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SD 2141

An Act to expand student opportunities in career technical education

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by John Cronin

Expands access to Chapter 74 CTE by allowing municipal high schools to offer vocational programs with regional districts when labor demand exists and capacity is limited.

House concurred
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Bill Summary · SD 2141

Summary: An Act to Expand Student Opportunities in Career Technical Education (Senate Docket No. 2141)

Status: House concurred (as of February 27, 2025)
Introduced: February 27, 2025
Sponsored by: John J. Cronin
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts General Laws (Chapter 71 and Chapter 74)

Purpose and intent

This bill aims to broaden access to career and technical education (CTE) by enabling more municipal high schools to offer Chapter 74 vocational-technical programs, in coordination with regional vocational school districts. It seeks to align CTE offerings with regional labor market needs and to reduce barriers created by program duplication, capacity limits, and enrollment constraints.

Key provisions

Section 1 — School district eligibility and collaboration

  • Allows a city or town to simultaneously belong to a regional vocational school district and another type of regional school district.
  • A city or town in a regional vocational district may offer a vocational-technical program in its municipal high school, subject to:
    • Approval of the program under Section 2 of Chapter 74.
    • Collaboration between the regional vocational district and any other regional district serving the same town to offer reciprocal, non-competitive Chapter 74 programs.
    • Programs must meet labor market needs in the region as determined by Regional Workforce Boards.

Section 2 — Chapter 74 program approval standards

  • Amends Chapter 74 to permit approval of proposed programs even if there is duplication within a region, provided there is:
    • Demonstrated labor market need, and
    • Insufficient capacity in existing programs to meet that need.

Section 3 — Commissioner’s duties and program support

  • Directs the Department to allocate resources to provide technical support to municipal and comprehensive high schools seeking Chapter 74 programs that:
    • Meet regional labor market demands, and
    • Do not duplicate existing regional programs (except where enrollment capacity is lacking).
  • Requires ongoing support for demonstration programs that offer CTE opportunities when seats are limited in approved Chapter 74 programs.

Who is affected

  • Municipal high schools and comprehensive high schools seeking to offer Chapter 74 programs.
  • Regional vocational school districts and other regional districts serving the same towns.
  • Regional Workforce Boards (for labor market determinations).
  • The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (via the Office/Commissioner of Career Technical Education).

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill was filed and referred to the Education committee on February 27, 2025.
  • It achieved House concurrence on the same day, signaling potential movement toward enactment pending Senate concurrence and final passage.

Potential impact

  • Expanded access to CTE programs for students in municipal high schools.
  • Greater alignment of CTE offerings with local labor market needs.
  • Possible reduction of capacity and enrollment bottlenecks through targeted program approvals and demonstration programs.
  • Increased coordination between municipal high schools, regional vocational districts, and regional workforce planning bodies.

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

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