Governor Opens Applications for Loan Repayments Dedicated to Early Childhood Educators

03:23PM / Saturday, March 14, 2026Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the opening of applications for the Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Loan Repayment Program, the first state loan repayment program created exclusively for early education and care professionals.

The program was developed through a partnership between the Departments of Higher Education (DHE) and Early Education and Care (EEC).

The $15 million ECE Loan Repayment Program is designed to support workforce retention by reducing the financial burden of student loan debt for eligible educators across a variety of settings. This includes those working in Family Child Care (FCC), center-based programs, after school and out-of-school time (ASOST) programs, residential placement programs and contracted FCC systems who work directly with children, families, or other educators.

The program will provide up to $7,500 per recipient per year, subject to appropriation.

"If we want a strong early education system, we need to support the educators who make it possible," said Governor Maura Healey. "Early educators support children's development, help parents to participate in the workforce, and strengthening our local economies. By helping relieve the burden of student loan debt, we're making it easier for talented educators to stay in the field and continue supporting children and families across Massachusetts."

To be eligible, applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree in a qualifying program of study at an eligible public or private institution of higher education in Massachusetts after July 1, 2013, and must be working in an EEC-licensed or funded early education and care program. Priority will be given to educators who have served five years or more in the field, as well as those who work in communities that predominantly serve children and families with high needs or in regions facing shortages of early education and care seats.

While early educators have previously been eligible for general loan repayment opportunities throughout Massachusetts, this marks the first time the state has established a loan repayment program solely dedicated to early education and care professionals.

In addition to loan forgiveness, Governor Healey's Early Education and Child Care Task Force has been focusing on expanding career pathways through higher education opportunities and the administration administers an Early Childhood Educators scholarship that helps students pay for an associates, bachelor's or?master's degree. As President Trump continues to try and make higher education more expensive, Massachusetts is making it more affordable for educators to stay in the workforce. Recently, Governor Healey called on the Trump Administration to reverse plans that would sharply limit access to low-cost federal student loans for graduate degrees in high-need, high-value fields, including education.

The ECE Loan Repayment Program was developed collaboratively by DHE and EEC to ensure alignment with workforce needs and state priorities. The program received $7.5 million in the state's fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget and an additional $7.5 million through the FY25 Fair Share supplemental budget, bringing total available funding to approximately $15 million. A portion of funding is for program development and implementation.

Applications are open now through June 1, 2026, and interested educators are encouraged to apply. For more information about eligibility requirements, including qualifying programs, how to apply and upcoming information sessions, visit Mass.edu/ECELoanRepayment.

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Friday Front Porch Feature: Luxury on Pontoosuc Lake

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:25PM / Friday, August 21, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Are you looking for a private estate right on the lake? Then this might be the home for you.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 140 Hancock Road.

This house was built in 2015 and has eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It is 7,494 square feet on a little over an acre.

The house sits on Pontoosuc Lake and includes private lake access and a heated pool with an expansive deck.

The kitchen is equipped with Wolf and SubZero appliances and there is a full outdoor kitchen as well. The property has three additional separated living quarters, each with a kitchen and its own living room.

The house also includes a big garage for multiple cars or more. Included in the garage is your very own elevator that leads to the in-law apartment.

It is on the market for $3,900,000.

We spoke with listing agent Katie Soules and Jeff Astore from William Raveis

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

What truly makes this property stand out is that you simply don't find this combination very often in the Berkshires. It's an extraordinary lakefront setting, incredible scale, and a lifestyle that's hard to replicate. You have the lake, the mountain views, the pool, the dock, amazing entertaining spaces, and the flexibility to accommodate family, friends, and guests. It feels less like simply owning a beautiful home and more like owning your own private Berkshire retreat.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

I'd tell them to stop thinking of it as just a house and imagine what life here could actually feel like. Mornings on the lake, afternoons on the water or by the pool, evenings entertaining friends and family with the mountains as your backdrop. This is a place where everyday life can feel like a vacation and where you can create the kind of memories that stay with you for years.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of the home?

The home has a really special feel, elegant and impressive, but at the same time warm, relaxed, and incredibly inviting. There's a natural connection to the lake and the outdoors throughout the home, so it never feels like luxury for the sake of luxury. It feels like a place designed to be lived in, enjoyed, and shared with family, friends, and plenty of unforgettable moments.

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