$4500 Early Childhood Educators Scholarship

*The following is a brief description for students. Institutions should refer to the most recent guidelines for information.

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. The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance for currently employed early childhood and out of school time educators and providers who enroll in a certificate, associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree 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.

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible for the Early Childhood Educators Scholarship, an applicant must:

  • Be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts.
  • Be a U.S. Citizen or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations.
  • Have applied for financial aid, using the standard Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • 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 undergraduate degree program, full or part-time, 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.

    Eligible graduate programs include these same categories as well as Early Childhood Research, Policy and Practice; Education Entrepreneurship; and Learning Sciences.” 
  • Be employed, for at least six months, as an educator or provider in an early education and care program or out of school time program that is licensed or authorized by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and continue employment in this field while pursuing the approved course of study.
  • 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. 

Award Amounts

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:

Institution TypeMaximum award amounts
University of Massachusetts$500 per credit, maximum of $4,500 per semester
Private College/University$500 per credit, maximum of $4,500 per semester
State University$400 per credit, maximum of $3,600 per semester
Community College$250 per credit, maximum of $2,250 per semester

How to Apply

  • 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 herefor the PQ Registry.  

The 2023-2024 ECE application is now available as of April 1, 2023, and must be completed by the deadline of October 1, 2023.

Here is the link to $4500 Early Childhood Educators Scholarship.

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