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.
8 schemes serve Canton families.
Scholarship
Canton Parks and Recreation Department (Town of Canton)
Canton Parks and Recreation Financial Assistance
Reduced registration fees for department-run recreation programs for Canton residents: up to 50% off with verified need (receiving federal/state/local aid or a school or social-service referral) and up to 30% off for personal or family hardship.
- Who is eligible
- Canton residents only (proof of residency: a photo ID/license plus a utility bill dated within the last 30 days); applies to Recreation Department sponsored programs only - vendor-run programs are not eligible. Applicants receiving aid from a federal, state or local agency, or referred by a school or other social-service agency, may be eligible for up to 50% off; residents not receiving such aid may be eligible for up to 30% off for personal or family hardship. Applicants are emailed within 10 business days; all applications are confidential.
Scholarship
Canton Helpline (501(c)(3))
Canton Helpline Direct Services (camp scholarships and emergency assistance)
Direct Services program that may fund camp scholarships, pool passes, prescription costs, emergency transportation, utility shut-off prevention, fuel assistance and other emergency expenses for eligible Canton residents.
- Who is eligible
- Canton residents; intake and screening for all Canton Helpline social-service requests is done by the Town's Department of Elder & Human Services (DEHS), where a social worker confidentially assesses need and connects eligible residents; assistance is approved by the Canton Helpline Board of Directors. The Helpline does not provide financial assistance for rent or mortgage payments.
Financial aid
Canton Helpline (501(c)(3))
Canton Helpline Food Pantry
Free food, personal care items and household products for eligible Canton residents on a temporary basis, funded and overseen by the Canton Helpline at 1860 Washington Street.
- Who is eligible
- Canton residents only. Register in person at 1860 Washington Street; proof of Canton address is required for each household member. Adults must provide 2 of: utility/phone bill, lease agreement, property-tax bill, mortgage statement, or a current piece of mail with the Canton address; each child under 18 requires 1 document (school records or immunisation records showing the current address). One card per household.
Fee waiver
Canton Public Schools (Food Services)
Canton Public Schools free and reduced-price meals
Free or reduced-price school breakfast and lunch for students whose household income falls within the federal income guidelines, applied for online through MySchoolApps or by paper application.
- Who is eligible
- Households whose income falls within the federal (USDA / DESE) income guidelines for free meals (up to 130% of the federal poverty level) or reduced-price meals (up to 185%); apply online via MySchoolApps or by paper application. Being eligible also qualifies a student-athlete for a waiver of the CHS athletic user fee.
Fee waiver
Canton High School Athletics (Canton Public Schools)
Canton High School athletic user-fee waiver
Waiver of the $255-per-student-per-sport athletic user fee for student-athletes who are eligible for free and/or reduced-price lunch; families able to pay a portion of the fee are asked to do so.
- Who is eligible
- Student-athletes who are eligible for free and/or reduced-price school meals qualify for a waiver of the athletic user fee; families able to pay any portion are asked to contribute. Students who wish to receive a waiver but are not receiving free or reduced lunch should contact the CHS Athletic Office. The fee is $255 per student per sport with a family cap of $1,020 (four fees) per year; facility fees for hockey, swimming and gymnastics are additional and are not included in the cap.
Fee waiver
Canton Public Schools
Canton Public Schools field-trip financial assistance
Financial assistance with field-trip and travel costs so that no Canton student is excluded from a field trip for financial reasons.
- Who is eligible
- Any family that cannot afford the cost of a field trip; parents/guardians are directed to see the principal for financial assistance, and no student will be excluded from a field trip due to financial reasons. Field-trip financial needs are addressed on an individual basis by the school.
Sliding scale
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)
Massachusetts Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA)
State and federal funds that pay a family's child-care and out-of-school-time (before and after school) program costs directly each month, with a parent fee that depends on family size and income.
- Who is eligible
- Eligibility is based on who is in the family, household income and certain expenses, and on a recognised 'service need' (for example a parent working, in school or training, or seeking work). A parent fee depends on family size and income and many families have no fee. Families with a TAFDC/SNAP or DCF referral may qualify without joining the waitlist. Apply through a Family Access Administrator (a Child Care Resource and Referral agency, a contracted child-care program, or Mass 211).
Financial aid
Commonwealth Corporation (Commonwealth of Massachusetts)
YouthWorks
State-funded paid short-term work experiences for teens and young adults - a 6-to-8-week summer session and a September-to-May year-round option - placing participants at public, private and non-profit worksites with soft-skills training.
- Who is eligible
- Serves young people up to age 25; participants are recruited and placed through a local YouthWorks program. Funded through the state General Appropriations Act (line item 7002-0012).