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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2116 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 331
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
John J. Cronin
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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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John J. CroninWorcester and Middlesex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2116 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 331
By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 331) of John J. Cronin for
legislation to conduct a biannual audit on college and career pathways programs. Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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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:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 6A of the General laws, as appearing in the 2018 official edition, is
2hereby amended by inserting, after Section 14A, the following section:-
3 Section 14B. (a) The secretary of the executive office of education, in collaboration with
4the secretary of the executive office of labor and workforce development and the secretary of the
5executive office of housing and economic development, shall conduct a biennial return on
6investment audit report of the state’s public education high school college and career pathways
7programs that shall determine the alignment of existing career pathways offerings, including
8career technical education and vocational programs, with state and regional labor market plans,
9employer demand, postsecondary degree or certificate programs, and industry-valued credentials.
10Said audit report shall a) identify the pathways offerings that are linked to high-skill, higher-
11wage, in-demand occupations; b) evaluate student participation and outcomes (such as
12postsecondary attainment, employment status, and wage earnings) associated with each pathways 2 of 2
13program; c) provide information that can be used to identify career pathway programs that are
14not aligned with labor market need and provide recommendations for phasing out said programs
15with a plan for shifting resources to pathway programs necessary to ensure the state’s future
16competitiveness; d) provide information about the availability, quality and student outcomes of
17pathways offerings to support student and their families in making informed decisions about
18their educational options. This audit report should include an analysis regarding the equity of
19access to college and career pathways programs in the state’s public high schools and
20recommendations for improving access to all student groups regardless of student background or
21geographic location. The audit report shall include recommendations to improve labor market
22alignment, quality, student access and outcomes, and operational efficiencies across the state’s
23pathways program offerings. The report shall be made available to the public and presented to
24the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as well as the legislature’s joint
25committee on education.