WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 626

An Act to end discriminatory outcomes in vocational school admissions

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Kushmerek

Allocates vocational-technical program admissions by a blind lottery when demand exceeds spaces, reducing discrimination and increasing fairness.

Hearing rescheduled to 09/30/2025 from 11:00 AM-01:20 PM in Gardner Auditorium Hearing updated to New End Time
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 626

Summary of House Bill H.626: An Act to end discriminatory outcomes in vocational school admissions

What the bill aims to do

H.626 proposes to reform admissions to vocational-technical education programs in Massachusetts by introducing a blind lottery system when applications exceed available spaces. The goal is to reduce discriminatory outcomes and ensure a fairer, more transparent process for placement into vocational schools and programs.

Key provisions

  • Legislative change: Adds new Section 5C to Chapter 74 of the General Laws.

  • Definitions:

    • Eligible applicant: a student who meets the requirements to be promoted to the applicable grade. Any admission offered before promotion is contingent only upon promotion.
    • Department: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

  • Admissions via blind lottery (section 5C(b)):

    • If there are more eligible applicants than spaces for a vocational-technical school or program (including exploratory programs and regardless of whether the program is formally approved), admissions shall be determined by a blind lottery.
    • Participation in the lottery requires no submission beyond identifying the school the applicant is currently enrolled in and providing contact information deemed relevant by the school.

  • Waitlist rules (section 5C(c)):

    • Students who are eligible and enter the lottery but are not admitted shall be placed on a waitlist, ordered by the lottery.
    • Waitlists must include: names, home address, telephone number, grade level, and any other information the department deems necessary.
    • Schools must forward waitlists to DESE by June 1 of the year the lottery is held.
    • DESE will maintain a consolidated waitlist by city or town to track demand for vocational-technical education.
    • If a vacancy arises after initial admissions, vacancies must be filled from the next person on the waitlist, continuing down the list as needed.

  • Data collection and public reporting (section 5C(d)):

    • The Commissioner of DESE shall collect data on:
    • Admissions and enrollment by race, ethnicity, students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, and English language learners.
    • The number of students in programs receiving services under chapters 71A and 71B (and both).
    • The Commissioner must annually file the data with the clerks of the House and Senate and the Joint Committee on Education, and make the data publicly available online no later than November 1 each year.

  • Regulatory framework (section 5C(e)):

    • The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall promulgate regulations to implement and enforce this section.

Who is affected

  • Students: All applicants to vocational-technical schools and programs, including those seeking exploratory programs.
  • Schools and districts: Admissions processes would standardize to a blind lottery, with new waitlist management requirements.
  • DESE: Responsible for administering the lottery, maintaining waitlists, collecting and reporting data, and promulgating regulations.
  • Programs receiving services (71A/71B): Data collection requirements include tracking students receiving specific supportive services.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • Status updates:
    • Referred to the House Committee on Education on February 27, 2025.
    • Related Senate action indicates concurrence on the bill’s path.
    • Hearing dates have been scheduled and revised:
    • Hearing originally scheduled; rescheduled to September 30, 2025 ( Gardner Auditorium) with updated end time.
    • Additional notice indicates a broader 11:00 AM–5:00 PM window for the same date.
  • Related legislation: HD 3471 (the current bill) corresponds to a previously filed similar matter (HD 524 of 2023-2024).

Summary assessment

If enacted, the bill would shift admissions to vocational-technical education toward a transparent, race- and outcome-conscious mechanism by using blind lotteries when demand exceeds supply. It would establish formal waitlist procedures, require systematic collection and public reporting of enrollment data by demographic groups, and create a regulatory framework to enforce equitable admissions practices. The measure targets reducing discriminatory outcomes in vocational admissions while maintaining eligibility-based promotion requirements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.