Bill > H3249

This bill establishes a comprehensive high school trade partnership program designed to enhance vocational-technical education in Massachusetts. The legislation creates a framework where public high schools can partner with local private employers to provide students with vocational-technical education and apprenticeship opportunities. Under the program, students will receive academic and vocational credit for both in-school and on-site instruction and training. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will develop regulations specifying participation criteria for employers, minimum academic requirements for students, supervision and safety standards, English language learner support, and alignment with in-demand skills. School committees can apply to participate in the program, and each participating school district must establish an advisory committee to evaluate and approve student and employer applications. To incentivize employer participation, the bill offers tax credits: qualifying employers and business corporations can receive a 100% tax credit for program expenditures, up to $100,000 per taxable year. Additionally, the bill increases reimbursement rates for regional vocational-technical and agricultural high school construction projects, potentially raising reimbursement rates to between 75% and 90% of eligible costs, with bonus percentage points for schools offering multiple state-approved vocational programs. Finally, the bill mandates an incremental increase to the per-pupil foundation rate for vocational and technical school students to match inflation.

Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3249