Bill > H637

This bill establishes a Workforce Skills Cabinet within the governor's office to improve and expand workforce skills and college and career readiness across Massachusetts. The cabinet will consist of key state leaders from education, labor, housing, and economic development, along with appointed business and workforce representatives. The cabinet's primary responsibilities include facilitating cross-agency collaboration on workforce development strategies, conducting biennial audit reports on career pathway programs, developing annual job market analyses, and overseeing data collection and reporting on educational pathways. A key goal is to achieve universal access to career pathway programs for high school students, which may include opportunities to earn college credits, industry credentials, participate in work-based learning, and receive career counseling. The cabinet will be led by an executive director appointed by the governor and will meet monthly in public sessions, with a mandate to develop strategic goals, recommend policy improvements, and help ensure the state's economic competitiveness by aligning education and workforce training with labor market needs. The bill aims to create a comprehensive, coordinated approach to preparing students for future career success by breaking down traditional silos between education, workforce development, and economic planning.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H637