In his second term, President Obama announced that $107 million in grants will be allocated to build partnerships between school districts, community colleges, Workforce Investment Boards, and employers to scale up innovative education models across the country. JFF was one of the 24 grantees; we were awarded $4.9 million to invest locally in three Massachusetts regions to expand STEM education and career pathways that prepare more low-income high school students for high-demand jobs with good wages and further education.
Since then, the Massachusetts Advanced Pathways Program (MAPP) has helped boost the skills of more than 700 students over four years in Marlborough, Brockton, and West Springfield. Focusing on information technology, advanced manufacturing, and health care, this grant is propelling youth to high school graduation with meaningful work experience, at least 12 college credits toward a postsecondary credential, and intensive college and career counseling.
MAPP builds on JFF’s national Pathways to Prosperity Network, a partnership with the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In each Network state, JFF and Harvard are guiding and supporting coalitions of K–12 and postsecondary educational institutions, Workforce Investment Boards, employers, state and local government, and other partnering organizations in building pathways based in comprehensive high schools or career academies within a high school. All pathways feature rigorous and integrated academic and career-focused education, a continuum of workplace learning opportunities, and comprehensive college and career guidance.
