Office of College, Career and Technical Education

New Career Technical Education Programs (C74) Application and Process

Massachusetts Career Technical Education Programs (CTE) prepare students to graduate with skills and credentials that will provide them with advanced employment opportunities if the enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. These CTE programs also provide students with high quality learning experiences that enable them to see and understand their future career paths, including continued education. Signature components of these programs include at least 900 hours of immersive learning time, co-operative education in partnership with local employers, and opportunities to earn high-value industry recognized credentials. The CTE frameworks are developed to guide instruction and support program design that ensure students graduate with the skills and learning experiences that best prepare them in their field.

The addition of any new designation requires a review and redesign of all school systems to ensure full integration into your school's program of studies. All CTE programs are approved through a state review process to ensure programs are designed and implemented to support students in experiencing quality education, attaining the necessary competencies, and gaining relevant industry credentials. The review process is made up of three stages: Intent to Apply, Part A, and Part B. Questions in Part A and B are organized around the Massachusetts Guiding Principles for College and Career Pathways.

Guidance for the process is available below, in addition to important information about timelines and technical assistance. Schools should also reach out to their CCTE liaison or the liaison assigned to their region, for additional questions. See the Career Technical Education Regulations CMR 603 4.03: Program Approval Criteria and Operational Requirements for additional information.

Timeline

The upcoming process is intended to serve programs that will open in SY2025-2026. All programs must be fully approved prior to June 30 to be able to operate in SY2025-2026.

Application Component	Due Date
Intents to Apply — Use this Form	Oct 11, 2024 (Fri) by 5:00 pm
Preliminary (Part A) — Use this Form: FY2025 Career Technical Education Part A Application — see guidance below.	Nov 15, 2024 (Fri) by 5:00 pm
Concluding (Part B) — see guidance below and use this form	Mar 7, 2025 (Fri) by 5:00 pm
Onsite visits Safety, Health, and Accessibility Review of facilities and all major equipment to occur	March 24 – June 6
Deadline for Safety, Health, and Accessibility Review of facilities and all major equipment to occur	June 6, 2025
Deadline for all components of application process to be completed or submitted in final form	Jun 17, 2025 (Tue)
Final Decisions	By end of June 2025

CTE Program Designation Timeline — School Year 2025-2026

Tuesday June 3^rd & Thursday June 5^th — Webinar (60 minutes) Ch 74 New Program Application Process Overview for FY26 application cycle
Monday, June 30, 2025: Early Intent to Apply: This year will have two opportunities to submit an Intent to Apply.
Friday, October 3^rd by 5:00 pm — Final Intent to Apply
Note: Beginning June 2026 there will only be one Intent to Apply Deadline, which will be the end of June.
June–October 2025 — 1:1 supports sessions for prospective applicants with CCTE Pathway Liaisons
Friday, November 14, 2025 — Part A Application due by 5:00 pm
November 17 – November 28, 2025 — Part A Applications reviewed by OCCTE Staff
Early December 2025 — Part A Notifications — Applicants who are ready will be invited to submit Part B
January 2025 through February 2025 — Part B webinars, technical assistance via "office hours," 1:1 supports on demand, "Designing for Equity Workshop"
Friday, March 6, 2026 — Part B Application Due by 5:00 pm
March 9 – 27, 2026 — Part B Application review by DESE staff
March 23 through June 5, 2026 — Onsite visits Safety, Health, and Accessibility Review of facilities and all major equipment to occur
June 12, 2026 — Deadline for all components of application process to be completed or submitted in final form.
June 2026 — Part B Application summaries and recommendations are reviewed by the DESE Senior Leadership
June 2026 — Designations conferred by DESE Commissioner
End of June 2026 — Designation letters issued to districts.

Technical Assistance Calendar

Application Component	Description	Webinar Dates, Times, and Registration
Overview for FY25 application cycle	This webinar provides an overview of the entire Ch 74 New Program Application Process. Participants will be walked through any changes for the FY25 application cycle, including the new application platform and timeline.	These were held in September 2024. For additional information, follow up with your CCTE liaison.
Preliminary (Part A)	This webinar guides prospective applicants through the elements comprising the Chapter 74 New Program Preliminary (Part A) application. It is designed for any school and school district personnel involved in developing a Chapter 74 New Program application.	Oct 8, 2024 (Tue) 1:00–2:00 Oct 10, 2024 (Thu) 10:00–11:00
Designing for Equity	This workshop guides prospective applicants through strategies to understand and address barriers that impact student success and approaches to equitable recruitment and access to Chapter 74 new programs. It is designed for any school and school district personnel involved in developing a Chapter 74 New Program application. Districts are required to participate in this workshop. Details will be provided prior to the date.	October 29, 2024 9:00–11:00 AM October 31, 2024 1:00–3:00 PM
CTE Licensure	This webinar is designed to support districts who are applying for a new CTE (Ch 74) program. Having an appropriately licensed teacher is a requirement for new program designation. This webinar is co-presented by the Office of Educator Licensure and the Office for College, Career, and Technical Education. Some of the questions that will be addressed in this webinar include: What license is needed to teach a specific program? What is the process for licensure? What is the purpose of the emergency waiver and what is the process for applying for and obtaining one?	January 7, 2025 (Tue) 9:30–10:30 January 8, 2025 (Wed) 11:00–12:00
Program Advisory Committee	This webinar is designed for school and school district administrators and for industry experts assisting in the development of a Chapter 74 New Program Preliminary (Part A) application. The webinar will present several considerations for the development of a program-specific Advisory Committee.	Jan 13, 2025 (Mon) 10:00–11:00 Jan 16, 2025 (Thu) 1:00–2:00
Concluding (Part B)	This webinar guides prospective applicants through the elements comprising the Chapter 74 New Program Concluding (Part B) application. It is designed for any school and school district personnel involved in developing a Chapter 74 New Program application.	Jan 22, 2025 (Wed) 10:00–11:00 Jan 23, 2025 (Thu) 1:00–2:00
Safety, Health, and Accessibility	This webinar guides applicants through the required Safety, Health, and Accessibility Review. You will learn how to prepare for this portion of your onsite visit.	Feb 10, 2025 (Mon) 10:00–11:00 Feb 13, 2025 (Thu) 1:00–2:00

Guidance and Required Forms

Please refer to this document for the CTE New Program Application guidance and required forms for all stages of the process — Intent to Apply, Part A, and Part B.

The New Program Application also reference resources from DESE that support the Educational Vision. Please consider these resources:

Last Updated: May 12, 2025