Press Release: 5/8/2026
100 School Districts Attend Showcase about MyCAP Planning Process
My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP) helps students draw their path from school to college and a career
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
5/07/2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Jacqueline Reis
Phone
Call Jacqueline Reis at 781-338-3115
Online
Email Jacqueline Reis at jreis@doe.mass.edu
STURBRIDGE — More than 300 people from 100 school districts attended a My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP) showcase today to learn more about the planning process that is a key element in the proposed graduation requirements released in collaboration with Governor Maura Healey’s K-12 Statewide Graduation Council.
Already in use in many high schools and some middle schools, MyCAP is a structured, student-driven college, career, and civic readiness framework that helps students map out the personal, academic and career experiences that will help them reach their post-secondary goals. MyCAP can inform what courses students choose to take, what internships and volunteer opportunities they might pursue, the steps students need to take in order to apply for and attend college (including filling out financial aid forms), and what they need to do to be ready for the workforce.
“As we strengthen graduation requirements in Massachusetts, MyCAP will help students see how what they’re learning in the classroom connects to real opportunities beyond high school,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Whether a student wants to go to college, enter the workforce, or pursue technical training, MyCAP gives students the opportunity to explore different career pathways and take meaningful steps toward college, careers, and civic life.”
“We want students across Massachusetts to have the opportunity to explore future career pathways early, and MyCAP is designed to be a map of their options,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “MyCAP helps students connect their interests, skills and strengths to a career path from middle school to high school and beyond.”
In December, the Healey-Driscoll Administration released a statewide graduation framework that builds on the administration’s Reimagining High School initiative, which aims to make certain that Massachusetts students are prepared for college or careers when they graduate high school. Through this, the administration has expanded access to career-connected educational opportunities, including through career technical education programs, Early College and Innovation Career Pathways. MyCAP is currently required for all students in each of the three programs.
This initial graduation framework was a first step, and the Executive Office of Education and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education have been engaging with stakeholders to finalize the details.
“MyCAP is not just a checklist, it's a process that helps students see themselves more clearly by exploring their interests and connecting what they are learning in the classroom to the outside world,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “When we connect classroom learning with real-world experiences, we help students build confidence, develop essential skills, and discover pathways that lead to meaningful careers and lifelong success.”
“MyCAP is the mechanism by which students move from being recipients of education to being architects of their own futures,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “It’s a critical part of the proposed graduation framework because it is adaptable, connects learning to real-world skills, and will help prepare our students for challenging and rewarding jobs here in Massachusetts.”
In October, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced an $8.5 million investment in career-connected learning grants, awarding more than $925,000 to 75 school districts to support planning for and implementing MyCAP. In her Fiscal Year 2027 budget, Governor Healey is proposing a $3 million increase to the Reimagining High Schoolinitiative, investing over $50 million in college and career pathways.
Today’s MyCAP Showcase included remarks from Secretary Zrike and brought districts together to highlight promising practices, share lessons learned, and celebrate the progress happening in MyCAP. As MyCAP is a whole-school and whole-district approach, districts were encouraged to identify teams including a variety of roles (i.e., administrators, counselors, educators, etc.) to attend.