Office of College, Career and Technical Education

The Office of College, Career, and Technical Education (OCCTE) provides oversight, technical assistance/ professional development, grants, resources, policy development, and data analysis/reporting for policies and programs that ensure students graduate college and career ready .

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

• Increasing the five year graduation rate
• Increasing the MassCore completion rate
• Increasing the number of students engaging in personal, academic, and career planning (MyCAP)
• Increasing the number of students successfully completing high quality college and career pathways
• Increasing the number of students that enroll in postsecondary education

Programs/Initiatives Include:

High School College and Career Pathways

Career & Technical Education (Chapter 74). CCTE approves, provides technical assistance, oversight, funding, and other resources to programs at local and regional schools that prepare students with the technical skills to be able to enter the workforce in High Wage/ High Demand occupations immediately following high school.

Federal Perkins Funding. CCTE is responsible for the state agency oversight of the development, implementation and accountability with the US Department of Education's Perkins state plan.

Innovation Career Pathways. Innovation Career Pathways are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as information technology, engineering, healthcare, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.

Early College. In partnership with the Early College Office, programs are intentionally designed to empower students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. MA Early College Designated Programs work to blend elements of high school and college to provide students with the opportunity to experience and complete college level academic coursework on a clearly articulated pathway and simultaneously gain exposure to a variety of career opportunities. Early college programs also reduce the time and expense of earning a college credential while increasing the likelihood of completion.

School Counseling & MyCAP

CCTE supports districts/school counselors to prepare students for college, career and civic readiness. The MyCAP process engages grades 6–12 students in authentic postsecondary planning through a continuum of learning focused on the individual student's interests, skills and talents. DESE partners with the Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA) on School Counseling.

Coursework

MassCore. CCTE provides support and resources for schools to adopt a course taking strategy that ensures students graduate with the requirements to pursue a four-year degree at a Massachusetts public postsecondary institution.

Advanced Placement. CCTE supports schools in expanding access to advanced coursework. In September 2020 DESE was awarded a five-year grant totaling $9,127,691 from the U.S. Education Department (ED), through the Expanding Access to Well-Rounded Courses Demonstration Grants Program. With this funding, and via a partnership with VHS Learning, we are establishing the STEM Advanced Placement Access Expansion Opportunity (SAPAO). SAPAO is a statewide initiative to increase the capacity of schools to offer advanced coursework that will equip students with the skills and competencies they need to pursue postsecondary education and, ultimately, go on to STEM professions vital to the Massachusetts economy.

Graduation Requirements

Competency Determination & Educational Proficiency Plan. CCTE provides support, data resources, and advises on policy related to the minimum demonstrations of proficiency for Massachusetts High School Graduates.

Data-Informed Systems for Student Support

Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS). CCTE supports educators to develop targeted interventions, allowing students to follow a path to success.

Dropout Prevention & Alternative Education

Dropout Prevention and Alternative Education. CCTE works with districts to reduce the number of students who drop out of school takes a combination of systemic efforts at the community, district, school, classroom, and individual student levels.

Career Education and Work-based Learning

Connecting Activities. Connecting Activities (CA) is a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education initiative that leverages a statewide infrastructure to support college and career readiness for all students.

Postsecondary Career & Technical Education

CCTE provides support to community colleges and postsecondary programs to implement Perkins programs, career and technical institutes (CTI) and Chapter 74 postsecondary and postgrad programs.

Last Updated: July 4, 2023