Massachusetts Innovation Pathways Summer 2017

Today’s Objectives What are Innovation Pathways? Introduction to the Guiding Principles and Designation Criteria Designation process Application, timeline, and expectations Roles of Early College Joint Committee (ECJC), Workforce Skills Cabinet (WSC), and the MA Dept. of Elem & Sec. Ed. Funding and other considerations Post-designation implementation

Different Students, Different Pathways, Positive Outcomes

What are Innovation Pathways? Innovation Pathways connect student learning to a broadly-defined industry sector that is in demand in the regional and state economy, and guide students to relevant post-secondary education and training. Participation in this kind of pathway contextualizes student learning, engages students in their high school experience, and can lead students to opportunities for meaningful careers in the relevant industry sector upon their completion of needed postsecondary education and training.

Five Guiding Principles Equitable Access Prioritizing students underrepresented in higher ed and high skill/high demand industries Eliminating barriers to student participation Guided Academic Pathways At least 2 technical courses and 2 college level courses College-level rigor and experience Student-centered college and career planning Enhanced Student Support Wraparound services to promote success and completion

Five Guiding Principles (cont’d) Connection to Career Exposure to targeted pathway opportunities intended to lead to careers 100 hour internship or capstone with related quality indicators Effective Partnerships For IP, at least one district/secondary school and an employer, employer association or Workforce Dev. Board (with employer partner)

Massachusetts High Quality College & Career Pathways Massachusetts High Quality College & Career Pathways Preparing All Students for College and Career High Quality College and Career Pathways (HQCCPs) must include the following six components: All pathways are designed to promote equitable access by eliminating barriers to participation.

Innovation Pathways: Advising The pathway includes well-designed college and career advising: Students must have an individual plan, managed on line, using an electronic platform designed for that purpose, such as MEFA Pathways, Naviance, MassCIS, Career Cruising or other system Career development education is an aspect of advising, with career awareness, exploration and immersion activities built into the advising process College access and awareness activities, and a postsecondary plan, are included

Innovation Pathway: Labor Market Demand Align with career opportunities in a broad industry sector category with high employer demand Eligible industry sectors for this first year Manufacturing Information Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Health Care and Social Assistance Finance and Insurance In future years, labor market information justifying an IP will be based in part on the Workforce Skills Cabinet regional planning process and resulting regional blueprints, now being developed

Innovation Pathways: Integrated Instruction The pathway consists of an integrated Scope and Sequence of courses and experiences aligned with the industry sector, that is developed through an individual planning process Students must have an individual plan, managed on line The scope and sequence must include At least 2 Technical courses aligned with the Industry Sector At least 2 college-level courses, which can include dual enrollment, AP, PLTW, or other college level courses

Innovation Pathways: Integrated Instruction Sample Scope and Sequence – Technology Pathway Innovation Pathways: Integrated Instruction Grade Sample Core Courses Possible Elective Courses Career Advising and ILP: Career Awareness, Exploration & Immersion Ninth Grade Algebra I, Chemistry Technology Systems I ILP creation; Interest Inventory; college visits Tenth Grade Algebra II, Geometry, Chemistry, Physics Advanced Tech Systems: Mechanical, Advanced Tech Systems: Electrical, Computer Aided Design I Labor market research about Tech Careers; Employer Speaker Series re Tech Careers; ILP updates; Seminar about college costs; Job Shadow in tech field Eleventh Grade Algebra II, Geometry, Pre-calculus; Advanced Placement: Chemistry, Physics Advanced Tech Systems: Mechanical, Advanced Tech Systems: Electrical, Computer Aided Design I, Computer Aided Design II Field trips to technology businesses; Research paper about tech pathway issues; Work readiness seminar to prep for internship; college research; ILP updates Twelfth Grade Calculus; Advanced Placement: Chemistry, Environmental, Physics Advanced Tech Systems: Mechanical, Advanced Tech Systems: Electrical, Computer Aided Design I, Computer Aided Design II Summer 100 hr internship at tech company; Labor market research about range of occupations in sector; college visits; Presentation about Internship; ILP updates; college selection

Innovation Pathways: Work-based Learning 100 hours of an Internship or Capstone aligned with the industry sector Quality elements include: Staff liaison Ongoing reflection opportunities such as journal writing Use of the MA Work-based Learning Plan End of experience student product, such as oral presentation, written report, video

Innovation Pathways: Credentials and Post-secondary Linkages The Pathway leads to industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) Student know about the credentials that are relevant to the industry sector They either attain them while in high school, or build skills for attaining them in post-secondary education The credential may be an Associate’s degree, a Bachelor’s degree, a Certificate, Apprenticeship or other IRC Explicit linkages with colleges or other institutions that provide IRCs are developed

Designation Process and Criteria Two-part application process structured around five guiding principles Preliminary Designation Final Designation application RFP for competitive grant application incorporated in Desig. Process Requirements of RFP are connected to Preliminary Designation process and Criteria Designation does not guarantee funding; grants will be awarded competitively to some Guiding Principles and Core Components are basis for application questions Joint application/partnership between K-12 district and employer representative (employer, employer association or Workforce Dev. Bd. w/at least one partner employer) Electronic submission, using WizeHive ESE will make the final determinations for designations

Applicant Criteria for IP Applications must include structured partnerships At least one K-12 district as the applicant and an employer representative (employer or employer association) as Lead partner. A Workforce Development Board may serve as lead as long as at least one employer partner is also a partner District and Lead partner must apply jointly Both partners will be held accountable together for outcomes

Preliminary Designation Application Two-stage process Preliminary Designation Application The initial application determines whether the applicant receives Preliminary Designation, which would qualify them to submit a Final Designation Application. Applicant must sufficiently address plans for each of the five guiding principles, according to specified criteria. Key questions for consideration, based on Guiding Principles: Is the proposed program structured to eliminate barriers to student participation and designed to prioritize students underrepresented in higher education enrollment and completion? Does the program outline a clear academic pathway from secondary to post-secondary education and onto a career? Does the program identify academic and nonacademic challenges and supports for at-risk, under-represented and/or first-generation students? Are career awareness, exploration and immersion activities included as an integral part of the IP program? Does the program propose robust and viable partnerships?

Final Designation Application Two-stage process Final Designation Application Receiving a Preliminary Designation will allow the applicant to apply for a Final Designation. Final Designation is also structured around the five guiding principles, with additional requirements to demonstrate evidence of effective implementation. For example: Signed MOU(s) Developed policies Calendars of activities and schedules Staffing plans The Final Designation indicates that a Program has completed all necessary requirements and is either already enrolled or is prepared to enroll students for the following academic year.

Preliminary Designation Timeline September 8, 2017 Letter of intent due September 27, 2017 Preliminary Designation Application and RFP submissions due Month of October Review Preliminary Designation Applications The RFP will be judged on impact and quality By November 1– Preliminary Designations announced Applicants notified of possible funding and advance to Final Designation phase

Final Designation Timeline November/December Staff conduct Final Designation information sessions February 2, 2018 – Final Designation Application due February – Final Designation Application review by staff Early March 2018 ECJC convenes to review Final Designation Application summaries and interagency working group recommendations for EC programs; Commission of ESE reviews recommendations for IP. Final Designation conferred in March

Electronic Application Both the preliminary and final designation applications will be submitted electronically We will be using an application portal for this purpose To apply for a designation for an Innovation Pathway program, use this link: https://webportalapp.com/appform/menu/inn ovationpathways

Designation Timeline Notes An applicant that is awarded Preliminary Designation in the fall of 2017 is expected to apply for Final Designation by the beginning of Feb.2018 Programs achieving designation would be expected to launch in the fall of 2018 If applicants do not receive Final Designation in the spring of 2018 they may reapply in the next cycle, to being in the fall of 2018

Post-Designation: Implementation 5 years term length for the designation Designation is a performance contract Clear link between the performance metrics in the MOU and the Commonwealth’s monitoring of performance Tied to renewal of a program’s designation Annual reporting obligations Review/check-in after the first three years

Post-Designation: Implementation (con’t) Ongoing support Convenings/Professional Learning Communities Technical assistance from ESE, DHE Oversight & evaluation Early College performance criteria Annual report Site visits

How are the new Pathways funded? Applicants will have to assure funding Small amount of competitive funding for AY2018-2019 (approx. 10 districts) Planning funds - November 2017 – June 30, 2018; maximum funding $10,000 per application Implementation funds - July 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2019; approx. $100,000 per program EOE exploring sustainable funding source

Other Considerations Cohort size Scale relative to size of high school Sustainability Cost-effectiveness Scale relative to size of high school Collective bargaining How do you address this already?

Q&A

For further questions Nyal Fuentes, College and Career Readiness Coordinator nfuentes@doe.mass.edu, 781.338.3593 Jennifer Gwatkin, Early College Coordinator jgwatkin@doe.mass.edu, 781.338.3954 Shailah Stewart, Coordinator, High School Pathway Development, stewart@doe.mass.edu, 781.338.3904 pathways@doe.mass.edu