Financial Assistance

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

• This application covers most school-year fees, including Athletics, Instrumental Music, and other program and field trip fees.
• This application also covers Brookline Early Education Program tuition.
• This application does not cover optional field trips, programs, or school lunch. A separate application is required for Free/Reduced Meal benefits (PDF). Students who are eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch automatically qualify for Financial Assistance. If you require a letter of determination, please reach out to the Financial Assistance office (email below). 

Eligibility for Financial Assistance for the 2025–2026 school year ends on August 31, 2026.

Financial Assistance for the 26-27 school year is now OPEN.

To maintain 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. A full list of required and accepted documents is shown below.

• The form can be completed on your computer and, along with supporting documents, emailed to financialassistance@psbma.org. Photos and scans of documents are accepted.
• You may contact your school’s secretary if you need help emailing documents.
• Please include your email address on the application if you are not sending documents from your personal email account.

Program Eligibility and Determination for Participation

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 are required to submit the I-864 Affidavit of Support upon entering the U.S. This form demonstrates that the individual has sufficient financial support and will not require public assistance. Sponsors must show an annual income of at least 125% of the federal poverty level. Learn more about public charge requirements.
3. Eligibility is determined solely by the Office of Administration and Finance.
4. The Homeless Liaison maintains and updates a list of students who qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento Act).
5. The Public Schools of Brookline School Committee uses U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines, adjusted with a multiplier to better reflect the local cost of living. This allows support for families who may not qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch but still need assistance with school-related fees. View income eligibility guidelines.

Accepted Documentation

Provide copies of all documents that apply to your family’s annual income:

1. 2025 IRS transcript (Get your transcript) — not the 1040 tax return
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 (e.g., gifts, donations, or money from outside the household)
7. Brookline Housing Authority income determination/calculation worksheet
8. Section 8 housing voucher
9. Housing support (e.g., rent-free housing or living with family or friends)
10. Documentation for a foster child

Note for families on a visa: Non-immigrant visa holders (e.g., B, F, H, or J visas) are not eligible for financial assistance. If you are on an immigrant visa, you must provide Form I-864 before a determination can be made.

Program Overview

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 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. The United States Department of Agriculture uses these guidelines to determine Free and Reduced Lunch eligibility. The income tables provided in this document are based on the Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. View the current guidelines.

The Superintendent provides a centralized financial assistance application process for families seeking relief from various school-related fees and/or charges. Eligibility is reviewed and renewed annually. To apply, please use the Financial Assistance Application link on this page.

Financial assistance may be applied to PSB student fees, including Athletics, Instrumental Music, and other program and field trip fees. Additional eligible costs may include curriculum-based field trips, Brookline Early Education Program (BEEP) tuition, School Department summer programs, and other curriculum-related fees.

Program goals:

1. Provide a consistent and objective financial assistance application process for all students and families
2. Offer families a single point of contact and determination within the district
3. Maintain confidentiality throughout the process