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Expanding Access to Career Vocational Technical Education. White Paper No. 288

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Title: Expanding Access to Career Vocational Technical Education. White Paper No. 288
Language: English
Authors: Ken Ardon, Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research
Source: Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research. 2025.
Availability: Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research. 185 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02110. Tel: 617-723-2277; Web site: http://www.pioneerinstitute.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Career and Technical Education, Access to Education, High School Students, Education Work Relationship, Labor Force Development, Outcomes of Education, Educational Finance, Academic Aspiration, College Enrollment, Employment Level
Geographic Terms: Massachusetts
Abstract: Massachusetts offers a variety of highly regarded career education programs to more than 80,000 high school students. The largest and most rigorous, which is offered at regional vocational schools as well at comprehensive local schools, provides almost 1,000 hours of training and prepares students to immediately enter the workforce. This program, known as Chapter 74, serves 55,000 students or roughly one fifth of high school students across the state. Opportunities for career education are not distributed equally across the state, as the share of high school students in career/technical programs ranges from zero in Nantucket and 7 percent in Suffolk County to 40 percent in Bristol County. Despite spending half their time on career education, students at these schools perform just as well on the MCAS and other measures of achievement as students in traditional high schools. Not surprisingly, students at these schools are more likely than their peers to move straight into the labor force after graduation, although there are also many who plan to attend college. Students from regional career/technical schools go on to earn higher income during the 10 years after high school than their peers, although the data do not allow a clear analysis of whether the schools cause higher income. Career/vocational education is popular among students and their families, and enrollment has grown by 20 percent over the past decade. This is particularly notable because overall high school enrollment has been flat during this time, and many traditional high schools face enrollment declines. The growth understates the demand among students and their families--many career/technical programs are oversubscribed and cannot accept all the students who wish to go; in 2023-24, career/technical programs with 10,000 seats received more than 20,000 applications. The shortage of seats has been growing, and it is particularly large in Gateway cities, where half of applicants are turned away. The positive student outcomes and unmet demand for seats indicate that the state has the opportunity to expand access to career/vocational education programs. The 2026 budget includes $100 million in grants to provide an additional 3,000 seats, which would eliminate more than a third of the current shortage. This would be an excellent start, but the state can and should do more. This paper provides background information about vocational education in Massachusetts, with a focus on the Career Technical Education pathway or Chapter 74 programs. It describes Chapter 74 schools, programs, and students, discusses the way the schools are financed, and explores the opportunities for expanding capacity to allow more students to participate.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED675746
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Massachusetts offers a variety of highly regarded career education programs to more than 80,000 high school students. The largest and most rigorous, which is offered at regional vocational schools as well at comprehensive local schools, provides almost 1,000 hours of training and prepares students to immediately enter the workforce. This program, known as Chapter 74, serves 55,000 students or roughly one fifth of high school students across the state. Opportunities for career education are not distributed equally across the state, as the share of high school students in career/technical programs ranges from zero in Nantucket and 7 percent in Suffolk County to 40 percent in Bristol County. Despite spending half their time on career education, students at these schools perform just as well on the MCAS and other measures of achievement as students in traditional high schools. Not surprisingly, students at these schools are more likely than their peers to move straight into the labor force after graduation, although there are also many who plan to attend college. Students from regional career/technical schools go on to earn higher income during the 10 years after high school than their peers, although the data do not allow a clear analysis of whether the schools cause higher income. Career/vocational education is popular among students and their families, and enrollment has grown by 20 percent over the past decade. This is particularly notable because overall high school enrollment has been flat during this time, and many traditional high schools face enrollment declines. The growth understates the demand among students and their families--many career/technical programs are oversubscribed and cannot accept all the students who wish to go; in 2023-24, career/technical programs with 10,000 seats received more than 20,000 applications. The shortage of seats has been growing, and it is particularly large in Gateway cities, where half of applicants are turned away. The positive student outcomes and unmet demand for seats indicate that the state has the opportunity to expand access to career/vocational education programs. The 2026 budget includes $100 million in grants to provide an additional 3,000 seats, which would eliminate more than a third of the current shortage. This would be an excellent start, but the state can and should do more. This paper provides background information about vocational education in Massachusetts, with a focus on the Career Technical Education pathway or Chapter 74 programs. It describes Chapter 74 schools, programs, and students, discusses the way the schools are financed, and explores the opportunities for expanding capacity to allow more students to participate.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 21
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Career and Technical Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Education Work Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labor Force Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Finance
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      – SubjectFull: Academic Aspiration
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      – SubjectFull: College Enrollment
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      – SubjectFull: Employment Level
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      – SubjectFull: Massachusetts
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