Nonresident Applications to State-Approved CTE Programs

The Chapter 74 Nonresident Student Tuition Program allows students to attend a school outside of their home school district in order to study at a state-approved CTE program that is not offered¹ by their home district.

This could involve attending the local high school of another city or town; or it could involve attending a regional CTE school that does not regularly accept students from their home school district.

The process is as follows:

1. Apply to the School by March 15
   • Every school has its own application and process. Please see the school’s website for details.
   • Admission is not guaranteed.
   
   
2. Submit a Non-Resident Student Tuition Application to your home school district by April 1
   • The school district may approve or reject the application for tuition.²
   
   
3. You Must Receive Two Approvals: The student must be accepted by the school and their sending district must approve the application for tuition in order for the student to attend.
   • The student will attend at no cost to your family.
   • Transportation is provided by your city or town of residence.
   
   

4. If your student is accepted into the school, but your home school district rejects your application, you have a right to request that their decision be reviewed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Instructions for submitting the application are listed in the tuition application.

Apply During 8th Grade or 9th Grade?

It is a good idea to contact the school you are interested in to get help understanding whether to apply when the student is in 8th grade or in 9th grade. The first thing to find out is whether your home school district offers a program called Exploratory.

The rules can be complex, but schools will be happy to help you understand the process.

Learn More:

• Guidelines for the Vocational Technical Education Program Nonresident Student Tuition Process

• Chapter 74 Vocational Technical Education Program Nonresident Student Tuition Application

• Specialized Agricultural and Natural Resources Programs Nonresident Student Enrollment Advisory

• Information on Nonresident Transportation

• Please go to the school or program website to download their specific application

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¹ Please Note: The rules surrounding Non-Resident applications are complex. If you have questions, every school has a liaison at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Find the school liaison for a school you are interested in.

² Exception to Tuition Application Requirement: Students who are interested in applying to agriculture and natural resource programs (Animal Science, Horticulture, Agricultural Mechanics, or Environmental Science & Technology) Essex North Shore Agricultural School do not need to submit a tuition application to their home school district. See: Specialized Agricultural and Natural Resources Programs Nonresident Student Enrollment Advisory.

Last Updated: September 7, 2022