Workforce Pell

The Step-by-Step Submission Guide provides guidance to Title IV postsecondary institutions applying for Workforce Pell program approval. The following steps to apply can be found on page 4 of the Guide. 

Steps to Apply

1. Review the Program Determination Policy to confirm your program meets eligibility criteria, including alignment with the Priority Occupation List. 
2. Download, review, and complete the following required forms and supporting documentation:
   • Data Sharing Agreement: Institutions are required to upload a signed Data Sharing Agreement. The agreement only needs to be completed and submitted once per institution and does not need to be resubmitted for each program. The Agreement facilitates the secure exchange of participant-level data needed to measure and report Workforce Pell program outcomes and meet federal reporting requirements.
   • Employer Validation Form(s) and supporting evidence provided by the institution
   • Evidence of stackability
   • Copy of the written agreement, if partnering with a non-Title IV provider   
   • Participant Data Worksheet: After completing the program information in the Workforce Pell Application, institutions will receive an email containing a unique Program ID for the program submitted. Enter the Program ID in Column D of the Participant Data Worksheet. Once the worksheet is complete, upload it through the secure upload portal on MaineEARNS. Refer to the Participant Information section found on page 10 of the Step-by-Step Submission Guide for more information. 
3. Complete the Workforce Pell Application. Institutions should be prepared to upload the required forms and supporting documents, outlined in step 2, during the application process for each program applying for Workforce Pell.
4. Completed applications will be reviewed by Workforce Pell Advisory Committee and the State Workforce Development Board (SWDB) for initial eligibility assessment, with recommendations to the Governor's Office to make a determination on certification.
5. If approved, the institution will be provided with a completed certification form by the State. When the institutions is ready to submit the program to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) for approval, the institution will upload the certification into its Application to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs E-App) as a part of the program approval process. Institutions should refer to the information provided in the Federal Student Aid Electronic Announcement GENERAL-26-44.
6. Institutions must notify the SWDB by email at WorkforcePell.DOL@maine.gov when the USDOE issues its determination.

Institutions needing assistance completing the Workforce Pell application, required forms, or supporting documentation, should contact Program staff at WorkforcePell.DOL@maine.gov. 

Maine will accept applications on a rolling basis, with quarterly eligibility determination cycles. 

Year 1 Application Review Timeline

• Completed submissions received by September 11, 2026 will be reviewed at the September 25, 2026, State Workforce Development Board meeting. 
• Completed submissions received by November 13, 2026 will be reviewed at the December 11, 2026, State Workforce Development Board meeting. 
• Completed submissions received by February 12, 2027 will be reviewed at the March 12, 2027, State Workforce Development Board meeting. 
• Completed submissions received by May 14, 2027 will be reviewed at the June 11, 2027, State Workforce Development Board meeting. 

Notes on Application Review Timeline

• Completed submissions include program application, and all required forms and supporting documentation. 
• Incomplete or late submissions will automatically roll forward to the next quarterly review cycle. 
• Completed applications will be reviewed by the Workforce Pell Advisory Committee and the State Workforce Development Board for initial eligibility assessment, with recommendations sent to the Governor's Office for certification and approval.   

A list of approved programs and information for students will be posted on this page once programs receive final approval from the U.S. Department of Education. 

Technical Assistance 

The State Workforce Development Board is committed to provide ongoing technical assistance to eligible Maine Title IV institutions that choose to participate in the Workforce Pell program. To request technical assistance with Maine's Workforce Pell Program, email Program staff at WorkforcePell.DOL@maine.gov. 

Application Resource Links

• Program Determination Policy 
• Priority Occupation List
• Step-by-Step Application Guide
• Data Sharing Agreement
• Employer Validation Form
• Participant Data Worksheet
• How to Create an Account on MaineEARNS
• CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk

Federal Resources

• Federal Workforce Pell final rule (91 FR 29254)
• Federal Student Aid Electronic Announcement GENERAL - 26-44
• Bridging the Skills Gap with Workforce Pell, presentation by U.S. Department of Education 

Workforce Pell, created by the passage of H.R. 1 (2025), expands federal Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in short-term, career-focused training programs that are at least 8 weeks and fewer than 15 weeks, and between 150–599 clock hours, and which meet rigorous quality standards and lead to a recognized postsecondary credential.

Federal law gives Governors, in consultation with their State Workforce Development Boards (SWDB), the authority to set key eligibility standards for their state. 

In Maine, Workforce Pell is implemented through a coordinated, cross-agency approach with the SWDB leading the program on the Governor's behalf.

Workforce Pell Advisory Committee

• Advisory committee of the SWDB comprised of representatives from the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL), Maine Department of Education (MDOE), Finance Authority of Maine (FAME), Maine Community College System (MCCS), University of Maine System (UMS) and SWDB (2 members appointed by the Chair of the SWDB).
• Reviews program applications and makes recommendations to the SWDB, and advises on Workforce Pell policies and priority occupations. 
• A subset of the Advisory Committee serves as the Appeals Review Panel, including one member each from MDOL, MDOE, and FAME, and 2 members from the SWDB. The Appeals Review Panel reviews all appeals and makes recommendations to the Governor’s Office regarding appeal decisions.

State Workforce Development Board

• Approves Workforce Pell policies, priority occupations, and eligible programs.
• Maintains and publishes the list of approved programs. 
• SWDB staff process applications and validate training provider information, in partnership with the Center for Workforce Research and Information. 

Governor's Office

• Certifies eligible programs for institutional submission to the U.S. Department of Education, and issues final decisions on appeals.

The U.S. Department of Education issued final Workforce Pell regulations on May 19, 2026, with an effective date of July 20, 2026

Maine begins accepting applications on August 12, 2026. Institutions can only award Workforce Pell grants to eligible students in eligible programs once both State and federal program approvals have been issued to the institution.

Only institutions of higher education eligible for Title IV federal student aid can offer a program eligible for Workforce Pell. 

An eligible institution may contract out a portion of the eligible workforce program to an ineligible provider, but no more than 25% of the program can be offered by the ineligible provider. That flexibility is expanded to up to 49% for the related technical instruction (RTI) of a Registered Apprenticeship program. Title IV institutions must have a written agreement with any non‑Title IV training provider for that provider to deliver the portion of the program permitted under federal regulations.

No. Participation by eligible institutions is entirely voluntary.

Yes. An institution whose Workforce Pell program’s eligibility is found to be ineligible or removed will have 15 calendar days from the date of that determination to submit an appeal in writing to the Appeal Review Panel of the Workforce Pell Advisory Committee. 

All appeals to the Appeals Review Panel must be sent, via email, to the Director, State Workforce Development Board. The institution must specify the reasons they believe the denial is not justified, including evidence and documentation pertaining to the program that supports the appeal. 

The Appeals Review Panel will consist of one member from the Maine Department of Labor, the Maine Department of Education, and the Finance Authority of Maine, and two members from the State Workforce Development Board.

Refer to the Maine Workforce Pell Determination Policy for more information on the appeals process.

To access Workforce Pell, a student must complete the FAFSA and enroll in an eligible Workforce Pell program. To qualify, the student must meet federal student aid eligibility requirements and be enrolled in an approved short-term workforce training program recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, as not all short-term training programs are eligible. Once the school receives the FAFSA and confirms enrollment in an eligible program, the school’s financial aid office will determine Workforce Pell eligibility, calculate the award, and distribute the funds to the school’s business office. 

To request technical assistance regarding the Maine Workforce Pell Determination Policy and application process, or for general inquiries about Workforce Pell email WorkforcePell.DOL@maine.gov.