Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Now Open

Boston — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that the Early Childhood Educators scholarship is open for the 2024-2025 academic year. This scholarship is available for educators who work at programs licensed and/or funded by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), including center-based, family child care and out-of-school time programs. For the first time, the scholarship is now available for staff who work at residential programs licensed by EEC. The application process has also been simplified and eligible majors have been expanded to better support the career pathways for out-of-school time educators.

“Our administration is fully committed to supporting and expanding the early education and care workforce. When programs have high-quality educators, they can offer better care to even more families,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I know these important changes to the Early Childhood Educators scholarship will strengthen our supports for our hardworking afterschool educators and residential program staff, positively reinforcing a pipeline of high-quality early education professionals.”

“This has been a banner year for educational access in Massachusetts, following the passage of MassReconnect, MASSGrant Plus Expansion, and Tuition Equity,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “Opening the doors for more early childhood educators to access higher education puts them on a path to build meaningful careers, meets the workforce needs of our early education and care system, and strengthens access to high-quality care for children and families.”

“Our Early Childhood Educators scholarship supports educators and program leaders to advance their careers and ensure that our youngest learners are receiving the highest quality education they deserve, setting them up for school and lifetime success,” said Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler. “I am grateful to our Departments of Early Education and Care and Higher Education for their partnership and collaboration with early educators and community partners in making this scholarship even better – reflecting current higher education pathways and expanding access in a simpler way.” 

The Early Childhood Educators scholarship is jointly offered through EEC and the Department of Higher Education (DHE) to help early education, out-of-school time and residential program staff increase their qualifications through a college degree. The scholarship is based on a per credit rate, depending on the type of institution, and can be used towards an associates, bachelor’s or master’s degree.​ More than 500 scholarships were awarded for the 2023-2024 academic year; an increase over the number awarded in the previous year​. As of this year, the scholarship now covers additional majors, including Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, Elementary Education, or Special Education.

“EEC has been working closely with the Department of Higher Education to make critical changes to our joint Early Childhood Educators scholarship that are responsive to the needs of early educators and will better ensure we are maximizing this resource to recruit, retain and build the skills as well as economic mobility of our workforce. I am excited to see the impact these improvements will have, including making it easier to apply and expanding the majors and licensed program types eligible,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw.

“As a former preschool teacher, I know how crucial early educators are to our youngest learners and to our economy,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “I’m pleased to partner with EEC and help some of Massachusetts’ early educators build their knowledge and expertise even further with this scholarship.”

Educators can learn more about the Early Childhood Educators scholarship, how to apply, and register for an upcoming information session at Mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-the-early-childhood-educators-ece-scholarship. The information sessions will be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese Brazilian, and other languages as requested.

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