For a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to Massachusetts students enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education in any public institutions of higher education in the commonwealth; provided, that funds from this item may be expended on the administration of the scholarship program; 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 under this item; provided further, that funds may be expended for an office of higher education success and completion within the department of higher education to support: (i) data collection and tracking; and (ii) the development of best practices for higher education student success and degree completion including, but not limited to, the alignment of community college programming with labor market demands; provided further, that the department shall distribute funds to the public institutions of higher education for the purpose of this item for the academic year beginning in 2025 no later than August 31, 2025; provided further, that discrepancies between the initial distribution and actual award amounts shall be reconciled and be accounted for in a subsequent distribution of funds prior to January 31, 2026; and provided further, that the department shall provide notice of preliminary funding estimates to the public institutions of higher education for the academic year beginning in 2026 based on said actual award amounts and any changes to eligibility criteria or regulations proposed by the department no later than January 31, 2026
| | Education and Transportation Fund | ............... | 100% |
