Massachusetts Launches Loan Repayment Program for Early Childhood Educators

Massachusetts is now offering a first-of-its-kind student loan repayment program specifically for early childhood educators, Governor Maura Healey announced on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. The $15 million initiative aims to address workforce retention in the early education and care sector by easing the financial burden of student loan debt.

Program Details

The Early Childhood Educator Loan Repayment Program will provide eligible educators with up to $7,500 per year towards their student loans, subject to available funding. The program received $7.5 million in the FY 2025 budget and an additional $7.5 million in the Fair Share supplemental budget for FY 2025.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible educators include those working in a variety of early education settings, including:

• Family Child Care (FCC) programs
• Center-based programs
• After school and out-of-school time (ASOST) programs
• Residential placement programs
• Contracted FCC systems

To qualify, applicants must:

• Have completed a qualifying bachelor’s degree from a public or private higher education institution in Massachusetts after July 2013.
• Be currently employed by an EEC-licensed or funded early education and care program.

Priority Consideration

Priority will be given to educators who:

• Have five or more years of experience in the field.
• Serve children and families with high needs.
• Operate in regions of Massachusetts facing shortages of early education and care seats.

“Prioritizing experienced educators and those working in high-need communities ensures this investment supports both workforce retention and equitable access to high-quality early learning,” said Acting Education Secretary and Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw.

Expanding Early Childcare in Massachusetts

This loan repayment initiative is part of a broader effort by the Healey administration to expand access to early childcare across the state. These efforts include the addition of 22,000 childcare seats since before the pandemic and a $37 million investment in universal pre-kindergarten access through the “Gateway to Pre-K” agenda.

How to Apply

Applications for the Early Childhood Educator Loan Repayment Program are being accepted through June 1, 2026. More information about eligibility requirements and the application process is available at Mass.edu/ECELoanRepayment.