Round two of proposed regulatory changes impacting the admissions process for vocational schools are out for public comment. The proposed changes includes lottery system, terminology updates and middle school student outreach language.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is proposing amendments to 603 CMR 4.00 Vocational Technical Education. Well, the regulations soon to be formerly known as Vocational Technical Education.
Yes, you heard this story before. At the February 25, 2025 meeting, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education declined to send our a first round of proposed changes out for public comment. BESE declined to send the first set of regulations out for public comment and opted to hold a second meeting on March 10, 2025. After over an hour of public comment airing concerns about the proposed changes, BESE voted to put the new draft out for public comment.
Public comment is open through April 18, 2025. Copies of the proposed changes to the regulations are available below and available here. All the proposed regulations this season are also available the DESE’s 2025 Public Comment Submission Page.
The deadline for submitting your comment directly to DESE is April 18, 2025 at 5pm.
By survey: Use the link here.
By mail: Regulations Public Comment, c/o Commissioner’s Office, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
By e-mail: ccte@mass.gov
Among the proposed amendments:
- A universal conversion of language from vocational technical to career vocational. This language change is consistent throughout all the regulations under 603 CMR 4.00.
- Establish a lottery process when the number of applications exceeds the available seats for a school or program
- Expands the language for providing information and access for middle school students by requiring districts to maintain Middle School Pathway Exploration Program outlining how students will increase awareness of career technical education programs