Early Childhood Educator Student Loan Repayment Program

To be eligible for the Early Childhood Educator Student Loan Repayment Program, the applicant must:

1. have received their undergraduate degree after July 1, 2013, from an eligible institution with priority to be given to those that have served five (5) years or more in an early childhood setting. Following the prioritization of awards, educators with fewer than five years in the field will be considered in alignment with the eligibility requirements.
   For the Early Childhood Educator Student Loan Repayment Program, 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.
2. be a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations; or have an approved eligibility status designated by the BHE pursuant to the Massachusetts Tuition Equity Law or otherwise;
3. not be in default on any federal or state student loans for attendance at any institution, or owe a refund for any previous state financial aid program;
4. have outstanding educational debt that was incurred to pay tuition, fees, or additional costs of attendance as calculated by the institution of higher education, including, but not limited to, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, child care and personal expenses;
5. commit to and work for 1 year of each year awarded, in an EEC licensed or funded early education program, as defined in Section 1A of chapter 15D of the General Laws, as a teacher, lead teacher, director, instructional or program professional, or in any other position that requires a license or other form of certification issued by the department of early education and care, including positions in support of family child care and residential programs.
6. understand that if funds appropriated are insufficient to award all applicants, priority shall be given to applicants identified as early childhood educators in the commonwealth who have displayed a proven commitment to early childhood education and who either: work in communities predominantly serving children and families with high needs; or work in regions with a shortage of early education and care slots.

• Priority will be given to those that have served five years or more in an EEC licensed or funded program.
• Recipients must maintain active full-time employment status as a teacher, lead teacher, director, instructional or program professional, or in any other position that requires a license or other form of certification issued by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), including positions in family child care systems and residential programs.
• Recipients must provide proof of active full-time employment.
• Recipients must annually provide proof of outstanding educational debt that was incurred to pay tuition, fees, or additional costs of attendance as calculated by the institution of higher education, including, but not limited to, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, child care and personal expenses while enrolled in an undergraduate program at an eligible institution.

• Award amounts shall not exceed $7,500 per year and may be modified based upon funding availability or other circumstances.
• The total amount of awards made to any one recipient shall not exceed the total indebtedness remaining for that recipient
• Payment will be made annually only after the educator provides verification of satisfactory completion of a full year of employment. If an educator does not complete the full year of employment at an EEC-licensed or funded program, the repayment assistance is forfeited for that year.
• Loan repayment assistance shall be in the form of payments from the state directly to the loan servicer and shall be considered a payment on behalf of the educator
• Applicants will be notified via email of their award

The following education debts are not eligible for repayment pursuant to the Educator Loan Repayment Assistance:

• scholarships that have a service component or obligation
• loans from a commercial lender
• personal loans from friends or relatives
• Parent Plus Loans
• loans that exceed individual standard school expense levels

• Application period: March 9th through June 1st.
• Applicants will need to apply via the MASSAid Student Portal.
• Applicants will need to upload copies, via MASSAid, of the following documentation:
  1. Promissory Note
  2. Proof of employment (form available at the end of online application)
  3. Proof of loan-invoice
  4. Final college transcript (applicants must have received their undergraduate degree after July 1, 2013)

**Applications will not be reviewed and awarded until all documentation has been received**