70700065 - Massachusetts State Scholarship Program

Account Description FY2009
GAA
FY2009  
Total  
Spending
  
7070-0065 Massachusetts State Scholarship Program
For a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to Massachusetts students enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education in any approved public or independent college, university, school of nursing, or any other approved institution furnishing a program of higher education; provided, that the Massachusetts state scholarship office shall expend not less than $14,395,295 for Foster Furcolo community college access grants to ensure that no Massachusetts resident enrolled in and pursuing an associate's degree in any of the community colleges pays more than $500 in tuition and fees net of any federal or state scholarship or tax credit; provided further, that any resident whose expected family contribution level, as determined under the federal methodology established under Part F of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, is not more than $2,250, shall incur no net tuition and fee costs after deducting any federal or state scholarship or tax credit from financial need as calculated by the state scholarship office; provided further, that residents who are not fully eligible for the federal HOPE tax credit based on their exceeding maximum income eligibility limits, shall not be eligible for the grants; provided further, that not less than $9,896,550 shall be expended for state college access grants; provided further, that any Massachusetts resident enrolled in and pursuing a bachelor's degree in any of the state colleges whose expected family contribution level, as determined according to the federal methodology established pursuant to Part F of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, is not more than $2,000, shall incur no net tuition and fee costs after deducting any federal or state scholarship or tax credit from financial need as calculated by the state scholarship office; provided further, that not less than $8,697,220 shall be expended for a program of needs-based financial assistance for Massachusetts residents enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education in the University of Massachusetts; provided further, that $3,148,902 shall be expended for the part-time student grant program; provided further, that the Massachusetts state scholarship office shall expend not less than $20,773,508 to provide for matching scholarship grants to needy Massachusetts students at participating Massachusetts independent regionally accredited colleges, universities, and schools of nursing; provided further, that not less than $350,000 shall be made available to provide financial assistance for Massachusetts residents enrolled at public higher education institutions to participate in the Washington Center-Massachusetts Initiative Academic Internship program; provided further, that except as otherwise provided in this act, all financial assistance mentioned previously in this item shall be distributed to students demonstrating the greatest need as determined by an eligibility index used by the state scholarship office; provided further, that students awarded full or partial scholarships under the Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship Program, established in section 16 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, who have matriculated in a program of higher education outside the commonwealth may continue to receive the scholarship aid guaranteed by that program; provided further, that the state scholarship office may expend monies for the public service awards as established in section 16 of chapter 15A; provided further, that the commissioner of higher education, in coordination with the Massachusetts state scholarship office, shall adopt regulations governing the eligibility and the awarding of financial assistance; provided further, that not more than $1,689,945 shall be expended on the administration of the scholarship program; provided further, that not less than $4,000,000 shall be expended on a scholarship program for all early childhood educators in the commonwealth pursuant to clause (10) of section 5 of chapter 15D of the General Laws; provided further, that the board of higher education, acting jointly with the board of early education and care, shall establish appropriate guidelines and application criteria for the administration of the program; provided further, that the loan shall cover the cost of tuition, fees, and related expenses as determined by the boards for up to three courses per semester in degree granting programs for early educators who are pursuing associates, bachelors, or masters level degrees to meet the teacher and program quality standards of the department of early education and care; provided further, that eligible recipients shall be early educators and providers who are working in early education and care programs in the commonwealth and who commit to teaching in early education and care programs for a term of service after graduation to be determined by the boards; provided further, that preference shall be given to applicants identified by the local councils or by the regional offices funded by item 3000-2000 as highly talented providers who have already displayed commitment to early childhood education as demonstrated by longevity in the field, who do not otherwise meet the program and quality standards of the department, but who have displayed talent and capability at working with young children that make them strong applicants for this scholarship opportunity; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 of said funds shall be expended on a pilot scholarship program for math and science teachers who have received waivers from certification regulations, and are "out of field teachers", so-called; provided further, that the board of higher education, acting in consultation with the board of elementary and secondary education, shall establish appropriate guidelines and application criteria for the administration of the program; provided further, that the scholarship shall cover the cost of tuition, fees, and related expenses as determined by the boards for up to three courses per semester in degree granting programs for math and science teachers who are taking higher education courses or pursuing degrees to meet the teacher certification requirements of the department of elementary and secondary education; provided further, that eligible recipients shall be math and science teachers who are working in the commonwealth and who commit to continue teaching math and science for a term of service after graduation to be determined by the boards; provided further, that preference shall be given to applicants identified by their superintendent or principal as highly talented educators who have already displayed commitment to education and to instructional excellence, who do not otherwise meet the certification requirements of the department, but who have displayed talent and capability in working with children that make them strong applicants for this scholarship opportunity; provided further, that not less than $850,000 shall be directed to One Family Inc. for the purposes of administering and sponsoring a scholarship program for the higher education of heads-of-household for homeless families with children under the age of 18, or who are at-risk of homelessness as determined by the federal poverty level, or who have experienced homelessness within the previous 12 months; provided further, that said funds shall be expended for scholarships and assistance with living expenses at accredited institutions of higher learning in the commonwealth; provided further, that each scholarship shall be matched dollar-for-dollar by One Family Inc.; provided further, that the scholarship recipients in said program shall be monitored and tracked for their progress and that the results shall be reported to the commonwealth on a bi-annual basis through the department of higher education; provided further, that One Family Inc. shall work with the department of higher education on said program eligibility criteria and regulations; provided further, that One Family Inc. shall submit a report to the joint committee on ways and means not later than January 15, 2009; provided further, that said report shall include the number of applications for said grants in fiscal year 2009, number of awards granted, amount of said awards and program projections for fiscal year 2009; provided further, that not less than $2,249,216 shall be provided for grants to residents of the commonwealth who are working as paraprofessionals in public schools of the commonwealth while pursuing a bachelor's degree at a public or independent college or university in the commonwealth in order to become a certified teacher in Massachusetts; and provided further, that eligibility shall be limited to persons who have worked as paraprofessionals in the public schools of the commonwealth for a minimum of 2 years before receipt of such grant, or who are enrolled in and pursuing courses of study that will lead to certification as a teacher in bilingual education, special education, math, science, or a foreign language, and who commit to teach and actually teach, for a period determined by the board of higher education, in the public schools of the commonwealth upon graduation and certification pursuant to section 38G of chapter 71
96,875,218 96,808,104  

 
 
HISTORICAL SPENDING CATEGORIES ($000)
column definitions
SPENDING CATEGORY
FY2005
Expended

FY2006
Expended

FY2007
Expended

FY2008
Expended

FY2009
GAA
FY2009
Budget
Reductions
Wages & Salaries 1,091 881 852 820 901 -16
Employee Benefits 27 26 24 23 31 -1
Operating Expenses 409 625 627 752 808 -50
Public Assistance 79,783 82,534 87,337 90,989 95,135 0
TOTAL 81,310 84,066 88,839 92,584 96,875 -67

 

FY2009 Spending Category Chart

Pie Chart: Wages & Salaries=1%, Employee Benefits=0%, Operating Expenses=1%, Public Assistance=98%



 
Earmarks

EARMARK DESCRIPTION

City / Town
FY2009
GAA
  FY2009    
  9C Cuts    
Pilot Scholarship program for Math and Science Teachers who are "Out of Field" teachers Statewide1,000,000 0  
Community college access grants (foster furcolo) Statewide14,395,295 0  
State college access grants Statewide9,896,550 0  
Needs based financial assistance for Massachusetts residents at UMass Statewide8,697,220 0  
Part-time student grant program Statewide3,148,902 0  
Matching scholarship grants to needy Massachusetts students at private institutions Statewide20,773,508 0  
Washington Center Massachusetts Initiative Academic Internship program Statewide350,000 0  
Administration of scholarships Statewide1,689,945 0  
Pilot scholarship program for all early childhood educators in the commonwealth Statewide4,000,000 0  
To One-Family, Inc. to administer scholarship program for homeless families with children under 18 Statewide850,000 0  
Grants to residents of the Commonwealth working as paraprofessionals while pursuing teachers certification Statewide2,249,216 0