Innovation Pathways Part A Application for the upcoming school year posted by DESE
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Welcome to the MAICP Community of Practice!
Many visitors to the MAICP website are Massachusetts educators and their 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 other key resources for the pathway design and application process.
Please note that all official application materials and deadlines are found on the DESE website’s Innovation Career Pathways page. Refer to the DESE page for the most current deadlines and documents for applicants. Also, be sure that all members of your pathways planning team are familiar with DESE’s Designation Criteria and Pathway Application Guidance documents.
The MAICP Community of Practice is supported by DESE in partnership with the Center for Collaborative Education to assist school teams in navigating the pathway design and application process. 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 and part B applicants
- planning tools aligned to the Preliminary (Part A) and Final (Part B) designation criteria
- sample MOUs
- course scope and sequence descriptions
The resources provided for the Community of Practice are intended to guide schools in designing and launching pathways; there is no single “recipe” for success. To develop effective pathways for your students, you need to understand their needs and interests, and build on the unique assets of your school and community. As your team considers key design decisions, please take advantage of the many types of support available in the Community of Practice.
Review our calendar of Upcoming Events, register for those relevant to you, and share them with others on your team. Make sure everyone on your team is aware of the MAICP website and signed up for our email list serv.
Annual Application and Designation Cycle
The application and designation process entails two stages: “Part A” and “Part B.”
- Part A: All programs seeking designation must first submit a Part A application. Applicants’ Part A submissions are evaluated by a team from DESE and EOE to determine if the applicant has completed sufficient planning in alignment with the Preliminary Criteria as framed by the Guiding Principles. Applicants who are approved at Part A will be invited to submit Part B applications.
- Part B: To receive Final Designation, Part B submissions must demonstrate that the applicant’s plan fulfills essential elements of Innovation Career Pathway program design and has developed all necessary infrastructure to begin enrolling students in the pathway by the subsequent fall.
The typical annual calendar for application and designation is described below. Please refer to the DESE webpage for the most current instructions and deadlines and for applicants.
The 2024-2025 application process is currently closed. Information on the 2025-2026 application timeline will be posted when available.
April - May
May
Prospective Applicant Workshop held online
June - July
Intake Sessions for prospective applicants offered with DESE CCTE liaisons
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
March
Part B Application review by DESE
April
Designations conferred by DESE
Eligibility
- The lead applicant for Innovation Career Pathway program designation must be a Massachusetts school district or charter school.
- Each school must apply in collaboration with the local MassHire Workforce Board and at least one employer partner, as evidenced by a letter or memorandum of agreement.
- Letters of support may be submitted from additional partners, but are not required.
- Wall-to-wall vocational/technical schools are not eligible to apply.
Funding
State grant funding for Innovation Career Pathways is administered separately from the application and designation process. DESE has made grant funds for Innovation Career Pathways Planning (Fund Code 0436) and Implementation (Fund Code 0419) available through a competitive process.
- Planning grant applications are usually opened in early summer. These funds are intended for costs associated with out-of-school-time training and meeting for team members creating the pathway scope and sequence and implementation plan.
- Implementation grant applications are usually opened in early summer. These funds are intended to support expenses such as pathway program coordination, curriculum development, instructional materials, and provision of work-based learning experiences, enhanced support services and advising, and/or industry-recognized credentials.
Grant applications are submitted via the Grants for Education Management System (GEM$), DESE’s fiscal and program management system. Please visit DESE’s Grant Funding Opportunities page for updated information.
The Innovation Career Pathways Grants for FY25 are no longer available. New grant information will be posted when available.
Points of Contacts
For guidance about DESE’s Innovation Career Pathways application and designation process, please contact your College, Career, and Technical Education (CCTE) Liaison. You can find that information by downloading this spreadsheet. You can also contact Jennifer Gwatkin, the Innovation Career Pathways Lead at the DESE. To make connections and access knowledge from the Community of Practice, be sure to:
- Check out our amazing Peer Ambassadors and reach out to them to learn more about their designated pathways.
- Join our Portal, complete your profile, and converse with other members in the Forum.
- Show up and engage in our virtual and in-person Events. We’re proud of this network’s constructive, student-focused, equity-centered culture, and we’re happy to have you with us!
