Gov. Maura Healey announces funding of 2,500 vocational education seats across Massachusetts

Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald on Apr 30, 2026

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BOSTON — Massachusetts will award over $70 million in grants to Career Technical Education (CTE) programs across the state, creating up to 2,500 new vocational education seats, Gov. Maura Healey announced Thursday.

“Today, $70 million is going out to 28 schools,” said Healey. “With these funds our great, regional career-focused high schools like here, Assabet Valley, will be able to expand and serve more students. They have students on wait lists, we know, around the state, because so many people are anxious to get into these kind of schools. And our district high schools as well will be able to offer more career and technical programs to their students.”

Education officials gathered at Assabet Valley Vocational High School in Marlborough to announce the new Career Technical Education (CTE) program capital grants, with $100 million available in total, Healey said.

The $70 million awarded grants will go to expand 23 career tech programs and launch 27 new programs, as well as “upgrading equipment, technology and lab spaces across participating schools,” state officials said.

The investment builds on the administration’s previous work expanding CTE programs, with 49 new programs and 2,334 student seats added over the last three years, according to education officials. In March, $15 million in capital grants to “expand and modernize” career technical education programs were awarded to add between 400 and 600 new seats.

State officials highlighted the range of programs the new grants will create Thursday.

At Assabet Valley, $3.75 million will go to new public safety and veterinary science programs. The public safety program will include access to a mock dispatch center and forensics lab, municipal fire and EMS department partnerships, and degrees and certifications, while veterinary science will set up exam tables, grooming tools, and access to earn Veterinary CPR and Approved Veterinary Assistant certification.

“This investment, I want to be clear, is about listening to our students and delivering what they’re asking for,” said Secretary of Education Steve Zrike. “What they’re telling us is they want the chance to explore their passions and discover their interests. They want to see the full range of opportunities in front of them. And they want to feel like learning is relevant.”

At Chicopee Comprehensive High School, $3.5 million will go to HVAC and plumbing programs, at Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High, $2 million will expand welding and metal fabrication programs, and New Bedford High will receive $1.75 million for early ed and childcare, Healey listed among the many awards.

Zrike noted that beyond the initial awards the funding is a “multi-year commitment” to “expand access and meet the growing demand for career-connected education.”

The CTE programs include a variety of workforce-related learning opportunities at both dedicated schools like Assabet Valley and traditional high schools, as well as CTE Partnership Programs “After Dark” offering night classes to support adult students as well.

“Kids should have the benefit of access to great career technical education, and that’s what we’re doing today,” Healey said. “It’s great for them, it’s great for our employers, it’s great for our economy, and it’s a great fit for the new statewide graduation requirement that we’re working on right now.”

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