Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education,
From this morning’s Boston Globe.
One-size-fits-all admissions lottery is not the answer
We were deeply disappointed to read your editorial supporting a lottery for vocational school admissions, and we take issue with your argument.
We are proud that student enrollment in Massachusetts’ vocational-technical schools mirrors the demographics of our sending districts across all four protected classes — students of color, low-income students, English learners, and students with disabilities. It’s actual enrollment in our schools, not offers of admission (which the editorial also cites), that is the only reliable metric. State data on offers is, at best, incomplete and misleading.
Further, your editorial should have noted that both Worcester Technical High School and Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical use multiple selective criteria in their new admissions policies, such as attendance and discipline. It is far too soon to determine whether enrollment is increasing among all protected classes or if any so-called success is actually the result of a lottery.
A one-size-fits-all lottery will create problems, including uncertainty and budget volatility for member cities and towns. Because of the way our schools apportion costs, communities in regional districts could be left paying for a school that doesn’t enroll a single student from that town.
Vocational programs have a statewide waiting list of 6,000 to 11,000 students because we offer what students want. A lottery will not change that and is not the answer. The answer is more seats.
Steven C. Sharek
Executive director
Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators
Marlborough