Fee waivers, sliding scales and scholarships published by the
organizations that run these programs — each with who is eligible and the page
that decides it. Nothing here is estimated from a family's income, and a program with
no aid published simply does not appear. A few are awards toward college rather than
help with a program fee; those are labelled College scholarship.
11 schemes serve Bedford families.
Financial aid
Bedford Recreation Department
Bedford Recreation Financial Assistance
Need-based help toward Bedford Recreation program fees; a family must be a Bedford or Hanscom Air Force Base resident, completes a Financial Assistance Request Form plus a program registration form, states income and whether it receives SNAP, MassHealth, a child-care voucher, subsidized housing or free/reduced school meals, and may arrange a payment plan for what it can afford. No student is guaranteed assistance; decisions take two days to a week.
Financial aid
Town of Bedford Health & Human Services Department
Bedford Progress Fund
Town emergency fund, established in 2000 with a Progress Software starter grant, that provides up to $500 to Bedford residents facing an unexpected financial crisis they cannot resolve (for example car repairs, a utility shut-off, food insecurity or an essential purchase) when no other resource is available; requests are reviewed case by case by Health & Human Services staff.
Financial aid
Community Teamworks Inc. with Bedford Youth & Family Services
Community Teamworks Life Skills Program
Financial-coaching program in which a low-income Bedford community member works with a Community Teamworks case manager to budget, navigate a financial crisis, access financial resources and set financial goals; open to Bedford community members, with priority given to those receiving some form of housing assistance.
Financial aid
Bedford Public Schools, School Nutrition
Bedford Public Schools free and reduced-price meals
Bedford Public Schools offers every student one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day under Massachusetts universal school meals, and asks families of any income to file the federal free and reduced-price meal application because an approved application also opens eligibility for other local benefits such as SNAP; a la carte items are still charged.
Fee waiver
Bedford Public Schools
Bedford Public Schools activity and athletics fee waiver
District policy states that no student will be denied participation in an extracurricular activity or a school-sponsored field trip because of financial hardship; fees for athletics or specialised clubs are set by the School Committee, and a family that needs a waiver or reduction contacts the school office.
Fee waiver
Bedford Public Schools
Bedford Public Schools technology protection fee waiver
From the 2026-27 school year the district runs a device protection program for school-issued Chromebooks and iPads with a voluntary $50-per-device annual fee and a $0 deductible; a confidential fee-waiver process is available for eligible families, who receive the same device protection as families that pay.
College scholarship
Citizens Scholarship Foundation of Bedford Dollars for Scholars
CSF of Bedford Dollars for Scholars
Local Dollars for Scholars chapter, active since 1965, that awards college scholarships based on merit with the amount determined by need; any senior graduating from Bedford High School, or any Bedford or Hanscom Air Force Base resident graduating from another secondary school, completing home-schooling or a GED, who will attend a four-year college, two-year college or technical/vocational school may apply.
College scholarship
Rotary Club of Bedford (Bedford Rotary Foundation)
Rotary Club of Bedford scholarships
Three scholarships for graduating Bedford seniors: the Rayford Williams Scholarship ($1,500 a year for four years, for a Bedford resident attending a four-year school, judged on character, community service and financial need), the Philip McGovern Scholarship ($500 for a Bedford senior going on to Middlesex Community College) and the Bedford Rotary Club Craftsmanship Award ($1,000 for a Bedford senior graduating from Shawsheen Valley Technical High School into a trade); the Williams and McGovern recipients are selected by CSF of Bedford Dollars for Scholars.
Sliding scale
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)
Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA)
State subsidy that pays a child-care or out-of-school-time provider directly each month, with a parent fee that depends on family size and income (many families pay nothing); a family qualifies on income (at or below 85% of state median income) plus a recognised 'service need' such as working, training, education, or a DTA/SNAP or DCF referral, and families may apply through MyChildCareMA, a CCR&R agency or Mass 211.
Financial aid
Commonwealth Corporation (Massachusetts)
YouthWorks
State youth-employment program, funded through the state budget, that places young people ages 14 to 25 in paid short-term jobs at public, private and non-profit worksites during a 6-to-8-week summer session and a September-to-May year-round option, adding soft-skills training in communication, teamwork and professionalism.
Financial aid
Town of Bedford Health & Human Services (Bedford Food Pantry)
Bedford Food Pantry
Town food pantry, in its sixth year, offering a Thursday drive-through at 12 Mudge Way (3:30-5:30 pm), home delivery for homebound and disabled Bedford residents by calling 781-918-4316, and a self-service refrigerated food-locker program; the drive-through is open to anyone in need with no pre-registration and no income test.