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Business groups and educators back bills to expand college‑ and career‑pathways for high school students
Summary
The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education and advocates told the committee that a set of bills would strengthen governance, align pathways with economic needs and increase credentialing and work‑based learning opportunities for high school students.
Representatives of employers and education partners urged the Joint Committee on Education to advance legislation to expand college‑ and career‑pathways for high school students and to improve interagency oversight of pathway programs.
James Michalowski of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education told the panel that Massachusetts has not fully adopted newer models for work‑based learning and that several bills on the committee agenda — including H637/S325 and related measures — would codify a statewide vision and give the workforce skills cabinet a stronger role in overseeing equitable pathway expansion.
Why it matters: advocates said better alignment between high school pathway programs and employer needs could increase credentialing and credit‑bearing opportunities for students and support the Commonwealth’s workforce needs.
The witness recommended statutory steps including a biennial return‑on‑investment audit to ensure programs deliver value, expanded data and stronger interagency planning, and flexibility that lets students combine course‑based programs with apprenticeships or industry certifications.
Ending: The witness said MBAE and employer partners will submit written testimony and continue to work with the committee on statutory language and implementation details.
