CCTE Liaisons provide direct and ongoing support to districts. Liaisons coordinate resources to assist districts in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of high-quality systems, structures, and programs for college and career readiness in Massachusetts. Liaisons are assigned by region to build a depth of knowledge in both the educational and economic landscape of the region. DESE's CCTE team practices tiered support where the assigned liaison is a resource to the region in sharing information and answering questions as they arise, while also maintaining a portfolio of schools within the district assigned based on pathway designations and federal funding, with whom they meet regularly and work towards shared goals.
Find your liaison: A complete list of liaisons is available.
Please use this link to sign up for Office Hours with your CCTE Liaison.
The Office of College, Career, and Technical Education have implemented a support model called the Quality Support System (QSS) designed to create strategic partnership between schools and the DESE focuses on meaningful and sustainable strategies to further college and career metrics for students. CCTE liaisons lead district and school engagement in the Quality Support System.
The QSS encompasses the resources, technical assistance, and support provided by the Office of College, Career and Technical Education. Though connected to Career Connected Learning programs and/or the use federal and state funding for designated programs, the Quality Support System relates to the full high school experience and the scope of support may expand beyond a specific program or program type. CCTE has implemented Enhanced Supports for Program Quality and Enhanced Supports for Equitable Access as a partnership between DESE and specific schools.
Schools are identified based on a review of metrics in the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA) domains of Teaching & Learning, Post-Graduation Readiness, & Post-Graduation Planning. The CLNA is a requirement of federal funding, but more importantly, it is a tool that can coordinate the many strategic priorities and needs of a school. This process makes meaning of the CLNA to drive systemic improvements. These metrics include:
Post-Graduation Readiness
Teaching & Learning
Post-Graduation Planning
High Schools that are identified as requiring targeted assistance through the statewide accountability system may also be identified for Enhanced Supports for Program Quality.
The process is built from reviewing the district's current priorities including in from their Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA). If the CLNA needs updating, DESE can support the district in completing this assessment through this engagement. From the CLNA review, the district, school, and DESE team identify 1–2 high impact goals and strategies to address the school's needs. These should be aligned to the school and district existing priorities.
The school, district, and DESE team develop an action plan made of a goal, target metric, and tasks for each organization. Action plans are tied target metrics, the action plan is completed when that targeted metric is reached. This may be multi-year depending on the goals. Action plans are updated frequently to identify tasks required of all parties to achieve the goal. DESE action items may include targeted grant funding, providing vendor support, connections to schools or other resources, and ongoing technical assistance.
Schools are identified based on a review of metrics in the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment domain of Equitable Access.
Equitable Access
Disaggregate School Enrollment
Disaggregate Program Enrollment
Schools receive grant funding aligned for Equitable Access in CTE Programs that can be used to pilot new systems and support efforts at the districts. Districts should review their practices including recruitment, admission, and enrollment at the school and program levels. Districts should also review their systems and practices for supporting students receiving services including for individual education plans and English language acquisition. DESE may provide cohort or direct technical assistance, supported by vendor experts.
The data review may also lead to participation in Method of Administration (MOA) reviews.
Districts can reach out to their CCTE Liaison or email CCTE@mass.gov to learn more.
Last Updated: April 8, 2025