Boston Schools Enhance CTE Programs with EMK and Mass General Partnership

Boston City officials are taking significant steps to enhance career and technical education (CTE) programs, aiming to better align educational offerings with local workforce needs. During the Ways & Means FY26 Budget meeting on April 14, 2025, key discussions highlighted the expansion of CTE pathways, particularly in the healthcare sector, which currently faces a high demand for workers.

Ted Lombardi, addressing the council, emphasized the importance of matching educational programming with workforce requirements. A notable initiative is the partnership between the Edward M. Kennedy Academy (EMK) and Mass General Brigham, supported by a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. This collaboration will double EMK's capacity from 400 to 800 students, all of whom will engage in one of five healthcare-related CTE pathways. This move is particularly timely, as healthcare jobs represent the largest number of vacancies in the Boston area.

In addition to healthcare, discussions included the ongoing collaboration with Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, which is exploring new building opportunities to enhance its programming. The city is committed to ensuring that CTE offerings are accessible to all students, including multilingual learners. Charleston High School has developed on-ramp courses to better prepare these students for early college courses, a model that is set to expand across all pathways next year.

The meeting also addressed the outcomes of recent CTE graduates, revealing that 90% of the 2022 class are successfully placed in post-secondary education or the workforce related to their fields of study. This statistic underscores the effectiveness of the current CTE programs and the city's commitment to improving educational access and success for all students.

As Boston continues to develop its educational strategies, the focus remains on creating pathways that not only meet the needs of the workforce but also ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed in their chosen careers. The city is poised to make further advancements in CTE programming, with a clear vision for the future of education in Boston.