Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Innovation Pathway Program Final Designation Application December, 2017

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Table of Contents

Innovation Pathway Program Final Designation Application Timeline..............................................................................3

Innovation Pathway Final Designation Application......................................................................................................................4

I. Applicant, Partner and Sector Information................................................................................................................................ 4

II. Adherence to Guiding Principles................................................................................................................................................... 5

III. Application for Competitive Funding ..................................................................................................................................... 13

Budget for Competitive Funding ...................................................................................................................................................... 15

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Innovation Pathway Program Final Designation Application Timeline

Only those applicants who have been invited to apply may seek a Final Innovation Pathway Designation. Departments will provide technical support as qualified applicants prepare materials for submission.

T he a p pl i c a t ion for a M a s s a c h u s et t s In n o v at i o n P a t h w ay Final D e s i g n a tion is d u e no later th a n 5 p m on F e b r u a r y 9 , 2 0 1 8 . A ll a p p li c a tio n s mu s t be c o m p l ete a n d s u b m i t ted thro u gh the W i ze h i v e a p p lic a tion at a link to b e pro v id e d at the ES E a nd DH E w e b s ite s .

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will award Final Designation to applicants who have met all requirements in the spring of 2018, with the expectation that designated programs will launch in the fall of 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are seeking additional information on the designation process, please emailp a th w a y s @ d o e. m ass.e d u .

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Inno v ation P a th w ay F inal D e sign a tion Applic a tion

P LE A S E N O T E : Below you will find the information required to achieve Massachusetts Innovation Pathway Designation. This version of the application, in Word format, is offered forworking and printing convenience, but we ask that you submit your official application via WizeHive, our online platform, at a link to be provided soon.

I. Applicant, Partner and Sector Information

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The Departments will award designation to all applicants who fulfill essential elements of Innovation Pathway program design and provide sufficient evidence that the applicant has developed all necessary infrastructure to begin enrolling students in the Fall of 2018. Note that this is not a competitive process and there is no cap on the number of designations. In contrast, funding will be awarded competitively in accordance with the requirements articulated within this competitive funding section of the application.

A s su r ance Please check the corresponding box to confirm agreement.

Identify the sector(s) to which the pathway(s) will be aligneda. Manufacturingb. Informationc. Professional, Scientific and Technicald. Health Care and Social Assistancee. Finance and Insurance

II. Adherence to Guiding Principles

The following pages describe the Guiding Principles that are the framework of the Massachusetts Innovation Pathway Final Application Criteria. Please review the description of each of the Guiding Principles, and respond to questions that correspond to the criteria. Additional information about the Guiding Principles and their related criteria can be found at the ESE website: h t tp :/ / ww w .d o e. m ass.ed u /c c te / cc r / h q ccp/ .

1. E q u ita b le A c c e s s

Designated programs should prioritize students underrepresented in post-secondary education enrollment and completion, and/or under-represented in the relevant industry. To facilitate this, programs should be structured to eliminate barriers to student participation in Innovation Pathway programs. Design elements might therefore include, but not be limited to, open enrollment without regard to prior academic performance, student supports to prepare students for entry into the program, student supports to promote success, scalability, and multiple entry and exit points for students.

The designation criteria pursuant to this guiding principle are designed to focus on the goal of closing achievement gaps and ensuring that the all students, especially those under- represented in college and high skill/high demand careers, are included in the pathway.

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Therefore, this portion of the application addresses applicant plans for keeping entry into Innovation Pathway pathways as open as possible, particularly with regard to prior academic performance. It is also focused on prioritizing program design and enrollment for students who have historically been underrepresented in higher education and/or industry. Applicants are expected to make significant and thoughtful efforts to aggressively recruit students who may be the first in their family to go to college, who are part of demographic groups historically underrepresented in higher education, who may be English language learners, students with disabilities or who may otherwise not yet possess a perception that they may be a college going student, or a candidate for high skill/high demand careers.

Given this, please respond to the questions below, Note that in some cases, you will be prompted to upload documents, but that there will also be an opportunity in many of the questions to provide a narrative answer in the answer box provided on line.

A p pl i c a nt Qu e s t io n s

A. Gr o w th a n d S c a l e : Describe and demonstrate the plan for growing/scaling the Innovation Pathway. This should include a plan for program size and growth for each year from AY17-18 through AY20-21, with specific details on cohort size for each grade level of student participation. (This may be a repeat from your submission during the preliminary phase, but we request a recapitulation or an update of the data you shared at that stage, as well as further detail regarding specific grade cohort size targets). This section should also include, but not be limited to, any current or future plans regarding physical plant dedicated to the program, plans for any future potential partnerships, and targets with regard to future cohort size. (Criteria 1).

B. A d m i s s ion a n d S tu d e n t E n t r y : Describe in detail the plan for the Innovation Pathway student entry (and exit) points pursuant to the criteria description above. In addition, please also provide the written admission policy for the program, which should include any minimum program enrollment requirements, mindful that applicants will be reviewed in light of the goals articulated above. Please also include a detailed plan for program selection should student interest outstrip enrollment capacity, including a lottery process to ensure equity. (Criteria 2, 3f) [ D oc u me n t up l o a d]

C. E nrol l ment T ren d s and Go a ls : In order to add greater detail and clarity to your high school’s demographic data presented in the Preliminary Designation application, download and complete the attached template (Excel document) to illustrate the IP program’s long-term plan to enroll students from the targeted populations at significant scale relative to school/district size. (See Criteria 1) Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

D. Out r e a ch a n d R e c ru i t m e n t : Provide a written recruitment and communication plan, mindful of the considerations described above. This plan should indicate the entry point for students (e.g. start of 9th grade, start of 10th grade) and include a timeline of enrollment events, including outreach efforts to students, families, counselors, and community members as well as students. Describe how students, parents and guardians are or will be informed of the Innovation

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Pathway opportunity, particularly those families of first generation college goers.(Criteria 3c and d).Upload document into WizeHive

E. R e c rui t ment M a te r ial s : Please attach any recruitment materials for the new IP, including weblinks and/or copies of materials used for outreach (activities referenced in Question D), including but not limited to, brochures and marketing in Spanish, English, and/or relevant second language(s)1. (See Criteria 3.e) Upload document(s) into WizeHive (Attachment)

2. Guided A c a d e m i c Pat h w a y s

Designated programs should be structured around clear and detailed student academic pathways from secondary to post-secondary education, including deliberate plans for coursework, sequencing, and experiences beyond the classroom. In an Innovation Pathway, students should be expected to complete at least two college level courses and two technical courses that relate to the industry sector, and the rest of their high school experience should be carefully designed so that the sequence of courses and experiences has a future focus and is coherent and leads to relevant postsecondary education and industry-recognized credentials. Programs should offer students substantive exposure to career opportunities in the industry sector selected, allowing them to make an informed decision about which career options to pursue.

Students should also be exposed to the authentic experience and academic rigor of postsecondary education, and should be developing an appropriate postsecondary plan to be pursued after graduation. Student participation in the required Internship or Capstone experience, which must be presented as a course with a local course code, must also reflected in the program plan. All courses to be taken must be captured in the student’s “My Career and Academic Plan”.

Guided academic pathways should be designed for coherence, clarity and integration, and students should experience them this way. These pathways should enable students to take ownership over their pathway, make choices about the steps needed to pursue high skill/high demand careers, and understand the need for appropriate post-secondary education to gain access to those kinds of careers. The required use of MyCAP is intended to ensure that the student plays an active role in the process.

Applicants should, at this phase of program design, think carefully about all of the courses and experiences to be integrated into the Innovation Pathway program, including the value of the courses and credits achieved by students who successfully complete Innovation Pathway and how they would transfer to degree programs. Applicants are encouraged to partner with institutions of higher education (IHE’s), to support the plans for postsecondary education.

A p pl i c a nt Qu e s t io n s

A. D etailed S c o pe a n d S e q u e n ce 1) Submit a detailed scope and sequence of courses and experiences intended for students enrolled in the Innovation pathway,

1 ESE’s District Analysis and Review Tools (DARTs) provide information on English Language Learnershttp: / / w w w .do e . m a s s . e du/d a rt / .

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by grade level, including a minimum of two technical courses and two college-level courses. Demonstrate how students will complete MassCore during this Innovation Pathway program. Ensure that the Internship or Capstone experience to be included in the pathway has a local course code, and that it is included in these materials. The schedule presented must indicate all course names, course numbers, and the number of credits a student will have earned cumulatively at the end of each year. If Applicant plans more than one pathway, by selecting more than one of the five industry sectors, it must produce a separate sequence for each one.Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

2) Describe how this sequence will prepare students to enter high skill/high demand careers in the industry sector(s) selected. Address any feedback provided to you about your proposed scope and sequence of high school and college level course- taking from your preliminary designation application.

B. R e q uired T e c h n ic a l c o urs e s : Provide a detailed description of the technical courses intended for the pathways (a minimum of two are required), to demonstrate how they relate to the industry sector selected. A technical course, as required for an IP, is a course that offers a deep look at the industry selected for the pathway, or a significant aspect of that industry, and provides students with skill attainment for specific skills required in that industry. Provide a syllabus for these courses that illustrates the content of the course.

C. C ol l e g e le v el c o urs e -t a king ass e s s men t : Provide the program’s written policy for placement of students into college level courses that includes strategies for assuring student preparedness. (See Criteria 6) Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

D. My C areer a n d A c a d e m ic Plan ( M y C A P ), f o r me rl y re f e rred to as In d i v i d u a l i z ed L e arn i ng P l a n s : Individualized student planning for college and careers is a multiyear process that is foundational to student success. Please provide a detailed description of plans for implementation of MyCAP, and specify which on-line platform will be used (Naviance, MEFA Pathway [formerly Your Plan for the Future], MassCIS, or other) to drive the planning process. See also Section 4, Connection to Career. (Criteria 4).

E. In d u s tr y - R e c o g nized C red e nt i a ls (I RC s ) : Identify IRCs that are targeted by the pathway, if any, and describe whether they will be attainable during high school, and, if not, the extent to which students will prepare for them during high school.

F. S ample S c h e d u le : As an attachment, provide sample schedules of students enrolled in the Innovation Pathway program. This schedule must indicate all course names, course numbers, the number of credits per course, and the number of credits a student will have earned cumulatively at the end of each year. (See Criteria 3) Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

G. P rogram of S tu d y / C o u rse C atalo g u e / C ur r ic u l u m Guid e : Submit intended high school programs of study, including course descriptions and syllabi. If information on

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your proposed program is available on your website(s), please provide relevant links.(See Criteria 5) Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

3. E n h a n c e d Stud e nt S u p p o rt Designated programs should incorporate sufficient wraparound services to promote academic success and completion, taking into consideration the needs of diverse populations of students.

Innovation Pathway should reflect a holistic program design in contemplation of the strengths and challenges of the target student population. Specifically, programs are encouraged to develop student support in consideration of the whole student, in contemplation of student development broadly, development of academic proficiency and support related to barriers faced both externally and with regard to academic course taking and successful participation in the immersive experience planned (internship or capstone).

A p pl i c a nt Qu e s t io n s

A. O v erall S tu d e n t S u p p o r t : Present a comprehensive plan for how the applicant, and its partners, will provide ongoing academic and non-academic support to address the needs of the student population. The plan should address supports for English Language Learners and students with disabilities, including but not limited to, how the students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) will reflect accommodations and modifications for the required rigorous coursework, how services for students with disabilities will be delivered and by whom, and how general education teachers will be supported. (See Criteria 1) Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

B. C ol l e g e a w are n e s s : Provide a detailed description of proposed college awareness activities for current and prospective students, including application assistance, financial aid counseling, and college and career advising. (See Criteria 5) Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

C. C o u rse F a i lure P o l ic y : Provide the program’s policy on communicating to students if they are at risk for failing a course, supports for helping the student get back on track, and actions that may or may not be taken if a student fails a course or multiple courses. In addition, indicate how students and families will be apprised of the program’s policies about these issues.(See Criteria 4 and 6) Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

4. C o n n e ct i on to C a reer Designated programs should expose students to a variety of career opportunities, with greater depth for careers related to their selected industry sector, for example by providing opportunities for targeted workforce and career skills development, career counseling, as well as the required immersive experience of an internship or capstone.

This guiding principle dictates that the intended Innovation Pathway program be designed to ensure that students understand the need for a rigorous academic program, a multi-year approach to career development education, and a well-designed post-secondary plan, in order to be prepared for high skill/high demand careers in the sector. Students should become aware of the wide range of occupations that are available in the sector. These connections should be

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framed broadly, to allow students to explore multiple career possibilities while more generally developing foundational employability skills necessary to thrive in any work environment.

A p pl i c a nt Qu e s t io n s

A. C areer D e v elopme nt : Provide a list of proposed care e r d e v e l o p me n t e d uc a t i on (CDE) activities, by grade level, that include awareness, exploration, and immersion (internship or capstone) that relate to the selected industry sector and involve to the extent possible community businesses and other partners. Describe how student participation will be documented in data systems to ensure that the applicant can demonstrate completion of this element. (See Criteria 1 and 2) Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

B. C areer I m mers i o n : Describe how all of the quality elements intended for the internship or capstone experience intended for the pathway will be implemented, including, but not limited to, how the 100 hour minimum will be achieved; the staff person(s) who will support the experience; the methods for ensuring ongoing student reflection; the intended end-of-experience student product/deliverable(s); and, for an internship program, plans for work readiness training (including hours and a schedule) so that the students are prepared for their placements, and plans for the required use of the MA Work-Based Learning Plan.2 Provide the course code and the amount of credit that will be earned.

C. My C areer a n d A c a d e m ic Plan ( M y C A P ) : Provide a brief description of how students’ participation in CDE will be captured in its MyCAP process, and how students will be involved in the process of CDE. (See Criteria 4)

D. S u p p o r t ing E m p lo y er s : For the proposed career development education activities (Question 4A) for students, include the names of any community businesses and other partners who have agreed to support CDE activities in order to expose students to a variety of potential career options and possible internship opportunities.

E. P o s t- secondary P l an s : Provide evidence of post-secondary linkages for participating students relating to career plans and the industry sector. Provide details of how any higher education partners will help support connections between post-secondary education and career. (See Criteria 3)

5. E ffe c ti v e Pa r tn e rs h i ps

Designated programs should be a partnership between a public school district and either an Employer, Employer Association or Workforce Development Board (WDB), hereafter referred to as the Lead Partner. Note that where the Lead Partner is a WDB, at least one Employer must be identified as a supporting partner.

Fundamentally, an Innovation Pathway program can only be effective and sustainable if supported by a fully integrated partnership between the school, district, and Lead Partner. Tacit agreement to collaborate is not sufficient—deep commitment to partnership and continued full

2 The Commonwealth will provide training to applicants not experienced in use of the MA Work-based Learning Plan.

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collaboration on both sides is imperative. The designation process therefore requires substantive evidence of these partnerships in the form of a MOU, which should provide evidence of a sustained collaboration between the leadership at both organizations, with regular communication and a long term commitment to shared roles and responsibilities.

A p pl i c a nt Qu e s t io n s

A. V ision S tat e men t : Provide a vision statement for the IP program, as agreed upon by both partners. (See Criteria 1)

B. Memora n d u m of U n d e r stan d ing ( MO U ) : Submit a signed MOU that defines an active partnership between the school district and the Employer, Employer Association or Workforce Development Board (WDB), hereafter referred to as the Lead Partner, that addresses all necessary topics including, but not limited to:

1. The allocation of responsibility for all elements of the program between the partners;

2. The methods by which the Lead Partner will participate in ongoing planningand development of the Pathway over the course of the designation period;

3. Plans for the sharing of information between the partners about student outcomes;

4. Methods for the Lead Partner to support the achievement of performance goals (see below);

5. Agreed upon cost-sharing for any element of the pathways, for logistical, administrative and other activities, including but not limited to costs for tuition, fees, and textbooks; student transportation; program coordination; studentsupport; and necessary staff expenses.

6. If the Lead partner is a WDB, the role to be played by at least one identified business/employer.

Upload MOU into WizeHive (Attachment)

C. S h a red U n d e rsta n d ing of P e r form a n c e Go a l s : The MOU shall also present the shared understanding of detailed performance measure goals for the IP, and how the data attached to those measures will be collected, analyzed, and disseminated. Those measures should include but not be limited to the following:

1. retention rate of participating students;2. Evidence that all students complete the intended immersion experience;3. MassCore completion rates;4. high school graduation rate of participating students;5. percentage of participating students who complete the program;6. percentage of participating students who achieve an Industry Recognized

Credential, Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, within three or six years of highschool graduation; and

7. college and/or career outcomes of students, including the extent to which students in the pathway pursue career opportunities in the industry sectorselected.

Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

6.] A D a y in t he L i fe o f a Stud e nt e n r o lled in t h e Pro p o s ed In n o v at i on P at h w ay

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In consideration of all the information presented in sections 2 -5, describe a typical day in the life of a student enrolled in your proposed Innovation Pathway program, including his/her participation in an internship or capstone.

B u d g e t, S t a ff P la n , a n d Profes s io n al D e v elopme n t for S t a ff

A. Submit a Budget that presents expenses associated with the Innovation Pathway.Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

B. Provide a description of any required qualifications for teachers and a staffing plan for the IP program, that includes faculty, teachers, and other individuals who will support the program. (See Criteria 6) Upload document into WizeHive (Attachment)

C. Describe any training, professional development and support that is or will be offered for all positions supporting the IP program. (See Criteria 6)

III. Innovation Pathway Competitive Grant Application

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is committed to ensuring that all of its students complete high school ready for college and career, and that they have well-designed postsecondary and career plans that enable them to become active citizens able to earn a family-sustaining wage. Its new structures for student pathways to college and career, i.e. Innovation Pathways and Early College Programs, have been designed to support these outcomes. These pathways provide a rigorous program of study that offers contextualized learning and a student-directed college and career planning process. Programs approved for designation as one of these Massachusetts High Quality College and Career Pathways will integrate the six required components of a high quality pathway: career advising, work-based learning, postsecondary linkages, technical coursework, credential attainment, and alignment with labor market data.

The Commonwealth launched this Innovation Pathway Designation process in July 2017. For additional information about Innovation Pathways, follow th i s li n k .

In order to support the development of Innovation Pathway Programs, the Commonwealth is providing a competitive funding opportunity for the second phase of the designation process, which applicants for a Final Designation are invited to pursue. Applicants may request funding in an amount not to exceed $140,000 for the 18 month period to commence July 1, 2018 and end December 31, 2019. Current plans are to provide a total of 10 awards for applicants that obtain a final designation, five to Innovation Pathway applicants and five to Early College applicants.

It is important to note that the receipt of a Final Designation itself does not trigger an award of implementation funding. We anticipate that the number of applicants for Final Designation who

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receive the designation may well exceed the number who can be awarded funding. Applicants may also elect not to compete for funding while seeking the Final Designation.3

To qualify for competitive funding for the Implementation Phase, applicants must:

D e s ig n at i o n : Successfully obtain a Final designation during this application cycle (spring 2018).

S tart by F a ll 2 0 1 8 : Plan to have students enrolled in the designated pathway either immediately upon designation or no later than the fall of 2018.

U se of fu n d s : Demonstrate in their responses below how implementation funds from the state will help the applicants execute on their plan outlined in their designationapplication above, such that the pathway meets all of the criteria for final designation.

E v aluat i o n : Agree to participate in an evaluation process for the life of the grant, including supplying required data about students enrolled in the pathway, andinformation about their ongoing oversight of the pathway, as well as participating ininterviews by the external evaluator.

C areer A d v ising T rain i ng : Agree to deploy relevant staff to a new Career Advising training program that will be available in FY19 to support continual improvement in thecareer connections made in the program

Generally, applications for competitive funding will be scored based on the degree to which a) the program meets and/or exceeds the criteria for final designation above and b) the quality of the applicants’ plans for the use of the requested funds to support the pathway in meeting criteria for final designation.

In addition, funding priority may be given to applicants 1) with high percentages and numbers of students who are historically underrepresented in higher education and/or the targeted industry sector, including students of color, low income students, English language learners, and students with disabilities, and 2) that present plans to increase the number of seats available above any that now exist.

Please Note: This funding source represents an initial stream of available dollars for development of Innovation Pathway programs. The Departments will continue to inform existing Innovation Pathway programs and potential applicants of future funding sources, including any appropriated by the legislature or available through private sources.

A p p li cati o n f or C omp e t i t i v e F u n d i ng

Respond to the following questions

3 The state funded approximately fifteen applicants with planning awards of up to $10,000, to be spent between

notification (in or around November 20, 2017) and the end of FY2018 (June 30, 2018). They will use the funds to prepare for the Final Designation application and complete related planning work needed for their program(s) in FY18. In conjunction with the application for Final Designation, applicants will be offered an opportunity to apply for implementation funding. The planning grants were awarded competitively to applicants who received a Preliminary Designation that made the strongest showing regarding how they will use the planning funds to support their effort.

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1. As you review the Innovation Pathway designation criteria, what do you anticipate will be the three greatest challenges in fully implementing an Innovation Pathway program to meet these criteria, and how will you use this funding to address them?

2. Describe the staffing and other costs to the district of ensuring that a) students participate in a MyCAP college and career advising process that is student-centered and student-directed, and b) they fully benefit from the required 100 hour internship or capstone experience. Indicate whether this grant fund would be used to support these costs, or, if not, what other resources will cover these costs.

3. Describe how this grant funding will be utilized to create and implement strategies and activities that foster a distinct connection to the industry sector for students in the program.

4. How will an award of funds enable you to increase the number of seats for students who are targeted (i.e., students who are historically underrepresented in higher education and high skill/high demand industries, including students of color, low income students, English learners, and students with disabilities), or better serve students who are targeted for access?

5. Professional Development: Explain how you plan to provide professional development and supports for the staff and teachers who will be delivering the proposed Innovation Pathway program. In your response, address plans for common planning time for instructional faculty and other staff relating to: Curriculum development, alignment of academic classes with the industry sector, the development of connections between students’ CDE experiences and their academic classes, and the school’s treatment of its MyCAP process as part of the IP (or whole school) culture.

6. For each line item in the budget below, please indicate how these funds will support the Innovation Pathway program/school in meeting the Innovation Pathway designation criteria.

7. Describe the outcomes and deliverables you expect to see at the end of the grant period (December 31, 2019), making reference to Section ? Who will be in charge of ensuring that these outcomes are met?

8. In order to receive implementation funding, check the assurance boxes below to confirm that you will fully participate in the intended evaluation process and that you will deploy staff to a new Career Advising training program that will be offered in FY19:

a. Yes. We will fully participate in the evaluation planned for the grant programb. Yes. We will send a team of staff to the Career Advising training program

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Budget for C ompet i t i v e Fun d ing

Narrative (if needed)

*Please note equipment may not be funded by this planning grant.