The Educator Loan Repayment Assistance Program is designed to assist educators with the repayment of educational loans acquired to support their college expenses. The program prioritizes the recruitment and retention of a racially, culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse educator workforce consistent with MGL chapter 132 of the acts of 2019 to diversify the educator workforce. The program application will be available through mid-summer. Applicants who are currently part of the educator workforce in a public school in Massachusetts may be eligible to receive up to $7500 towards their outstanding loan debt.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for educator loan repayments, a person must:
- Be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts for at least 12 months (1 year) prior to the start of the academic year and remain a permanent resident to maintain eligibility
- Be a U.S. Citizen or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations
- Not be in default of any federal or state student loans for attendance at any institution
- Have completed a baccalaureate degree at a public institution of higher education, as defined in section 5 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, and including Quincy College, after January 1, 2020.
- 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, childcare and personal expenses while enrolled in an undergraduate or post baccalaureate program at the institution
- Commit to and work for four years in a school district, as defined in section 2 of chapter 70 of the General Laws, as a teacher, instructional or program paraprofessional, or in any other position that requires a license or other form of certification issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or other state agency
Applicants may apply annually up to four years, after they have completed a year of full-time employment.
If funds appropriated are insufficient to award all applicants priority shall be given to educators working in school districts with higher shares of students who are designated as low income, as defined in said section 2 of said chapter 70.
Award Amounts and Terms
Recipient must:
- Apply annually, and for not more than four years.
- Maintain active full-time status as a full-time classroom teacher, instructional or program paraprofessional, or in any other position that requires a license or other form of certification issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or other state agency at a Massachusetts public school district
- Annually provide proof of active full-time employment status as a Massachusetts public school district classroom teacher, instruction or program paraprofessional, or in any other position that requires a license or other form of certification issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
- 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, childcare and personal expenses while enrolled in an undergraduate or post baccalaureate program at an eligible institution
Loan repayment amounts shall not exceed $7,500 per year and may be modified based upon funding availability or other circ*mstances.
Payment will be made annually only after the educator provides verification of satisfactory completion of a full year of teaching.If an educator does not complete the full year of teaching, the repayment assistance is forfeited for that year.
The total amount of awards made to any one recipient shall not exceed the total indebtedness remaining for that recipient.
Loan repayment assistance shall be in the form of payments from the state to the federal government servicer of an educator who has received the loan repayment assistance and shall be considered a payment on behalf of the educator.
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
Selection Process
- Application period open until August 23.
- Applicants must show/upload proof of employment for previous academic year.
- Awards will be disbursed beginning with academic year 2023–2024.
- Applicants must show/upload proof of loan balance and that the loan is in a current status.
- Loan must be in applicant’s name.Parent PLUS loans are not eligible.
- Applicants will receive reimbursem*nt for loans up to $7,500.
- If funds appropriated are insufficient to award all applicants, priority shall be given to educators working in school districts with higher shares of students who are designated as low income, as defined in said section 2 of said chapter 70.
How to Apply
- Applicants will apply via MASSAid Portal for students - User Login (guarantorsolutions.com)
- Applicants must upload to MASSAid copies of their Promissory Note, proof of employment, proof of loan-invoice, final college transcript
- Applications will not be reviewed and awarded until all documentation has been received
Awards
- Applicants will be notified via email of their award
- All awards will be sent directly to the loan billing servicer
