Vocational Technical Education Programs
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What are vocational technical education programs?
Vocational technical education programs prepare high school students for various career options. Vocational technical education offers courses and learning experiences that allow students to develop academic skills, technical knowledge, and other skills needed for employment or advanced education. Students in vocational technical programs must meet the requirements for high school graduation that other public high school students must meet, including passing the MCAS tests.
The Massachusetts Board of Education oversees public vocational technical education programs in Massachusetts. State-approved programs are called "Chapter 74 - approved programs." Most vocational technical programs in Massachusetts are run by local or regional school committees.
Am I eligible?
Massachusetts public vocational technical education programs are for students who:
- are in high school (grades 9 through 12)
- are residents of Massachusetts
Vocational technical programs may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability. Homeless students, undocumented students, students with limited English proficiency, and students with disabilities are eligible to attend.
Vocational technical high schools are allowed to decide how they will admit students to their programs. Schools can admit students on a first come - first serve basis; or they can use a lottery; or they can admit students based on these selection criteria:
- academic grades
- attendance record
- discipline and conduct record
- recommendation from the sending school
- student interview (optional)
Schools that use selection criteria must evaluate each student in the same way, using a rating sheet.
What programs are offered?
Vocational technical high schools offer a wide range of career programs including:
- horticulture
- design and visual communications
- graphic communications
- cosmetology
- marketing
- office technology
- carpentry
- electricity
- facilities management
- heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration
- plumbing
- early education and care
- health assisting
- culinary arts
- information support services & networking
- programming and web development
- drafting
- electronics
- machine tool technology
- metal fabrication and joining technologies
- automotive collision repair and refinishing
- automotive technology
Many other vocational technical programs are also available. For a complete list of programs, see the Chapter 74 Vocational Technical Education Program Directory.
Are there agricultural programs?
Four of the state's vocational technical high schools specialize in agricultural programs. Agricultural programs include plant science, animal science, agricultural mechanics, and environmental science.
The agricultural school web sites have information about programs, eligibility, and admissions. The web site links are:
Several other public vocational technical schools have horticulture programs. For a list of programs, see the Chapter 74 Vocational Technical Education Program Directory on the DOE web site.
What benefits will I get?
Vocational technical high schools offer an integrated academic and vocational technical education that prepares students for employment or advanced education. Some graduates of vocational technical programs enter the work force or the military directly after high school. Other graduates go on to college, apprenticeships, or other postsecondary programs.
Vocational technical education programs offer a range of benefits:
- high school diploma and certificate of proficiency
- licensed academic and vocational teachers
- career exploration program for incoming 9th graders
- program-specific work-based experience
- hands-on applied learning
- job shadows and internships
- safety training
- co-op programs for juniors and seniors
- opportunity for advanced standing toward an associate degree
- support services such as remedial education and English language instruction
- special education services
- physical education
- sports and other extracurricular activities
- career guidance and placement services
- academic and vocational assessments
- general employment skills
Will I get transportation?
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Within district:
Transportation policies for students attending home district vocational technical high schools are the same as the policies for students attending regular high schools in their districts. See Will I get transportation? for details.
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Out of district:
Students attending out-of-district vocational technical schools through "school choice" do not get free transportation. However, students attending out-of-district schools under the Chapter 74 non-resident option do get free transportation.
How do I apply?
How you apply to a vocational technical program depends on whether you are applying to a program within your home school district, or outside of your district.
Applying within your home district:
Your home district's vocational technical program might be part of the district's regular high school, or in a separate vocational technical high school, or in a regional vocational technical school.
To apply to a vocational technical program within your local or regional district, you should contact your district's vocational technical administrator. For contact information, see Directory of Vocational Technical Schools on the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) web site. You have to file an application and meet the school's admissions criteria.
You can find information about the vocational technical programs in your district at School and District Profiles on the Department of Education web site.
Applying outside your home district:
If you want to attend a vocational school outside of your local or regional school district, you have two choices: you can apply through the inter-district school choice program, or you can apply under the Chapter 74 non-resident option.
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Inter-district school choice allows you to apply to any vocational technical program in the state that accepts school choice students. Not all schools accept students from outside their districts. School districts decide each year whether or not to take part in school choice.
Students can apply to out-of-district "school choice" schools, even if their home district is not taking part in the school choice program. If you are admitted under school choice, you can stay at the school until you graduate, as long as you follow school rules.
For information on how to apply through the school choice program, see What is inter-district school choice?
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The Chapter 74 non-resident option allows you to attend an out-of-district vocational technical school if the program you want is not offered in your local or regional district, or if your local program is full. If you are admitted under the Chapter 74 non-resident option, you can stay at the out-of-district school only if you stay in the specific program you requested. If you want to switch programs, you must file a new application.
Chapter 74 applications must be approved by your home school district as well as the vocational technical school you want to attend. Your home school district must agree to pay your tuition. The vocational technical school must agree to admit you based on its admissions criteria. If your home district denies your application, you can appeal.
You can get more information about the Chapter 74 nonresident option and download an application at Vocational Technical Education - Nonresident Student on the DOE web site.
Useful links
These links are external links to web sites that are not part of MassResources.org. When you click on these links, you will leave our site. Click "Back" on your browser to return.
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Career/Vocational Technical Education
The Massachusetts Department of Education web site for vocational technical education programs, including:
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