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S 924

An Act relative to tuition waivers for children raised by a grandparent or other relative

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jo Comerford and 2 co-sponsors

Waives tuition at Massachusetts public colleges for students raised by grandparents or relatives, removing financial barriers for kinship care youth seeking higher education.

Accompanied a new draft, see S2592
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Bill Summary · S 924

Legislative bill overview

S.924 proposes to establish tuition waivers for Massachusetts public college and university students who were raised primarily by grandparents or other relatives rather than parents. The bill aims to remove financial barriers for this vulnerable student population by waiving tuition costs at state higher education institutions.

Why is this important

An estimated 2.7 million children nationally live in kinship care arrangements, often due to parental illness, incarceration, or death, creating economic hardship for already-stressed families. Tuition waivers could enable these students to access higher education and economic mobility, while reducing reliance on other state support services. The policy recognizes that kinship caregivers typically have lower incomes than traditional two-parent households.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact and sustainability: The bill's cost to the state higher education system is not specified, raising questions about whether institutions can absorb lost tuition revenue or if other students/programs would face reductions
  • Definition and verification challenges: Determining what qualifies as "raised by" a grandparent or relative could be administratively complex and subject to inconsistent application across institutions
  • Equity concerns: Full tuition waivers may disproportionately benefit some students while other low-income students (not in kinship care) might receive only partial aid, raising fairness questions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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