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 on wait lists or may select programs with available space; wait lists may be used up through first quarter of sophomore year.

Fallon said Medford is proposing program placement after exploratory rotations in January so students make choices with direct exposure to the shops. He described enrollment and capacity: “We have just about 280 freshmen... the high school enrollment right now is at about 763,” and said approximately 469 students in grades 10–12 are currently in a CTE pathway.

Committee members and staff discussed communications and timing. Member Graham urged a robust communication plan to explain options and pathways to families; Fallon said materials, open houses and middle-school outreach beginning in seventh grade are planned. Fallon and Dr. Gallucci (superintendent) said the district will use multiple modalities — mailings, emails and in-person/Zoom sessions — to reach caregivers and students.

Several members pressed for clarity on mechanics. Fallon explained the lottery will run program-by-program; for a program that fills, the lottery will be among applicants listing it as their first choice and then proceed to second-choice allocations as needed. He said selective criteria such as attendance or discipline had been considered for a weighted lottery but were rejected, citing fairness concerns and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidance.

Students who spoke at the meeting described exploratory rotations as decisive. Haley LaGrasse, a senior in health assisting, said exploratory rotations helped her discover the pathway she wanted. Sarah Carboni, a freshman in exploratory, said the program exposed her to trades and “gave me skills — for example, I learned how to change a tire,” that she believed every student should know.

Action on the policy: Member Russo moved approval of the first reading of policy JFAA; Member Reinfeld seconded. The motion passed by roll call.

After approval of first reading, Member Graham moved to waive a second reading so the policy could advance. Member Reinfeld seconded; the motion to waive the second reading passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: The policy changes how Medford assigns students to CTE programs, moving decisions to after exploratory exposure in ninth grade and using a straight lottery when demand exceeds seats. The shift aims to balance access and equity while standardizing placement procedures in response to state regulations.

What’s next: The district will finalize communication plans, file required documents with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and begin parent- and student-facing outreach before placements occur in January following exploratory rotations.