Office of College, Career and Technical Education

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.

Innovation Career Pathways are designed to create strong partnerships with employers in order to expose students to career options and help them develop knowledge and skills related to their chosen field of study before they graduate high school.

Organizations that have received the Innovation Career Pathways designation

To learn more about Innovation Career Pathways, review the Innovation Career Pathway Criteria .

Please check this page regularly for updates. If you are seeking additional information on the designation process, please email pathways@doe.mass.edu .

Innovation Pathways Designation Timeline — School Year 2023-24

Early May 2023 — Innovation Pathways Part A Application posted
May 31, 2023 — Prospective Applicant Workshop (1 hour 45 minutes)
June – July 2023 — 1:1 Intake sessions with prospective applicants
August and September 2023 — Technical assistance for Part A applicants, 1:1 Supports on-demand
Thursday, October 26, 2023 — Part A Application due. Must be submitted via Alchemer.
Late October – Mid-November 2023 — Part A Application review by DESE staff
Mid-November 2023 — Part A Notifications — Successful applicants will be invited to submit Part B
Mid-November 2023 through January 2024 — Part B webinar, technical assistance via "office hours," 1:1 supports on demand, "Designing for Equity Workshop"
Thursday, February 8, 2024 — Part B Application Due
February 9 – 28, 2024 — Part B Application review by DESE staff
Early to mid-March 2024 — Applicant Interviews with DESE via Zoom
Late March 2024 — Part B Application summaries and recommendations are reviewed by the DESE Senior Leadership
By early April 2024 — Designations conferred by DESE Commissioner

Last Updated: June 12, 2023