31 High Schools to Expand Innovation Career Pathways, 6 High Schools Preparing Brand New Clean Energy Pilot
Positions Commonwealth to Offer Career and Technical Education Pathways at Nearly 100 Schools Next Year, Establishes Pipeline of Future Climate Workforce Leaders
Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced they are awarding 31 high schools across the Commonwealth close to $650,000 to plan new Innovation Career Pathways programs, six of which will be part of the Clean Energy pilot. High schools use these funds to develop and map out curriculum, pursue partnerships with local businesses and higher education institutions, and explore internship possibilities, project opportunities and more, with the goal of establishing a brand new pathways the following school year, 2024-25. With this planning expansion, the state projects offering career and technical education pathways at nearly 100 schools next year and anticipates enrolling the first class in a pipeline of future climate workforce leaders.
“This new Clean Energy Innovation Career Pathway will open doors for students to discover a future in the renewable energy sector by providing them with applied learning experiences and next level internships right here in Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These planning funds are vital to ensure the programs are ready to serve students. By investing in the next generation of clean energy leaders, we can establish a pipeline of STEM workers to meet the demands of the growing renewable energy sector–which will not only enhance our ability combat the climate crisis, but will make our state more competitive, affordable, and equitable.”
“As co-chair of the STEM Advisory Council, I am so excited to expand learning opportunities in clean energy, which is a booming STEM sector,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “As we look to expand career pathways and access to education, it is imperative that we focus on high-demand industries like clean energy, to prepare today’s students to address today and tomorrow’s challenges of the climate crisis, but also the needs of local employer partners.”
The six 2023-24 Clean Energy pilot schools will help meet the workforce needs of the Commonwealth’s rapidly growing clean energy economy – since 2010, the clean energy industry has grown by 73%, which accounted for more than 14% of all net jobs created in the state during that time. As of 2022, Massachusetts has the seventh most clean energy jobs in the country being one state of only nine states with over 100,000 clean energy jobs, according to a report from a national business group.
“With Innovation Career Pathway program expansions, we are harnessing the brilliant minds of our students across the Commonwealth to tackle pressing issues like climate – where young people have already been leading the charge.” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. “I am especially grateful to the school staff who are deeply intentional in planning out thoughtful curricula in the career and technical education space for our students.”
“Innovation Career Pathways are helping students across the Commonwealth discover the future paths they want to pursue before the graduate high school,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley. “I am glad to see such a successful program that engages with so many students, expand to new schools across Massachusetts, but also expand in content with the new Clean Energy Career Pathway, and that schools are taking the time now to plan them out to add the most value for our students.”
This school year, thanks to the Innovation Career Pathways designations the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced earlier this year, there are currently more than 6,500 students enrolled in one or more of the 183 pathways at 78 schools across the Commonwealth. Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll’s FY24 budget that was signed into law last month includes nearly $47 million for Early College and Innovation Career Pathways, a $14.4 million increase from FY23, to continue expanding college and career readiness options for students across the Commonwealth.
Innovation Career Pathways, in addition to Early College Programs and other advanced and applied learning opportunities, are a critical part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s vision of “Reimagining High School” by improving equitable access to more engaging and dynamic coursework that better prepares students for their future, whether that be college or a career. Of the 31 high schools receiving this grant, 13 are hoping to add to existing Innovation Career Pathway offerings and 18 are planning to offer their first Innovation Career program for students. At Pentucket Regional High School, one of the grant awardees, educators will use this planning grant to pursue establishing two different pathways for students: Manufacturing, and Environmental and Life Sciences.
“Pentucket sees this as an amazing opportunity to connect with industry partners and provide our students with advanced learning that has practical applications. We are looking forward to leveraging all of the resources from the region, the department of education, and other districts engaging in Innovative Pathways work too,” said Assistant Superintendent of the Pentucket Regional School District Brent Conway.
18 Schools Planning to Add Innovation Career Pathways for the First Time
| Amesbury High School | $25,000 |
| Beverly High School | $8,050 |
| Braintree High School | $18,506 |
| Duxbury High School | $10,475 |
| Gateway Regional High School | $25,000 |
| Granby High School | $7,890 |
| Nashoba Regional High School | $24,850 |
| Newburyport High School | $1,630 |
| Pentucket Regional High School | $25,000 |
| Phoenix Academy Charter Public High School, Chelsea | $25,000 |
| Phoenix Academy Charter Public High School, Lawrence | $25,000 |
| Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School, Springfield | $25,000 |
| Pittsfield High School | $25,000 |
| Rockland High School | $19,450 |
| Sandwich High School | $25,000 |
| Shrewsbury High School | $25,000 |
| Springfield Renaissance School | $25,000 |
| Walpole High School | $25,000 |
13 Schools Planning to Add Innovation Career Pathways to Existing Programs
| Athol High School | $25,000 |
| Brockton High School* | $14,000 |
| Burlington High School | $19,428 |
| Carver Middle High School* | $25,000 |
| Hopkins Academy* | $12,075 |
| Leicester High School | $25,000 |
| Map Academy Charter School | $25,000 |
| Medway High School | $25,000 |
| Norwood High School* | $25,000 |
| Randolph High School | $25,000 |
| Reading Memorial High School* | $25,000 |
| CityLab Innovation High School* | $25,000 |
| Westfield High School | $13,000 |
*Denotes high school planning a Clean Energy Pathway
