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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1466 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 439
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Pavel M. Payano
_________________
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 to enhance the alignment and career focus of college and career pathway programs.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Pavel M. PayanoFirst Essex 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1466 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 439
By Mr. Payano, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 439) of Pavel M. Payano for
legislation to enhance the alignment and career focus of college and work-based learning.
Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to enhance the alignment and career focus of college and career pathway 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 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is
2hereby amended by adding the following two new sections:-
3 Section 38. The department of elementary and secondary education shall promote and
4support with available resources innovative and collaborative career technical education
5demonstration programs in which students split their time between their comprehensive high
6school and a school offering programs under chapter 74; provided, that under such programs,
7participating students’ daily schedule shall include required academic classes and vocational
8courses when the equipment is available.
9 Section 39. The department shall develop, in consultation with the executive offices of
10education, economic development and labor and workforce development, credentials for students
11graduating from the state’s high schools in applied knowledge, effective relationships and
12workplace skills as described in the federal employability skills framework. The department shall 2 of 3
13develop and disseminate guidance to districts for their consideration in establishing said
14employability credentials as graduation or completion requirements.
15 SECTION 2. The department of elementary and secondary education shall conduct a
16review of all offices, programs and processes under its jurisdiction which are involved in
17designation and oversight of college and career pathway programs, and act to organize
18department activities in a way that fosters coordination and uniformity across offices and
19programs with regard to administration of college and career readiness programs and their
20respective elements. The department shall also, in designation and certification process for said
21college and career pathway programs shall give preference to those proposals submitted by
22districts that are career-themed and in fields of study aligned with the state’s labor market needs.
23The department will report to the legislature’s joint committee on education and the ways and
24means committees of the house and senate by July 1, 2026, as to what actions it has taken, or
25plans to take, with regard to implementation of the requirements of this section. The department
26will, as part of its reporting, recommend any changes in statute it deems necessary to facilitate
27the coordination of college and career readiness initiatives under its jurisdiction.
28 SECTION 3. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following term shall have the
29following meaning:
30 “work-based learning”, an educational method that takes place related to work or a
31specific career, usually in a workplace, prompting students to learn about the environment in a
32chosen career path and allowing them to gain exposure to the world of work in ways that help
33them develop skills that employers value and enhance their opportunity for career success but
34which may be difficult to acquire in a classroom setting. 3 of 3
35 (b) The department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the
36workforce skills cabinet created in SECTION 1 of this act, shall conduct a study of the barriers
37that exist to creating greater student access to meaningful work-based learning opportunities in
38the state’s public schools. Said study shall address issues such as transportation, employer
39liability, personnel, scheduling, curriculum, logistics and any other consideration which may be
40determined to have the effect of limiting opportunities for students to participate in relevant and
41meaningful work-based learning. The results of said study shall be issued, along with
42recommendations for actions to expand work-based learning opportunities in the schools of the
43Commonwealth, as a report to the legislature’s joint committee on education and the ways and
44means committees of the house and senate by July 1, 2026.