Medway Gets $12,500 for Student Career Planning

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced Tuesday that it is awarding $12,500 to Medway to help the schools adopt the My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP), in addition to technical assistance and coaching to support planning and implementation. MyCAP is a student-centered, multi-year planning tool designed to provide middle and high school students with ongoing opportunities to plan for their academic, personal and career success in high school and beyond.

MyCAP is an important part of the administration’s work to connect more Massachusetts students, especially those who are historically underrepresented in higher education, with the support they need to seek high-quality college and career opportunities. It is also connected to the administration’s “Reimagining High School” initiative, allowing students to seek out learning experiences that align with their interests and academic goals, including Early College or Innovation Career Pathways. To date, over 200 schools in more than 150 districts have engaged in MyCAP planning and implementation training from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. More than 100 districts received funding in this round.

“This funding will expand access to tools that help break down barriers to higher education and careers, especially for students of color, LGBTQ+ students and first-generation students. Through MyCAP, we are able to give students, counselors and schools a roadmap that ties current learning to a student’s post-graduation success,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This program will help set our students up for success in higher education and the workforce, supporting the needs of our employers and our economy.”

“Massachusetts has put higher education in reach for thousands more students, making community college free and four-year degrees more affordable. We have also deepened workforce partnerships between schools and high demand industries to enable students to explore different career paths at no cost,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Today’s grants will support districts to create systems where each student has a plan at graduation for where their future will take them.”

The administration, in partnership with their Advisory Council to Advance Representation in Education (ACARE), is focused on students having consistent and equal access to the information, tools, guidance and resources that they need to pursue all types of postsecondary opportunities. Earlier this month, the administration launched a Higher Education Financial Aid Road Show at high schools across Massachusetts to encourage students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply for the nearly $400 million available in state financial aid. MyCAP is an important part of these efforts – as students move through the MyCAP process and build their individual pathway to success, a planning component identifies the steps necessary for further education, including applying for financial aid and admission.

“As I travel around the state on our Higher Education Financial Aid Roadshow, students have shared how important MyCAP has been for them in planning for their future. We want every student to be able to connect what they are learning in school with their next step and know that higher education opportunities are available for them in Massachusetts,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “Today’s announced funding is an investment in all of our students – providing them with the tools to realize their dreams.”

The MyCAP process begins in grade 6 and continues through grade 12. It uses individual students’ interests, skills and talents to drive learning and post-secondary planning, as well helps students to identify the personal, social and behavioral skills needed to be successful in their desired profession. This process empowers students to connect their career interests with course selections and encourages them to seek out opportunities such as internships, apprenticeships and capstone projects.

Further, Massachusetts offers MEFA Pathway, a college and career planning portal, at no cost to every student to track MyCAP progress. The platform provides search engines for career and college exploration, engaging activities to help students learn about themselves, space to capture work-based learning experiences, and places to record personal goals and identify barriers. Together, the MyCAP process and the MEFA Pathway tool provide the opportunities for students to annually set personal goals based on interests and strengths and engage in activities that promote academic achievement and personal social skill development.

“Implementing MyCAP is critical to realizing a vision where every student is engaged in relevant, real-world learning and getting the supports they need. These grants create the space for districts to help bring this to life,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Acting Commissioner Russell D. Johnston. 

“Paving the way for access to college should start as early as middle school, when all students should begin hearing about the opportunities available to them and crafting high school experiences that set them up for college success,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “This support for implementing MyCAP is crucial to closing higher education equity gaps, and the investment aligns with recommendations made in the Advisory Council for the Advancement of Representation in Education (ACARE) report.”