State Agencies Announce Financial Literacy Grant Recipients

RMHS Receives $3200

Massachusetts high schools will use funding to host financial education fairs for their students.

BOSTON – The State Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE), in partnership with the Division of Banks (DOB) and the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), announced the 2024 recipients of the Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant.

Following a competitive application process that concluded in November, the state agencies awarded grants to 59 schools, totaling $223,548. This funding will allow Massachusetts high schools and special education programs to host financial education fairs, known as Credit for Life Fairs, for their students.

Of the 59 recipient schools, 15 received funding as Seed Applicants and will host fairs for the first time, including for students in Agawam, Brighton, Brockton, Cambridge, Cheshire, Dorchester, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Lexington, Lynn, Middleborough, Milton, and Springfield.

For the first time in the program’s history, participating schools that have a large population of low-to-moderate income students will receive an additional $500. Ten schools received this additional funding to bring much-needed financial education to students in the state’s most vulnerable communities.

“High school students deserve the opportunity to learn the financial skills they will need for every situation encountered throughout their lives,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “Credit for Life Fairs gives these young adults the opportunity to experience real world scenarios that help prepare them in making informed decisions as they approach graduation and beyond.”

“The Division of Banks is proud to support this initiative with another round of funding,” said Mary Gallagher, Commissioner of Banks. “With hands-on, high-quality lessons offered at these fairs, students can develop financial management skills they will use for the rest of their lives.”

“The Credit for Life Fairs help students learn about financial topics like how to budget and save, pay for college, and live within your means.” said Layla R. D’Emilia, Undersecretary for the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. “We are excited to continue funding this program to improve students’ financial knowledge and prepare them to confidently and independently manage their own finances.”

The recipients are:

Seed Grants:

Grantee Amount Requested
Agawam High School$6200
Brighton High School$6600*
Community Charter School of Cambridge$1650
Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School$6400
Everett High School$6400
Fitchburg High School$6900*
Hoosac Valley High School$6400
Jeremiah E. Burke High School$6750*
Lexington High School$6400
Lynn Public Schools$6900*
Middleborough High$6400
Milton High School$6200
New Heights Charter School of Brockton$6900*
Veritas Preparatory Charter School$6499*
West Springfield High School$6400

*Has requested additional funding due to DESE low-income status
Innovation Grants:

GranteeAmount Requested
Braintree High School$3200
Concord Carlisle Regional High School$3200
Mount Greylock Regional School$1260
Whitman-Hanson Regional High School$2159

Continuation Grants:

GranteeAmount Requested
Abington High School$3100
Andover High School$3200
Ashland High School$3200
Atlantis Charter School$3200
Boston Latin Academy$3200
Bridgewater Raynham Regional High School$3000
Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School$3200
Brockton High School$2500
Cape Cod Regional Technical High School$2895
Chicopee High School$3700*
Clinton Public School$3000
Cohasset High School$3200
Dracut High School$3200
Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School$3200
Fairhaven High School$900
Falmouth High School$2925
Frontier Regional High School$3200
Greater Lawrence Tech$2500
Haverhill High School$3200
Holbrook Middle High School$3200
Hopedale Jr. Sr. High School$3200
Hopkins Academy$2500
Manville School$3200
Marlborough High School$3200
Marshfield High School$3200
Melmark New England$3200
Methuen High School$3200
Nipmuc Regional High School$2500
North Quincy High School$2500
Northeast Metro Tech$3700*
Quabbin Regional School District$2000
Randolph High School$3700*
Reading Memorial High School$3200
Silver Lake Regional High School$3200
South Shore Technical High School$3200
The Guild for Human Services$3000
Westport Community Schools$3200
Winchester High School$3200
Woburn Memorial High School$1650
Worcester Technical High School$3660*

*Has requested additional funding due to DESE low-income status

Total:  

$223,548.00

Since 2015, over 45,000 Massachusetts students have attended Credit for Life Fairs. The Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant was established as an ongoing effort to strengthen access to financial literacy throughout Massachusetts. This financial education program is funded by the Division of Banks through a settlement over alleged unlawful lending practices. 

About the Division of Banks
The Division of Banks (DOB), which is a division of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation within the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, is the chartering authority and primary regulator for financial service providers in Massachusetts. DOB’s primary mission is to ensure a sound, competitive, and accessible financial services environment throughout the state. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation protects and empowers consumers through advocacy and education and ensures a fair playing field for the Massachusetts businesses its agencies regulate. 

About the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation 
The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation protects and empowers consumers through advocacy and education, and ensures a fair playing field for the Massachusetts businesses its agencies regulate.

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