Voke schools’ big draw
Move afoot to change admissions process
Vocational school admissions policies based on attendance, grades, discipline and guidance counselor recommendations are discriminatory, according to a coalition of Massachusetts education advocates, and should be changed to a lottery system.
“Vocational schools are public schools … these discriminatory practices in our public schools must end,” said Jack Livramento, New Bedford School Committee member and leader in Massachusetts Communities Action Network during a Thursday briefing.
The Vocational Education Justice Coalition, made up of more than a dozen community groups, civil rights groups and unions, is asking state officials that admissions criteria to vocational schools be changed to a lottery system, which they said will increase equity and access for all students.
The group highlighted 2019 data from the Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education which shows the acceptance rate for students of color was about 60% compared to 73% for white students.
About 51% of English language learners were accepted to vocational schools compared to 69% of their English-speaking counterparts, and economically disadvantaged students were accepted at a rate of 58% compared to 75% for non-economically disadvantaged students.
Gladys Vega, executive director of Chelsea’s La Colaborativa, said vocational school is just a dream for many young kids who may not meet the admissions criteria, “We have to make it a lottery, because if not, we’re going to continue to create generational poverty.”
Vocational schools have the option of using a lottery or a first-come-firstserved system, but the group said none do.
Beth Kontos, president of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts said, “We’re leaving many students behind in the comprehensive high school that simply languish because their vocational goal is not being fulfilled.”
Admissions decisions are also impacting the economy, said Nina Hackel who owns a remodeling company, “I have an extreme labor shortage. I have no people … instead of growing 30% this year, I will either stay the same as last year, or 5% lower.”
Mayors and other stakeholders from across the state have signed a letter to DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley asking for major policy changes.
Riley is expected to present a proposal on admissions policy changes before the board next month, but a DESE spokeswoman said a recommendation has not yet been made and the agenda for the meeting is to be determined.
Following any recommendation, the board will vote on whether to send the proposal out for public comment. DESE working with communities and schools to increase applications from underrepresented students, according to a spokeswoman.