Section 4.16 - Pilot ProgramsThe Commissioner may approve the establishment of a pilot vocational technical education program in an emerging occupation that demonstrates labor market and student demand. The purpose of a Pilot Program is to determine the feasibility and cost of establishing the new vocational technical education program under M.G.L. c. 74.
(1) To be approved as a Pilot Program, the program must provide evidence of: (a) Establishment of a preliminary advisory committee;(b) Submission of Program Needs - Analysis completed in collaboration with the Department and the preliminary advisory committee;(c) Labor Market Feasibility and Student Demand; and(d) A Plan to satisfy the requirements of 603 CMR 4.00, including a program budget showing the program has sufficient financial resources to sustain long-term technical alignment to required industry standards.(2) Once approved as a Pilot Program, the program must: (a) Submit Progress Reports/Program Evaluations every six months; and(b) Complete the Pilot Program Process within a six-year period, starting from the date students are enrolled in the approved Pilot Program. Extensions may be granted to a district by the Commissioner upon satisfactory evidence of the need for an extension.(3) Should the district decide to discontinue the Pilot Program, the district will submit a program closure plan in accordance with 603 CMR 4.04(5).(4) The qualifications of the Pilot Program Teacher(s) shall be subject to approval by the Commissioner, according to industry standards.(5) Teacher(s) delivering instruction in the Pilot Program will: (a) Participate in the development of the field-specific Written and Performance Tests for Prospective Vocational Technical Education Teachers. Such educators will be exempt from taking said tests in order to earn their preliminary license; and(b) Be eligible for Chapter 74 Program licensure when the Pilot Program receives approval as a vocational technical education program under M.G.L. c. 74 and the teacher submits appropriate licensure documentation to the Department.(c) Employment as an approved Pilot Program Teacher may be counted towards Professional Teacher Status.(6) Within three to six years from the date on which the Pilot Program is established, the Commissioner will determine whether the program should be approved as a new program under M.G.L. c. 74. In making a determination, the Commissioner shall take into consideration: (a) The alignment of the program with state initiatives, including workforce needs and identified in-demand occupations;(b) The costs of establishing the program under M.G.L. c. 74;(c) Labor market projections; and(d) The district's ability to sustain the program.(7) If the Commissioner approves the Pilot Program as a new program under M.G.L. c. 74, the program must establish its new program state components within two years from the date of approval. New program state components will be developed dependent upon appropriate state funding and may include: (a) The establishment of appropriate vocational technical teacher licensure standards aligned to industry standards;(b) Identification of requirements for the program license;(c) Creation of the vocational written and performance tests in the vocational technical subject matter and skills the candidate will teach; and(d) The development of a statewide Vocational Technical Education Framework for the specific program.(8) Once the Commissioner approves the Pilot Program as a new program under M.G.L. c. 74, the district that operates the Pilot Program may apply to receive full program approval pursuant to M.G.L. c. 74. Those districts that do not receive M.G.L. c. 74 program approval may continue to operate the program as a non-Chapter 74 career and technical education program, provided the program meets the definition of career and technical education programs.Adopted by Mass Register Issue 1413, eff. 3/20/2020.