Innovation Pathways Part A Application for the upcoming school year posted by DESE
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Many visitors to this site are Massachusetts educators and their workforce development and employer partners who are considering applying for designation from DESE, or who are actively working on a pathway application. This page provides information about the application cycle, and links to some other key webpages and resources needed during the application process.
Please note that all official application materials and deadlines are found on the DESE website’s Innovation Career Pathways webpage. Please refer to the DESE webpage for the most current deadlines and documents for applicants.
For questions about the Innovation Career Pathways application and designation process, please contact Jennifer Gwatkin, Innovation Career Pathways Lead at the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: Jennifer Gwatkin.
Curated resources from the MAICP Community of Practice Resource Library for Part A and Part B applicants can be found here. These include recordings of past events for prospective applicants, planning tools aligned to the Part A and B applications, and sample MOUs and course scope and sequence descriptions.
As you navigate the application process, please take advantage of the many types of support and resources available to you from the MAICP Community of Practice. In addition to exploring the resources linked above, you are welcome to check out our amazing cohorts of Peer Ambassadors and reach out to them to learn more about their designated pathways. You should review our calendar of Upcoming Events, register for those relevant to you, and share them with others on your school team. Make sure everyone on your school team is aware of the MAICP website and signed up for our email list serv.
Eligibility
The lead applicant for Innovation Pathway program designation must be a Massachusetts school district or charter school and the school must apply in collaboration with a local MassHire Board and an employer partner as a supporting partner, evidenced by a letter of agreement to partner. Letters of support may be submitted from additional partners.
Annual Application and Designation Cycle for Massachusetts Innovation Career Pathways
The application and designation process entails two stages: “Part A” and “Part B.”
All programs seeking designation must first submit a Part A application. Applicants’ Part A submissions will be evaluated by a team from DESE and EOE to determine if the applicant has completed sufficient planning and design in alignment with the Preliminary Criteria as framed by the Guiding Principles. Those applicants who are approved at Part A will be invited to submit Part B applications.
Final Designation requires that the applicant fulfills essential elements of Innovation Career Pathway program design and provides sufficient evidence that the program has enrolled students as defined by the Designation Criteria, or that the applicant has developed all necessary infrastructure to begin enrolling students by the subsequent fall.
The typical annual cycle for application and designation is described below. Please refer to the DESE webpage for the most current deadlines and documents for applicants.
The Part A application for 2024-2025 is now available on ALCHEMER. All Part A applications must be submitted via Alchemer by 5:00 p.m. on October 24, 2024.
April - May
May
Prospective Applicant Workshop held online
June - July
1:1 Intake Sessions for prospective applicants scheduled and held with DESE staff
August - October
Technical Assistance events and office hours offered by the DESE-CCE MAICP team
October
Part A Application due to DESE
October - November
Part A Application review by DESE
November
Part A Notifications to applicant schools
November - January
More Technical Assistance events and office hours offered by the DESE-CCE MAICP team.
February
Part B Application due to DESE
February
Part B Application review by DESE
March
Applicant Interviews
April
Designations conferred by DESE
Funding
The Innovation Career Pathways Grants for FY25 are no longer available. New grant information will be posted when available.
CCTE Liaisons
For questions about the Innovation Career Pathways application and designation process, please contact your DESE College, Career, and Technical Education (CCTE) Liaison. You can find that information by downloading this spreadsheet.