Medford School Committee adopts first reading of CTE admissions lottery policy after student testimonials

The Medford School Committee approved the first reading of policy JFAA, a new admissions policy that implements a straight lottery for Career and Technical Education (CTE) program placement following ninth-grade exploratory rotations.

The vote came after a presentation by Chad Fallon, executive director of career and technical education, and testimony from CTE students who described how exploratory rotations helped them choose pathways in health assisting, cosmetology, electrical and other trades.

The policy under consideration responds to new state regulations requiring lotteries for programs or schools with more applicants than seats. Fallon told the committee that Medford will keep students’ ability to rank their top three program choices; when more students want a program than there are seats, the district will use a straight lottery, not a weighted lottery. Students will remain…