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Student Scholarships, Awards & Special Programs

Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award

The Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery provides a credit toward tuition at Massachusetts public colleges and universities.

Comparison of Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award and the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship

2024 Update for Students:

The student deadline for 2024 graduates will be May 1, 2024

Seniors will be allowed to retest in November 2023 to meet initial eligibility requirements (scores will be available in February 2024)

The Purposes of the Certificate of Mastery Are To:

  • Recognize high academic achievement on MCAS and other measures of academic achievement;
  • Recognize high academic achievement as identified by outside forums including competitions, student publications, and awards;
  • Provide an incentive for students to perform to their best abilities on MCAS and on the course of studies beyond grade 10; and
  • Recognize high academic achievement in areas not included in MCAS.

Who is Eligible?

Initial Requirements:
To initially be eligible to apply, a student must meet the initial qualification based on MCAS Scores.

Because of the transition to the next-generation MCAS tests, there are currently different requirements for initial eligibility. Please visit Student Assessment Update September 22, 2022 to find the correct eligibility requirement for the student's original graduating class.

In order to claim the Koplik tuition credit, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts for at least one year prior to entering college as a freshman;
  • be a United States citizen or a non-citizen authorized by the federal government to live and work in the United States on a temporary or permanent basis;
  • complete and submit the Koplik Certificate of Mastery application by May 1 of senior year
  • be a graduate of a Massachusetts public high school;
  • be accepted at a Massachusetts public college or university;
  • complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
  • enroll as a full-time student at an eligible public high education institution; and
  • submit the Stanley Z. Koplik award letter and Certificate of Mastery to the financial aid office.

To continue receiving the Koplik tuition credit, a student must meet the following criteria:

  • be enrolled full-time at a public higher education institution;
  • maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3 on all college work; and
  • annually complete the FAFSA and provide the completed FAFSA application to their higher education institution, along with the tuition credit award notification letter.

Once parents/guardians receive the letter and certificate, we suggest keeping them in a secure location for reference.

These documents are important because students must provide a copy of them along with their completed FAFSA application each year. Without the letter and certificate, the college/university will not apply the tuition credit.

How to Apply?

Students must meet eligibility requirements and submit the application to the Koplik Coordinator at their school by May 1 of their senior year.

Application Process:

Students who meet the initial qualifications are notified by letter to the students' parents or guardians. The letter includes a Koplik application form and a "Next Steps" Document . These documents explain the remaining requirements should the student wish to pursue them.

* Every public high school, regional high school, regional vocational technical high school and public charter high school is asked to assign a person to serve as the Koplik coordinator. The Koplik coordinator is responsible for:

  • notifying students in their junior year who initially qualify for the Koplik Certificate;
  • advising students on how they may fulfill the requirements;
  • reviewing applications; and,
  • submitting the names and addresses of students who successfully complete the requirements to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education via the security portal (this information may not be submitted via email)

All applications and supporting documentation should be submitted directly to the school's Koplik Coordinator; please do not send copies to DESE.

Students must meet eligibility requirements and submit the application to the Koplik Coordinator at their school by May 1 of their senior year.

For any questions you may have regarding the Koplik Certificate of Mastery, please contact Alexia.J.Cribbs@mass.gov .

Frequently Asked Questions

Award Amounts:

Recipients of the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery are eligible for an award of a non-need-based tuition credit for state-supported undergraduate courses. Individual student awards shall be no more than the resident undergraduate tuition rate at the participating institution. For updated information on current tuition rates at Massachusetts Public Colleges and Universities, please visit Massachusetts Department of Higher Education's Koplik Certificate of Mastery Tuition Credit — Current and Recent Value.

Massachusetts State Colleges and Universities that Accept the Koplik Certificate of Mastery

Community Colleges

State Colleges and Universities

University of Massachusetts

Last Updated: November 8, 2023

 
Contact Us

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149

Voice: (781) 338-3000
TTY: (800) 439-2370

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