By Bob Katzen
Gov. Healey announced the awarding of $1.8 million in student loan repayment grants to 248 early educators and staff across Massachusetts.
This first-time ever program in Massachusetts provides eligible recipients with up to $7,500 per year in student loan repayment assistance and is designed to help experienced early educators stay in the field, build long-term careers and continue providing high-quality care and education for children and families. Recipients were selected based on eligibility requirements and program priorities, with preference given to educators with five or more years of experience and those working in communities serving children and families with high needs or in regions experiencing shortages of early education and care seats.
“We want Massachusetts to be the best place to raise a family and build a career, and supporting early educators is a big part of that,” said Gov. Healey. “That’s why we’re helping 248 educators pay down their student loans and keep more of their hard-earned money. When we invest in early educators, we strengthen our workforce, give children a strong start and help families get the care they need.”
“Supporting early educators is essential to expanding access to high-quality early education and care for families across Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Steve Zrike. “This program connects two priorities that are critical to our state’s future: making higher education more affordable and supporting a strong, experienced early education workforce. Investing in these educators helps ensure our youngest learners have a strong start, while giving families the reliable early education and care they need to work and support their families.”
“Educators working in early education and childcare make an extraordinary commitment to the children and families they serve, and we want Massachusetts to be a place where they can build rewarding, sustainable careers,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “This first group of recipients represents educators working across our early education and care system, and this investment is one more way we are supporting their professional growth and compensation, while recognizing their experience and strengthening the workforce.”
CREATE “DOLLY PARTON 9 TO 5 DAY” (SD 4203 and HD 6304) – Sen. Julian Cyr (D–Provincetown) and Rep. Sam Montaño (D–Boston) have introduced legislation to designate September 25 as “9 to 5 Day” across the commonwealth, recognizing “Dolly Parton’s emblematic cultural impact on the United States, her steadfast dedication to charitable causes and her unwavering support of women, workers, LGBTQ+ people and children.”
“In Dolly Parton, we lost an icon: a legendary singer-songwriter, a philanthropist and a role model who showed generations of Americans what it means to lead and live with kindness and authenticity,” said Cyr and Montaño in a joint written statement. “Dolly’s passing felt incredibly personal to millions of us, like we had all lost our ‘Aunt Dolly.’ To honor her legacy, this legislation would designate September 25 as ‘9 to 5 Day’ across the commonwealth, following the lead of lawmakers from Tennessee in celebrating Dolly Parton and all people on the job working 9 to 5.”
“Dolly embodied the very best of what makes our country so special,” said the duo in the joint statement. “She grew up in poverty in Appalachia, but was never afraid to dream big and want something more for herself. Even after reaching stratospheric fame, she never lost her humility, never took herself too seriously and never stopped giving back to the communities that needed it most. For so many of us, Dolly is a patron saint of audacious beauty, wit and acceptance. She was a steadfast ally to LGBTQ+ people, decades before it was popular to be, and constantly reminded us not to be afraid of showing up as our whole selves––even if others poked fun or simply didn’t understand us.”
They continued, “Dolly spent her life working to bring joy to others through her music, charity and grace. Let’s honor her legacy on September 25 and beyond by being a little kinder to each other, finding humor even on the hard days and asking ourselves, ‘What would Dolly do?’”
Matt Fortin, Director of Communications for Sen. Cyr, told Beacon Hill Roll Call, “It is our hope to have the bill passed by Sept. 25 this year.”