Section 15A:19F - Early education and care educator scholarship program(a) Subject to appropriation, the board shall, in consultation with the board of early education and care, establish an early education and care educator scholarship program for current and prospective early education and care sector educators. The program shall be administered by the board, in consultation with the board of early education and care, consistent with clause (10) of the second paragraph of section 5 of chapter 15D. (b) To be eligible for the scholarship program, recipients shall demonstrate that they are either: (i) a current early education and care educator employed or seeking employment with an early education and care provider in the commonwealth; or (ii) a prospective early education and care educator who is enrolled in or has agreed to enroll in a certificate program or an associate, bachelor or graduate-level degree program in the early education and care field in the commonwealth; provided, however, that recipients of the scholarship program shall commit to providing early education and care in the commonwealth for a term of service to be determined by the board in consultation with the board of early education and care.(c) Preference for scholarships shall be given to applicants identified as educators who have displayed a proven commitment to early childhood education or who are members of a socially or economically disadvantaged community.(d) A scholarship granted pursuant to this section may be used to cover the cost of tuition, fees or course-related expenses, including, but not limited to, personal child care expenses incurred in order to attend classes and class meetings and other supports deemed appropriate by the board, in consultation with the board of early education and care, for current and prospective early education and care educators to obtain credentials or associate, bachelor or graduate-level degrees to meet the educator and program quality standards of the department of early education and care.(e) The board, in consultation with the board of early education and care, shall promulgate regulations or guidelines governing the scholarship program, which shall include procedures for repayment of the amount of scholarship benefits for a recipient who participates in the program but fails to complete the commitment under subsection (b) or other requirements.Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 15A, § 15A:19F
Added by Acts 2024, c. 140,§ 23, eff. 7/1/2024.