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Early Childhood Educators Scholarshipjointly administered by:

Massachusetts Department of Early Education and CareMassachusetts Department of Higher Education

Office of Student Financial Assistance

EEC Board Meeting

April 8, 2008

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ECE Scholarship Program – Purpose and Goals

Improve child outcomes/program quality by increasing the number of degreed teachers working in early education and out-of-school time programs.

Assist currently employed early education and care and out of school time staff to earn a higher education degree in order to meet EEC quality standards (i.e., preschool program standards, UPK, NAEYC accreditation).

Decrease staff turnover.

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ECE Scholarship Program – Overview/Legislative Requirements

First funded in FY 2006 at $1M; funded at $4m in FY2008.

Appropriated as an earmark within the Department of Higher Education’s (DHE) larger Financial Aid account (line-item 7070-0065).

DHE and EEC required to jointly establish guidelines and application criteria.

Funds intended to cover tuition, fees and related expenses for up to 3 courses per semester in degree granting programs.

Eligible recipients must be working in an early education and care program and must commit to a term of service after graduation.

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ECE Scholarship Program – Current Eligibility Guidelines and Criteria*

Massachusetts residency; United States citizen or eligible non-citizen; Not in default on other student loan or grant; Matriculated undergraduate student in early childhood

education, or related field; No previous bachelor’s degree; Employed in a center-based program or licensed family child

care home in MA for at least one year; Continue employment while enrolled in the required degree

program; and Agreement to continue working in the field in MA for 6

months per semester of scholarship aid received after completing their degree, or repay the funds.

*DHE and EEC discretion

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ECE Scholarship Program – Approval Process

Applications are received and processed by OSFA.

If an applicant meets OSFA’s criteria, EEC verifies: current employment; at least 1 year in field prior to application; and supervisor recommendation.

EEC returns approvals and denials to OSFA.

OSFA notifies the applicant of their fall and spring award only and verifies that the student is matriculated and registered (award amount is adjusted based on actual registration).

OSFA submits payment to the college.

If funding is “freed-up,” after the spring “add/drop” period, students are notified of additional summer awards.

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ECE Scholarship Program – Award History

FY 2006 $1M 1139 applicants 327 recipients

FY 2007$3M 1108 applicants 672 recipients

(341 new) FY 2008

$4M 1300 applicants 930 recipients*(429 new)

1,891 first time applicants and 1,043 first time recipients over 3 years.

*Projected

Data provided by the Office of Student Financial Assistance

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ECE Scholarship Program – Number of Recipients by Institution Type

Institution FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008*

Community College 99 222 268

State College 40 113 159

University of MA 29 66 107 Independent Colleges 159 271 396

~ 2,016 courses funded in FY 2006; and 3,505 in FY 2007 ~18% intended graduation rate in FY 2006; ~24% in FY 2007

*Projected

Data provided by the Office of Student Financial Assistance

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ECE Scholarship Program – Scholarship Rates

Institution Per Credit Maximum

Community College $150 $1,350 per semester

State College $300 $2,700 per semester

University of MA $400 $3,600 per semester

Independent Colleges* $400 $3,600 per semester

• Maximum of 9 credits (3 courses) per semester.

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ECE Scholarship Program – Family Income Ranges

Income Range FY 2006 FY 2007 $0 - $ 9,999 24 28 $10,000 - $19,999 48 93$20,000 - $39,999 119 234$40,000 - $59,999 59 108$60,000 - $79,999 35 112$80,000 - $99,999 15 46

100,000 - above 27 35

Pell Grant eligibility 51% 42%

Data provided by the Office of Student Financial Assistance

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ECE Scholarship Program – FY 2009 Process Improvements Under Discussion

In coordination with Department of Higher Education:

Increase employer engagement.

Provide colleges with more timely information about scholarship recipients to facilitate academic advising.

Improve integration and alignment across EEC professional development initiatives.

Monitor student service agreement to ensure that students are fulfilling the requirements of the scholarship.

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ECE Scholarship Program – FY 2009 Policy Changes Under Discussion

1. Target scholarship assistance based on: Applicant’s financial need; Percentage of low-income/at-risk children at

applicant’s workplace.

2. Require minimum number of work hours.

3. Define “related field.”

4. Expand eligibility to students with a BA in an unrelated field seeking “specialized” coursework in early child education or out-of-school time programming.

5. Increase academic accountability for on-going eligibility: Minimum GPA; and Consequences for course withdrawal.

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ECE Scholarship Program: FY 2009 Policy Changes Under DiscussionProposed Options and Recommendations

1. Target scholarship assistance based on applicant’s financial need:

• Option 1: Serve family income of $70,000 or less first, next serve higher income ranges based on available funds

• Option 2: Align with OSFA guidelines family income =$70,000 (100% SMI)

• Option 3: Family income cap of $80,000 based on analysis of current recipients

RECOMMENDATION

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ECE Scholarship Program: FY 2009 Policy Changes Under DiscussionProposed Options and Recommendations

2. Require a minimum number of work hours:

• Option 1: • Applicants must work at least 20

hours/week or 15 hours/week if working in a school age program;

• Applicants working in programs operating fewer than 20 hours/week must work 50% of time the program is open.

• Option 2: • Applicants must work at least 50% of the

time the program is in operation.

RECOMMENDATION

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ECE Scholarship Program: FY 2009 Policy Changes Under DiscussionProposed Options and Recommendations

3. Further define “related field” for eligible degrees:

• Option 1: • “Related field” based on EEC

regulations for ECE and OST staff qualifications (child development, elementary education, child guidance, human services, psychology, physical education, recreation, child psychology, the arts, social work, and sociology).

• Option 2:• Only ECE degrees accepted.

• Option 3: • “Related field” is not defined.

RECOMMENDATION

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ECE Scholarship Program: FY 2009 Policy Changes Under DiscussionProposed Options and Recommendations

4. Expand eligibility to students with a BA in an unrelated field by funding “specialized” coursework in early child education or out-of-school time programming*.

• “Specialized” coursework = EEC qualifications for Lead Teacher

• Comparable “Specialized” coursework for OST staff = working with school age experts.

*Note: May require legislative language change to include students who will not get a degree.

RECOMMENDATION

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ECE Scholarship Program: FY 2009 Policy Changes Under DiscussionProposed Options and Recommendations

5. Increase academic accountability for on-going eligibility:

• Minimum GPA: align with OSFA.• Recipients must have 2.0 GPA or a higher

GPA if that defines satisfactory progress at their institution.

• Consequences for course withdrawal:• If withdrawn from all courses applicant is

not eligible the following year; • Limit applicant’s award to the number of

courses successfully completed previous year.

RECOMMENDATION

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ECE Scholarship Program – Proposed Timeline

Met with Advisory Team February 28, 2008

EEC Board Discussion March 11, 2008

Met with Advisory Team March 28, 2008

EEC Board Vote April 8, 2008

BHE Board Meeting April 25, 2008

Release 2008-2009 Application

Spring 2008