The Office of College, Career and Technical Education contributes to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's statewide effort to help prepare students for Success after High School.

Massachusetts Definition of College and Career Readiness

In 2013 the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and Board of Higher Education came together to discuss, and later adopt, the Joint Definition of College and Career Readiness, as part of a larger body of collaborative work. In March 2014, the Study Group on Civic Learning and Engagement for the Board of Higher Education recommended the inclusion of civic learning as an expected outcome for their students. The BHE later adopted a statewide policy directing public colleges and universities to incorporate civic learning as an expected outcome for undergraduate students.

At the BESE's June 24, 2015 meeting, the Working Group on Civic Learning and Engagement presented a set of recommendations, which the Board endorsed. In the fall of 2015, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education presented an action plan on civic learning, which included the development of a revised definition of college and career readiness. Since then, representatives from each department have worked together to draft a revised definition of college and career readiness that includes readiness for civic life.

At the January 26, 2016 joint BESE/BHE meeting, the two boards discussed the revised definition and some possible amendments to it. The BHE subsequently voted to approve the revised definition, as amended based on that discussion. The definition that the BHE adopted in January was also voted on and adopted by the BESE at their February 23, 2016 meeting.

Massachusetts Definition of College and Career Readiness and Civic Preparation

State Targets

To better prepare all students for successful futures, our efforts are anchored in the following DESE goals:

• Increasing the five year graduation rate
• Increasing the MassCore completion rate
• Increasing the number of students that enroll in postsecondary education
• Reducing the number of students who enroll in developmental (remedial) coursework during their postsecondary educational experience
• Increasing the number of students participating in career development education .

All of these metrics are connected to DESE's goal of preparing all students for Success after High School.

Last Updated: February 16, 2022