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Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance for fee-based programs is offered to families who qualify for Free and Reduced Priced meals. To qualify for Free and Reduced Priced Meals, please click on the links below to access the online or paper-format Free and Reduced Priced Meals Application. These forms must be filled out on an annual basis and provided to the Food Services Department. Applications are accepted each year starting the third week of August. For questions, please contact Food Services at Lunchonline@abschools.org.

If you do not qualify for Free and Reduced Priced meals, you may be eligible for financial assistance through Acton-Boxborough's Financial Assistance program. Please read the instructions and required documents and then complete the Financial Assistance Application form.
Submit the application and documentation to the Acton-Boxborough Schools, Finance Office; 15 Charter Road, Acton, MA 01720 OR Email a PDF of the completed application to: FinAssistance@abschools.org. You will be contacted in writing once your application is received and reviewed.

Click Here for Free and Reduced Meal Application Information (annual application window opens the third week in August)

Financial assistance for school-related fees is made available to students who qualify through an application process. 

Students who qualify for Free/Reduced Meals status may complete an Information Sharing Agreement with the District to authorize ABRSD to use a student’s Free/Reduced status for waivers of school program fees. Families who sign the Information Sharing Agreement do not have to complete the District’s Financial Assistance application form in order to receive financial assistance. 

You can submit information by completing an onliine version of the application OR submitting a paper copy. With the online version you will still need to upload the required supporting documents. 

If you’d like to submit a paper copy, click Below to Print the: Financial Assistance Application Form

Financial Assistance is offered systemwide according to stated income eligibility guidelines and covers certain program fees related to:

  • Athletics*
  • Student Activities
  • High School Senior Class Dues 
  • Field Trips
  • Full-day Kindergarten tuition 
  • Enrollment in AB Summer School when recommended for remediation
  • PSAT, SAT, AP, ACT 
  • Group elementary music lessons (outside of school day) 

* For Athletic fees, the District also has an annual family cap that is applied only to fees for participation in interscholastic sports. For a family that qualifies for financial assistance, the annual family cap for athletic fees will be adjusted to align with the reduction percentage. 

Community Education’s Extended Day program currently provides financial assistance to families based on different criteria that is described below. 

The District’s Financial Assistance Program does not apply to:

  • Student travel programs, including non-curricular overnight trips
  • ABRHS Summer School program for enrichment
  • High School parking
  • Private instrumental lessons
  • Fines for lost or damaged books, lockers or other fines
  • AB Community Education programs and activities (school year and summer), including Drivers Education  
  • Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program tuition 

There may be programs, services, and events which involve a participation fee, service charge, or payment for goods that are not eligible for the District fee waiver, but where schools and programs may have other scholarships and/or means of assistance.  Families are encouraged to engage with event organizers or their child’s school Principal/Assistant Principal to inquire about assistance that may be available in those instances. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • School pictures 
  • Enrichment travel/trips (ex. international trips)
  • Admissions to student events, performances, school events
  • PTSO-organized student and family events

The amount of financial assistance that a family may qualify for is based on the total household income as it relates to the Federal Poverty Guideline in any given year. The following table is how the amount of financial assistance is determined:

Household Income Relative to Federal Poverty Guideline

Determination Status

Family Will Pay:

Up to 2 times the Poverty Guideline

Approved for full waiver

No fee

2.5 times the Poverty Guideline

75% fee reduction

25% of the program fee

3 times the Poverty Guideline

50% fee reduction

50% of the program fee

 

To access the Federal Poverty Guidelines, go to The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE

2025 Poverty Guidelines

#in household

Poverty Guideline

2x Guideline

2.5x Guideline

3x Guideline

1

$15,650

$31,300

$39,125

$46,950

2

$21,150

$42,300

$52,875

$63,450

3

$26,650

$53,300

$66,625

$79,950

4

$32,150

$64,300

$80,375

$96,450

5

$37,650

$75,300

$94,125

$112,950

6

$43,150

$86,300

$107,875

$129,450

7

$48,650

$97,300

$121,625

$145,950

8

$54,150

$108,300

$135,375

$162,450

Fee Reduction

Full Waiver

Full Waiver

75% Reduction

50% Reduction

  • Financial assistance for school-related fees is made available to students who qualify through an application process. 

    Students who qualify for Free/Reduced Meals status may complete an Information Sharing Agreement with the District to authorize ABRSD to use a student’s Free/Reduced status for waivers of school program fees. Families who sign the Information Sharing Agreement do not have to complete the District’s Financial Assistance application form in order to receive financial assistance. 

    You can submit information by completing an onliine version of the application OR submitting a paper copy. With the online version you will still need to upload the required supporting documents. 

    If you’d like to submit a paper copy, click Below to Print the: Financial Assistance Application Form

    Financial Assistance is offered systemwide according to stated income eligibility guidelines and covers certain program fees related to:

    • Athletics*
    • Student Activities
    • High School Senior Class Dues 
    • Field Trips
    • Full-day Kindergarten tuition 
    • Enrollment in AB Summer School when recommended for remediation
    • PSAT, SAT, AP, ACT 
    • Group elementary music lessons (outside of school day) 

    * For Athletic fees, the District also has an annual family cap that is applied only to fees for participation in interscholastic sports. For a family that qualifies for financial assistance, the annual family cap for athletic fees will be adjusted to align with the reduction percentage. 

    Community Education’s Extended Day program currently provides financial assistance to families based on different criteria that is described below. 

    The District’s Financial Assistance Program does not apply to:

    • Student travel programs, including non-curricular overnight trips
    • ABRHS Summer School program for enrichment
    • High School parking
    • Private instrumental lessons
    • Fines for lost or damaged books, lockers or other fines
    • AB Community Education programs and activities (school year and summer), including Drivers Education  
    • Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program tuition 

    There may be programs, services, and events which involve a participation fee, service charge, or payment for goods that are not eligible for the District fee waiver, but where schools and programs may have other scholarships and/or means of assistance.  Families are encouraged to engage with event organizers or their child’s school Principal/Assistant Principal to inquire about assistance that may be available in those instances. This includes, but is not limited to:

    • School pictures 
    • Enrichment travel/trips (ex. international trips)
    • Admissions to student events, performances, school events
    • PTSO-organized student and family events

  • The amount of financial assistance that a family may qualify for is based on the total household income as it relates to the Federal Poverty Guideline in any given year. The following table is how the amount of financial assistance is determined:

    Household Income Relative to Federal Poverty Guideline

    Determination Status

    Family Will Pay:

    Up to 2 times the Poverty Guideline

    Approved for full waiver

    No fee

    2.5 times the Poverty Guideline

    75% fee reduction

    25% of the program fee

    3 times the Poverty Guideline

    50% fee reduction

    50% of the program fee

     

    To access the Federal Poverty Guidelines, go to The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE

    2025 Poverty Guidelines

    #in household

    Poverty Guideline

    2x Guideline

    2.5x Guideline

    3x Guideline

    1

    $15,650

    $31,300

    $39,125

    $46,950

    2

    $21,150

    $42,300

    $52,875

    $63,450

    3

    $26,650

    $53,300

    $66,625

    $79,950

    4

    $32,150

    $64,300

    $80,375

    $96,450

    5

    $37,650

    $75,300

    $94,125

    $112,950

    6

    $43,150

    $86,300

    $107,875

    $129,450

    7

    $48,650

    $97,300

    $121,625

    $145,950

    8

    $54,150

    $108,300

    $135,375

    $162,450

    Fee Reduction

    Full Waiver

    Full Waiver

    75% Reduction

    50% Reduction

Community Education Extended Day Program Financial Assistance Policy

The district’s Extended Day Child Care Program provides financial assistance to qualifying families to ensure accessibility while maintaining the financial sustainability of this self-funded program. This policy outlines the eligibility criteria, application process, and funding limitations for financial assistance.

  • Financial Assistance is available when:   

    • A student qualifies for Free/Reduced Lunch status and their family completes the Information Sharing Agreement; AND,
    • All adult members of the student’s household are unable to provide childcare during program hours due to adult work/school commitments and they provide supporting documentation of these activities. 
    •  

  • The program operates with an annual cap on financial assistance funding, as it is self-funded through participation fees and program revenues.

    Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible families who complete the application process, until the annual funding cap is reached. Once the funding cap is reached, no additional assistance can be awarded for the remainder of the fiscal year.   

    Financial assistance awards must be renewed each school year, subject to the availability of funds and updated financial information.

  • Financial assistance applies only to the base participation fees and does not cover late pick-up fees, registration fees, or optional add-on services.

    Families receiving assistance must remain in good standing with the program, including timely payments of any remaining balances.

    Failure to comply with program policies or provide accurate financial information may result in termination of assistance and/or ineligibility to continue enrollment in Extended Day 

  • Community Education will annually evaluate the financial assistance program, including the funding cap, income thresholds, and assistance levels, to balance community needs with program sustainability.

    Reference: Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee Financial Assistance Policy JQA