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Office for Career/Vocational Technical Education

Admissions

Presenters: Ramona Foster, Marnie Jain, Shay Edmond and Lisa Sandler

Location: Connecting for Success Conference

Date: Wednesday, June 30th

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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A. Administrative Criteria

B. Site Location & Student Eligibility

C. Recruitment Criteria

D. Admission Criteria

E. Financial Assistance Criteria

F. Counseling Criteria

G. Services for Students with Disabilities

H. Housing

I. Accessibility Criteria

J. Comparable Facilities

K. Work Study Cooperative Education, Placement, Apprentice Training

L. Employment Criteria

Vocational Education Programs Guidelines for Eliminating Discrimination and Denial of Services on the Basis of Race, Color, National Origin, Sex

and Handicap (Guidelines), 34 CFR Part 100 Appendix B

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The Vocational Technical Education Regulations 603CMR 4.00 and the Code of Federal Regulations title 34,Part 100 intersect.

Ex. CFR 34 section B regards Site Location & Student Eligibility, and Section 3 of the Admission Policy is theEligibility Statement.

A complete crosswalk is provided in your folder as ahandout.

Crosswalk

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4.03: Program Approval Criteria (6) Admission of Students – Postsecondary & Postgraduate

(d) Each school with postsecondary vocational technical education programs shall develop and implement an admission policy for the postsecondary programs. The policy must be approved by the Department prior to implementation.

(e) Each school that admits postgraduate students shall develop and implement an admission policy for the postgraduate openings. The policy must be approved by the Department prior to implementation.

(page 20, MA General Law Chapter 74 Selected Sections & Voc. Tech. Ed. Reg. 603 CMR 4.00 and Guidelines)

Vocational Technical Education Regulations 603 CMR 4.00

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4.03: Program Approval Criteria (6) Admission of Students

(a) Each vocational technical school and comprehensive school which is

selective in terms of admission to its secondary vocational technical programs shall develop and

implement an admission policy that is consistent with the Department’s “Guidelines for Admission Policies of Vocational Technical Secondary Schools and Comprehensive Secondary Schools” that are incorporated into 603 CMR 4.00 by reference.

1.Policy must be Approved by Department before implementation.

2. Published in Program of Studies and a copy shall be provided to each student applicant and their parent/guardian. (during admission process).

Vocational Technical Education Regulations 603 CMR 4.00

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4.03: Program Approval Criteria (6) Admission of Students

Selection Criteria

First Come - First Served

Lottery

Vocational Technical Education Regulations 603 CMR 4.00

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1. Introductory Statement

2. Equal Educational

Opportunity

3. Eligibility Statement

4. Organizational Structure

5. Recruitment Process

6. Application Process

7. Selection Criteria

8. Selection Process

9. Enrollment & Conditional Admission

10. Program Admission

11. Review & Appeals

Process

Admissions Policy

11 Sections – Selective Vocational Technical Schools

Sections I, II, X & XI – Comprehensive Secondary Schools not selective admission to school

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A student may seek admission to a Chapter 74-approved program outside of his/her district of residence if...

...she/he resides in a city or town not maintaining approved vocational technical education programs in the vocational technical program area sought.

...it is offered through his/her district of residence in anticipation of the same program not being available to him/her through his/her district of residence due to oversubscription.

Guidelines for the Vocational Technical Education Program NONRESIDENT Student Tuition Process Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 74

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Students are to be provided with the opportunity to have nonresident tuition paid program participation...

...as early as the first term of the ninth grade.

Guidelines for the Vocational Technical Education Program NONRESIDENT Student Tuition Process

Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 74

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Once a student has been accepted to a school for a Chapter 74-state approved program and has been approved for vocational technical education nonresident tuition...

...the student is entitled to the same rights and privileges of students who reside in that school district.

Guidelines for the Vocational Technical Education Program NONRESIDENT Student

Tuition Process

Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 74

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Through the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education

Assistance Act...

... students who actually reside (i.e., live) in a town or city, whether with their parents/guardians or other relatives, by themselves or in a foster group home, or in virtually any other living situation, are legally entitled to attend the town or city’s public schools including the regional vocational technical school.

... school districts are required to enroll a homeless student in school. Homeless students have a right to either remain in their school of origin or to attend school where they are temporarily residing.

Vocational Technical Education Regulations 603 CMR 4.00

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VII. Selection Criteria

Definition: Factors used by the school to evaluate applicants.

General Requirements : Ensure all applicants are evaluated uniformly.

Please Do:1. Describe all criteria used to evaluate

2. Assign a numerical or % weight to each criterion

3. For each criterion, describe specific factors to assign scores* CVTEU Recommends:

Evenly weighted Criteria (Interview)Total for all criterion = 100%

Please Do Not:

1. Weight one criterion >50% (Interview 50%)2. Require a minimum score - any criterion

3. Offer Bonus Points (ie:

Nontraditional)

4. Offer Extenuating Circumstance

5. Require a Minimum Cut-Off

Score

Guidelines For Admission Policies of Vocational Technical Secondary Schools and Comprehensive Secondary Schools

(Definition & Requirements)

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1. Academic Grades

• Numerical/percentage weight

• Specific factors used to score

• Core academic courses

• Grade level and school years

evaluated

2. Attendance Record

• Numerical/percentage weight

• Specific factors – to score

attendance

• Grade level & school years

• Only unexcused

absences/tardies

Problematic – attendance records need to be equated across sending schools

3. Discipline / Conduct Record

• Numerical / percentage weight

• Specific factors - to score discipline/conduct record

• Grade level and school years

evaluated• Source(s) used to obtain information about discipline/conduct record

4. Recommendation

• Numerical / percentage weight • Specific factors - to score

recommendation

• Position/title sending-school personnel • Develop a rating sheet based on

numerical rating system, list evaluative factors. (avoid cultural, racial, gender bias)

Section VII. Selection Criteria (continued)

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5. Optional: Interview

Identify the: • Numerical / percentage weight

• Specific factors – to assign scores to applicant’s interview (Interview Rubric)

• Rubric: based on numerical rating system, list evaluative factors. (Point structure for each question)

Section VII. Selection Criteria (continued)

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Inappropriate Questions:

1. How much time do you spend out of class for extra help

2. Any health problems that would affect your participation in the technical programs?

3. How long have you been living in the United States?

4. Describe a school project you enjoyed this year. What did you do?

What steps did you take to complete this?

What obstacles did you overcome?

* Other: At time of interview, request applicant complete a questionnaire - (writing sample)

Appropriate Questions:

1. Why do you want to attend

Majestic

2. What program do you want to

major in at Majestic?

3. What career would you like to

pursue?

4. What are your hobbies,

interests, activities?

5. Identify 3 qualities you possess

that make you a good

candidate to attend Majestic.

6. Why should we accept you to

Majestic?

Questions

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• No one has the authority to ‘place’ any student in a vocational technical school or Chapter-74 program. This includes IEP Teams.

• All students must apply to the school in the same manner; applications are scored and rank ordered in the same manner.

• There is a process in place to ensure accommodations, when requested, are provided. How are these requests documented?

• There is a process in place to ensure counselors are able to communicate with applicants with limited English proficiency and/or a hearing impairment.

• The district ensures pregnant students have equal access to all programs, unless otherwise indicated by the student’s doctor.

Admissions & Special Populations

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• Do not note special population status on the application, rubric or

the score sheet.

• Annually review acceptance letters to ensure they are not conditional (e.g. request test scores/IEP, etc.), with the exception of requiring the student to be promoted, and pass Math and ELA.

• If using the interview, staff are trained to ensure uniformity in scoring and nondiscrimination on the basis of special population status.

Admissions & Special Populations (cont’d)

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Legal Definition of Exploratory Program 603 CMR 4.03 (4) (e) states in part:" School districts that offer five or more approved vocational technical education programs shall provide a minimum of a one half year exploratory program approved by the Department for all incoming ninth graders.”

1. The criteria and process to be used in selecting students for admission to vocational technical education programs as submitted and approved by the Department

2. This criteria must be Published as part of the approved admission policy under Program Admission.

Source: C. 74 Manual for Vocational Technical Education Programs (p.8)

Section X. Program Admission - Exploratory

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Can we have an exploratory program solely for students on Individualized Education Programs (IEP)?

• State and federal laws do not prohibit such practice, so long as it is not the only option for them.

• A full continuum of educational placement options must always be considered by IEP teams (general ed. classroom, partial inclusion, sub- separate, etc).

• Must ensure that the least restrictive environment (LRE) is maintained in accordance with the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). LRE is access to the general curriculum, which includes the student’s vocational curriculum.

Substantially Separate Exploratory

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• There must not be a pattern of guiding or counseling SWD into any one program.

• There must be an opportunity for interaction with peers in general education programs.

• A sub-separate exploratory is not a Chapter-74 Exploratory, so ensure accurate reporting in SIMS.

• The criteria discussed earlier regarding Chapter-74 exploratory requirements do not apply.

Substantially Separate Exploratory (cont’d)

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X. Program Admission: Exploratory 603 CMR 4.03 (4) Program of Study & Methods of Instruction (e) Time: One half year = ½ of the total time spent in shop in the 9th grade. (990 hrs) (Range: 198 – 247.50 hours)

Section X: Program Placement Please include:* Amount of time for Exploratory (i.e.: Sept. – ? )* Universal Scoring Rubric (criteria & point structure)* Maximum number of points that may be earned during exploratory* Number of programs explored* Amount of time in each program explored

Guidelines For Admission Policies of Vocational Technical Secondary Schools and Comprehensive Secondary Schools

(Definition & Requirements)

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Department of Elementary & SecondaryContact Information

Sheika EdmondEmail address: sedmond@doe.mass.edu Phone Number: (781) 338-3948

Ramona FosterEmail address: rfoster@doe.mass.edu Phone Number: (781) 338-3945

Marnie JainEmail address: mjain@doe.mass.edu Phone Number: (781) 338-3908

Lisa Sandler Email address: lsandler@doe.mass.edu Phone Number: (781) 338-3956