portal account here if you do not already have one. Complete the ECE Scholarship application in the MASSAid Student Portal system .

Applicants must have an active ECE Professional Qualifications Registry Number to be considered for the ECE Scholarship. If you do not have an active EEC PQ Registry Number, click here for the PQ Registry. The 2025-2026 ECE Application is closed.

The 2026-2027 ECE Application will become available on April 1, 2026. Please refer to the ECE Scholarship Guide for additional guidance. Read the Early Childhood Educators’ Scholarship Program Guidelines (PDF) Read about updates approved by the BHE for 2017–2018 Contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance at (617) 391-6070 State Financial Aid Programs Behavioral Health Workforce Scholarship Program Christian A.

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