MA S427

Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development must annually provide the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education a ranked list of high-demand occupations requiring or benefiting from industry-recognized certifications, with the top 20% designated as "high employment value" occupations

Occupations paying less than 70% of the state's average annual wage are excluded unless the certification is stackable toward a higher-paying credential

School districts receive $750 per student who earns a high-employment-value certification or one recognized for college credit, and $600 per student earning a certification that addresses regional MassHire Workforce Board demands

At least 80% of certification awards must go directly to the school where students earned the credential, for program support, instructor stipends, and subsidizing fees for low-income students

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must publish an annual report tracking student participation (including low-income, ELL, and special education students), certifications earned, and funding adequacy