Human Resources

Citywide Education Assistance Program

Permanent full-time or permanent part-time City of Long Beach employees whose classifications are represented by ACE, AEE, IAM, IBEW and SEIU can participate in the Citywide Education Assistance Program. As outlined in their respective MOUs, eligible employees may receive only tuition reimbursement assistance when eligibility criteria are met.

This program begins on August 1, 2024, and will end on September 30, 2026, or until the funds for each association have been exhausted. No reimbursement for tuition will be considered prior to the effective date.

Employee Eligibility Criteria:  

1. Employees must be current, permanent full – time or permanent part-time City of Long Beach employees.  
2. The Courses must be from an accredited college, university, vocational, trade school or certificate program.  Certificate program will only be reimbursed if not already paid by the City of Long Beach.   
3. The Course(s) pursued must be “job or career related”.
   
   1. A job or career related course is specifically designed to prepare individuals for employment in a particular field or industry.  The course does not need to be directly related to the employee’s current job position.
   2. A certificate program would not be eligible for Education Assistance Program reimbursement when the certificate is already paid by the City. 
4. Only tuition (semester or quarter units) will be reimbursed.
5. Employee must complete the course(s) with a grade of:
   
   1. “C or higher” for undergraduate studies or
   2. “B or better” for graduate studies
   3. Pass (if course is ungraded or Pass/No Pass)
   4. An incomplete grade or withdraw is not eligible for reimbursement
6. Employee must correctly complete the two forms within the timelines listed within the forms and be approved by the department, i.e. direct supervisor (1st form) and AO (2nd form).
   
   1. Application for Education Assistance (1st form)
   2. Education Assistance Program Reimbursement (2nd form) has two options:
      Please fill online at https://forms.office.com/g/WYbc5m44bD or;
      If you are an employee without a work email address, please print and complete the hard copy 2nd form and give to department along with supporting documentation.
       

Provided is a list of frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs) regarding the Citywide Education
Assistance Program.