Financial Assistance Applications are available for each school year after May 1st. 

• This application procedure covers most school fees in the full school year: fees for Athletics, Instrumental Music, and other program and field trip fees.
  
  
• This application procedure covers Brookline Early Education Program Tuition.
  
  
• This application procedure does not cover optional field trips or programs and school lunch, which require a separate application for Free/Reduced fees

Eligibility for Financial Assistance SY 2024-2025 will end on August 31, 2025.  

In order to maintain your eligibility for the next school year, you MUST submit a new application, along with current supporting documents.

You can find the Financial Assistance Application form in the links to the right and a full list of required and accepted documents is shown below. 

• The form can be filled out on your computer and, with the supporting documents, emailed to financialassistance@psbma.org. We accept photos and scans of all the documents.  
    
• You can contact your school's secretary if you need help emailing the documents. 
  
  
• Please do not forget to add your email address to the application form if you are not emailing the documents from your personal email address.

1. Principals, guidance/school counselors, and all other PSB employees are prohibited from determining financial need outside the Superintendent’s established process.
   
   
2. Families in the United States on an active Visa are not eligible for financial assistance.
   1. Non-immigrant Visa holders had to produce the I-864 Affidavit of Support form upon entering the U.S.A. “The purpose of the form is to show that you have the financial means to live in the United States without needing welfare or financial benefits from the U.S. government.  The law requires that the sponsor demonstrate that he or she is able to assist you financially.  The sponsor must show that he or she has an annual income of not less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level.  The federal poverty guidelines are set once a year, and can be found on Form I-864P, Poverty Guidelines.” https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/public-charge      
      
      
3. Eligibility shall only be determined by the Office of Administration and Finance.
   
   
4. The Homeless Liaison shall maintain a list and provide an update as necessary to the School Business Administrator of all students who have been determined to qualify for services under McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (http://www.clcm.org/McKinney-Vento.html)
   
   
5. The Public Schools of Brookline School Committee has made the following determination for income eligibility for financial assistance: The Financial Assistance program shall use the US Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines and expand it by a multiplier to better match our community’s income level and assist families that are above the Free and Reduced Lunch Guidelines with school fees that are assessed for a variety of activities. http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines   
   
   

Provide copies of all that apply to your family’s yearly income

1. 2023 IRS Transcript https://www.irs.gov/ (not the 10-40 tax document)
   
   
2. Alimony and Child Support Agreements
   
   
3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Disability Income
   
   
4. Unemployment Compensation and Severance Pay
   
   
5. Transitional Assistance Letters and Benefits
   
   
6. Family support: gifts, donations, money from someone outside of the household
   
   
7. Brookline Housing Authority Income Determination/ Calculation Worksheet
   
   
8. Section 8 Housing Voucher
   
   
9. Housing support (e.g. rent-free housing, residing w/family or friends)
   
   
10. Documentation for Foster Child                                                                                         

NOTE to families traveling on a VISA: Non-Immigrant Visa holders (for example a B, F, H or J visa) are not eligible for Financial Assistance. If you are here on an Immigrant Visa you will need to provide your I-864 before any determination can be made.

In 2016, the School Committee authorized a centralized application process to provide families with financial assistance for certain school related fees.  The program provides a prorated subsidy for households earning less than 350% of the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines.  The United States Department of Agriculture uses these guidelines to determine the Free and Reduced Lunch eligible income levels.  The tables of income levels provided in this document are based on the United States Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines posted on their website, which can be accessed here:   http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.shtml.  

The Superintendent will provide a centralized financial assistance application process for families seeking relief from various school-related fees and/or charges. Eligibility will be renewed or updated through an annual application process. If you need to apply for financial assistance, please click on the Financial Assistance Application link to the right and complete the application. 

Financial Assistance will be offered to meet any PSB student fees or charges, including those for Athletics, Instrumental Music, and other program and field trip fees. Other fees include but are not limited to curriculum-based field trip expenses, Brookline Early Education Program (BEEP), School Department Summer Programs, and other fees the school department may charge as a result of curriculum requirements.

The program goals are as follows:

1. Implement an objective financial assistance program and application process for all students and families;
   
   
2. Allow families a single point of contact and determination within the school district; and
   
   
3. Adhere to a standard of confidentiality throughout the district.