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Will the new lottery-based admissions systems for vocational-technical high schools make the economy better?
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Massachusetts is implementing a new lottery admissions system for vocational-technical high schools, starting with the 2026-2027 school year. Proposed by the Healey Administration, the new lottery system is an attempt to expand access to voc-tech schools, giving schools with more applicants than seats the choice of either a weighted lottery, which takes aspects like attendance and discipline records into account, or a non-weighted lottery, which does not take academic performance or discipline issues into consideration.

Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler and supporters of the lottery have defended the change to a lottery system, saying it will make admissions more equitable while the state works to expand access to voc-tech schools. The lottery system has been criticized by business groups and educational leaders, who have said lotteries will water down admission standards and disrupt the pathway of top students into high-demand trades.

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