HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2960        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Chynah Tyler

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to student access and return on investment of college and career pathways programs.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2960        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to student access and return on investment of college and career pathways programs.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 6A of the General laws, as appearing in the 2018 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after Section 14A, the following section:-

“Section 14B.

(a)The secretary of the executive office of education, in collaboration with the secretary of the executive office of labor and workforce development and the secretary of the executive office of housing and economic development, shall conduct a biennial return on investment audit report of the state’s public education high school college and career pathways programs that shall determine the alignment of existing career pathways offerings, including career technical education and vocational programs, with state and regional labor market plans, employer demand, postsecondary degree or certificate programs, and industry-valued credentials. Said audit report shall a) identify the pathways offerings that are linked to high-skill, higher-wage, in-demand occupations; b) evaluate student participation and outcomes (such as postsecondary attainment, employment status, and wage earnings) associated with each pathways program; c) provide information that can be used to identify career pathway programs that are not aligned with labor market need and provide recommendations for phasing out said programs with a plan for shifting resources to pathway programs necessary to ensure the state’s future competitiveness; d) provide information about the availability, quality and student outcomes of pathways offerings to support student and their families in making informed decisions about their educational options. This audit report should include an analysis regarding the equity of access to college and career pathways programs in the state’s public high schools and recommendations for improving access to all student groups regardless of student background or geographic location. The audit report shall include recommendations to improve labor market alignment, quality, student access and outcomes, and operational efficiencies across the state’s pathways program offerings. The report shall be made available to the public and presented to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as well as the legislature’s joint committee on education.