Office of College, Career and Technical Education

Pathways Strategies

A pathways strategy ensures that students have access to coursework that prepares them for life after graduation. Schools should have a pathways strategy that informs the types of programs and coursework that is offered to students.

On this Page

Ensuring a strong foundation
Developing a Pathways Strategy
Signature Learning Experiences of Pathway Types
Deciding on a Strategy
Resources & Tools

A pathways strategy helps districts to implement State Designated pathways such as State-Approved Career Technical Education (Chapter 74), Innovation Career Pathways, Early College, and locally developed pathways such as Career Connections (non-Chapter 74/Perkins only) and other local pathways and coursework.

Strong Foundation

Designing a secondary education that serves every student begins with ensuring all students have a strong foundation that is based in providing each student with the supports necessary to gain the foundational college and career readiness skills of Math, English, and Science proficiency in relevant, engaging learning experiences, developing and testing a plan that connects their learning to their interests and goals (MyCAP), and ensuring students are taking coursework that allows for an authentic choice to pursue four year college degree post-graduation (MassCore).

Developing a Strategy for Pathways at your School

Schools then can determine the pathways and coursework to offer along a spectrum of courses and programs that offer advanced standing for specific careers, advanced standing in college, and broader college and career exploration.

Signature Learning Experiences of Pathway Types

Pathway Types	Career Technical Education	Career Connections	Innovation Career Pathways	Early College
Signature Learning Experiences	Safety and Essential Industry Credential Opportunities Immersive Work-based Learning such as Co-Op At least 900 hours of immersive coursework/ learning	Series of at two / three courses building on each other related to specific industry/field Work-based Learning Experience	At least 100-hour Internship or WBL Capstone experience At least 2 advanced courses (i.e. Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment) related to continued study in industry area	At least 12 college credits from GenEd Transfer Block
Outcome *In additional to foundational coursework (MassCore) to ensure post-secondary education readiness…*	Students have earned high value industry recognized credential(s) that prepare them for immediate entry into careers upon graduation, completed immersive work-based learnings in their field, and have reflected, documented, and connected their experiences to past, current and future learning opportunities through their MyCAP as part of developing and refining their post-graduation plan.	Students have explored and gained experience in a specific career industry, and have reflected, documented, and connected their experiences to past, current and future learning opportunities through their MyCAP as part of developing and refining their post-graduation plan.	Students have explored and gained experience in a specific career industry path, have completed advanced coursework that advances them in future degree related to industry and have reflected, documented, and connected their experiences to past, current and future learning opportunities through their MyCAP as part of developing and refining their post-graduation plan.	Students have earned at least 12 college credits in the GenEd Transfer block that accelerates their timeline towards earning a 2- or 4- year degree and have reflected, documented, and connected their experiences to past, current and future learning opportunities through their MyCAP as part of developing and refining their post-graduation plan.

Deciding on a Strategy

Developing a Pathways strategy and Program of Study for your school/district, should be developed based on Community Need/Demand, what the community want graduates to be able to do by graduation (portrait of a graduate), and guided by ensuring students have voice and choice in determining their path that would help them be successful post-graduation.

Resources to Support Developing a Pathways Strategy

Pathways Mapping Tool (Word)
Pathways Organizer (PPT)

Last Updated: April 24, 2024