Governor Healey Announces First-Ever Student Loan Repayment Awards for 248 Early Educators

 Governor Healey Announces First-Ever Student Loan Repayment Awards for 248 Early Educators 

 First-ever awards help early educators pay down student debt and build long-term careers in Massachusetts

BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey today announced approximately $1.8 million in student loan repayment awards for 248 early educators and staff across Massachusetts, marking the first awards through the state’s first-ever student loan repayment program dedicated exclusively to the early education and care workforce. 

The Early Childhood Educator Loan Repayment Program, a partnership between the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) and Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), provides eligible recipients with up to $7,500 per year in student loan repayment assistance. The program is designed to help experienced early educators stay in the field, build long-term careers and continue providing high-quality care and education for children and families.

“We want Massachusetts to be the best place to raise a family and build a career, and supporting early educators is a big part of that,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That’s why we’re helping 248 educators pay down their student loans and keep more of their hard-earned money. When we invest in early educators, we strengthen our workforce, give children a strong start and help families get the care they need.”

“Early educators are essential to strong communities and a strong economy,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These awards will help more educators build lasting careers in the field while making sure families across Massachusetts can continue to count on the high-quality care and education their children need.”

The 248 inaugural recipients work across EEC-licensed and funded programs, including family child care, center-based early education and care, after-school and out-of-school time programs, residential programs and contracted family child care systems. 

Recipients were selected based on eligibility requirements and program priorities, with preference given to educators with five or more years of experience and those working in communities serving children and families with high needs or in regions experiencing shortages of early education and care seats.

“Supporting early educators is essential to expanding access to high-quality early education and care for families across Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Steve Zrike. “This program connects two priorities that are critical to our state’s future: making higher education more affordable and supporting a strong, experienced early education workforce. Investing in these educators helps ensure our youngest learners have a strong start, while giving families the reliable early education and care they need to work and support their families.”

"Helping our early educators repay student loans will keep people in the field, so we can make early education more affordable and increase access for Massachusetts families," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "The Legislature made this investment because it directly benefits the providers, educators, families, and students across our state and will prove critical to our early education infrastructure. I applaud the Healey-Driscoll Administration for getting this money straight to the educators who need it."

To qualify for this first round of awards, applicants were required to have earned an eligible degree in a qualifying field from a public or private Massachusetts college or university after July 1, 2013, and to have worked in an EEC-licensed or funded program during the previous academic year.

“Educators working in early education and child care make an extraordinary commitment to the children and families they serve, and we want Massachusetts to be a place where they can build rewarding, sustainable careers,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “This first group of recipients represents educators working across our early education and care system, and this investment is one more way we are supporting their professional growth and compensation, while recognizing their experience and strengthening the workforce.”

“These educators pursued higher education to build meaningful careers that give back to children, families, and communities across the Commonwealth,” said Department of Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega. “Investing in the success of our early childhood educators helps them build sustainable careers and strengthens the communities that benefit from their expertise.”

The loan repayment program is part of Governor Healey’s work to make high-quality early education and care more affordable and accessible for families while strengthening the workforce. Through the Inter-Agency Early Education and Care Task Force,  the Administration is working across state government to expand access to care, strengthen career pathways and help more educators enter and stay in the field. 

The Administration is also helping current and aspiring early educators afford the education and training they need to advance their careers. DHE and EEC jointly administer the Early Childhood Educator Scholarship, which helps eligible educators working in early education and child care to cover the cost of pursuing a college degree. The Administration has also invested in over 250 registered apprenticeships and other career pathway initiatives to recruit, develop and retain educators working in early education and child care. 

Governor Healey made historic investments to make higher education more affordable and support current and future educators across Massachusetts. State funding for financial aid programs has more than doubled to over $400 million, including making community college tuition and fee-free for students across Massachusetts. Current and future educators can also access dedicated financial aid programs and scholarship opportunities, such as the In-Demand Scholarship, Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant, Early Childhood Educators Scholarship, and Tomorrow’s Teachers Scholarship, helping more students afford the education and training they need to advance in the profession. These investments are helping more people enter education careers, advance in the profession and stay in the workforce.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is investing approximately $15 million in the Early Childhood Educator Loan Repayment Program to provide student loan relief to early educators and support implementation of the program. The Program is expected to reopen for a new round of applications in spring 2027, providing another opportunity for eligible educators to apply for student loan repayment assistance. For more information, visit Mass.edu/ECELoanRepayment.