EEC announces early-education scholarship application is open; officials outline steps, eligibility and help resources

The Department of Early Education and Care announced that applications for its early‑education scholarship opened the morning of the session and walked attendees through eligibility rules and the application process.

Sara Sian, an employee of the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), told participants “a melhor notícia do dia que as os registros de inscrição pra bolsa do CES estão aberta” and detailed steps applicants must take, including submitting a FAFSA and creating an account in the state grant portal.

The announcement matters because the scholarship can cover credits toward college diplomas for people who work — or plan to work — in licensed early‑childhood programs in Massachusetts. EEC staff described the award as a credit‑based subsidy that can cover up to three courses per term, subject to institutional credit costs and verification by the college and employer.

According to Sian, basic eligibility requirements include Massachusetts residency, completion of the FAFSA (the federal student aid form), and enrollment as a matriculated student in an eligible postsecondary program. She said applicants who are not yet employed in an eligible…