September 25, 2018

Councilor At-Large Annissa Essaibi George Councilor At-Large Chair, Committee on Education City Hall, Suite 550 Boston City Hall, Suite 550 Boston, MA 02201 Boston, MA 02201

Dear Chairwoman Essaibi George and Councilor At-Large Wu,

On behalf of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and our 1,300 members representing nearly every sector, industry and profession in the state, I am writing to submit testimony regarding Docket #0265, an Order for a hearing regarding vocational education in the City of Boston sponsored by Councilor At- Large Michelle Wu.

Career/vocational technical education (CVTE) is a critical component of the state’s world-class education system and talent development strategy, and high-quality CTVE programs benefit both future employees and existing employers. Studies have shown numerous academic and career benefits associated with enrollment in high-quality CVTE programming. Student participation in CVTE programs increases the probability of on-time graduation from high school and the likelihood to enroll in college, be employed, and earn higher wages.i The majority of the job growth in between 2016-2026 will not require a post-secondary degree.ii Increased access to high-quality CVTE curriculum will allow graduates from Boston Public Schools (BPS) to match the forecasted job growth in numerous sectors across the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts businesses also recognize the importance of comprehensive CVTE programming. According to a 2016 study conducted by the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, Massachusetts employers prefer to hire graduates from CVTE schools or vocational programs, with more than 90% of employers identifying a need for increasing the number of CVTE graduates.iii Employers across every sector are finding a mismatch between the skills possessed by graduates and those desired by employers. As a result, Massachusetts employers have trouble finding enough qualified employees to fill jobs essential to our growing economy and many have increased their training budgets.iv Increased access to relevant and high-quality CVTE can help close this gap. By aligning high school curriculum with the in-demand skills and competencies sought after by employers, CVTE prepares students for college pathways and careers that will meet the growing labor market demands.

To ensure CVTE programs provide the skills students and employers need, BPS should work with the Commonwealth and major industry employers to develop relevant, data-driven offerings and curriculum that meet the occupational and technical needs of the region’s employers. This may mean adding new programs, eliminating those that are no longer relevant, or updating programs to match the changing workplace. Employers and businesses are an important voice in this process, providing insight into the types of skills their employees will need now and in the future. The Chamber can be a resource for connecting these employers with BPS and the city.

Despite the known benefits of CVTE programming and its widespread success across Massachusetts, Boston Public Schools routinely has one of the lowest enrollment rates in CVTE programming among the state’s largest municipal school districts.v The City must analyze and address the causes of low enrollment in CVTE programs. Furthermore, to create a high-quality system, the city must understand the barriers to academic achievement at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and expect academic rigor.

Focusing on CVTE presents a tremendous opportunity for the City, the student population within BPS, and the business community. Developing high-quality CVTE curriculum within BPS is important to the Greater Boston business community and will help to keep Greater Boston a global competitor and create new opportunities for residents and businesses alike. Thank you for your consideration of this testimony. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Sincerely,

James E. Rooney President & CEO cc: Members of the

i Dougherty, Shaun M. 2018. “The Effects of Career and Technical Education on Human Capital Accumulation: Causal Evidence from Massachusetts.” Education Finance and Policy 13.2: 119-148. ii Chamber analysis of Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development data. Data available at http://lmi2.detma.org/Lmi/LTOccprojections.asp. iii Tumber, Catherine, Bluestone, Barry, Walsh, Don, and James Huessy. 2016. “The Critical Importance of Vocational Education in the Commonwealth.” Kitty & Michael Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy. iv Ibid. v Chamber analysis of Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education data. Data available at http://www.doe.mass.edu/infoservices/reports/enroll/default.html?yr=cvte1415#.