2. It is the responsibility of the local school Guidance Counselor to:

a. Complete their portion of the application form or complete the data request form provided by the BVT Admission Office.

b. Forward the completed application or data spreadsheet to the Admissions Office at Blackstone Valley Tech by January 15th. Complete applications include:

(i) Completed application form (including required signatures).
(ii) For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 courses taken and marks obtained in English language arts or its equivalent, social studies, math and science from the local school report card/transcript are required.

For applications to grades 10, 11 & 12 (fall admission) courses taken and grades obtained from the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 of the current school year in English language arts or its equivalent, social studies, math and science from the local school report card/transcript are required.

For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcript are required. For applications to grades 10, 11 & 12 (fall admission) the sum of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 current school year unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcript is required.

For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 behavior records from the local school report card or from the local school Guidance Counselor's recommendation are required. For applications to grades 10, 11 & 12 (fall admission) the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 of the current school year behavior records from the local school report card/transcript or from the local school Guidance Counselor's recommendation are required.

For applications to grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 (fall admission), the local school Guidance Counselor's recommendation for each candidate is required. 

3. If incomplete applications are received, the following procedures will be followed:

a. The Admissions Office at Blackstone Valley Tech will notify the local school Guidance Counselor and parent/guardian that the application that the application is incomplete and will request completion.

b. The applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified by the Blackstone Valley Tech Admission Office in the event that the problem is not resolved by the local school Guidance Counselor.

c. For applications that are not completed (missing data/information) prior to the January 15th deadline, our admissions office will continue to work with the sending school and parent(s)/guardian(s) to complete the application for the second and subsequent rounds of admission.

LATE APPLICATIONS
Applications received before January 15th will be considered for the first round of admissions. Blackstone Valley Tech will open its admission portal for late applications on April 1st. Late applications received after the initial January 15th deadline will be eligible for the second and subsequent rounds of the rolling admission process. They will be evaluated using the same criteria as other applications and their composite score will be computed. They will be placed on the established applicant list.


TRANSFER STUDENTS
Applications from students who are enrolled in a state-approved (Chapter 74) vocational technical high school program in another vocational technical high school (transfer students) will be considered for admission (including admission during the school year) if they relocate away from their current school and wish to pursue the same program of study at Blackstone Valley Tech. All transfer applicants must attend an informational meeting at Blackstone Valley Tech. For the informational meeting, if the applicant or parent/guardian cannot provide transportation, an official from Blackstone Valley Tech will go to the local school to meet with the applicant.

Their applications will be evaluated according to the provisions of this Admissions Policy and the availability of seats in the same program at BVT. The transfer applicant must have passed courses in English language arts or its equivalent, and mathematics or its equivalent for all the high school years preceding their requested transfer to be eligible for enrollment in the next grade level at Blackstone Valley Tech.

Students applying for a transfer to Blackstone Valley Tech, who is subsequently under a felony complaint, convicted of a felony, or suspended for any infractions under M.G.L. c.71, § 37H or M.G.L. c.71, § 37H-½ or been suspended or expelled for more than 10 days cumulative under M.G.L. c.71, § 37H- ¾ from the time of acceptance until the first day of school at Blackstone Valley Tech, will be considered ineligible for enrollment at Blackstone Valley Tech.
 

WITHDRAWN STUDENTS
Students who withdraw from Blackstone Valley Tech and who are attending or not attending another high school may reapply to Blackstone Valley Tech following the procedures contained in this admission policy and will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy.
 

YEARLY ADMISSION PROCESS
Blackstone Valley Tech utilizes a yearly method for their application and admission process. Applications do not carry over from year to year. An applicant must reapply each year if not offered admission in a given year.

ADMISSION LOTTERY FOR THE TWO-YEAR DRAFTING PROGRAM
A rising junior student (10th grade student at the time of the application) who is a resident of the Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District (Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Millville, Milford, Mendon, Millbury, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge) and is interested in pursuing a training in the drafting trade is eligible to apply for the two-year Chapter 74 approved Drafting program.

Application Deadline:

• 10th Grade Application for Fall Admissions April 1st

Students interested in applying to Blackstone Valley Tech for fall admission to the two-year Chapter 74 approved Drafting program must complete the following to be eligible for the selection lottery:

a. Obtain an application from their local school Guidance Counselor or complete the online application. The application and online application portal will be available each year on October 1st. The application must be completed and submitted prior to the deadline.

b. Applications received after the deadline will not be eligible for the selection lottery.

c. Applicants will not be eligible for admission if suspended or expelled pursuant to M.G.L. c.71 §37H or §37H1/2. A student who is subsequently under a felony complaint, convicted of a felony, or suspended for any infractions under M.G.L. c.71, § 37H or M.G.L. c.71, § 37H-½ or been suspended or expelled for more than 10 days cumulative under M.G.L. c.71, § 37H- ¾ from the time of acceptance until the first day of school at Blackstone Valley Tech, will be considered ineligible for enrollment at Blackstone Valley Tech.

d. Successful of completion of 10th grade. The applicants must have passed courses in English language arts or its equivalent and mathematics or its equivalent for the two school years (9th & 10th grade years) immediately preceding their enrollment at Blackstone Valley Tech.

The selection lottery will take place annually prior to May 15th. Student applicants and parents/guardians will be notified two weeks prior of the selection lottery date and time. The lottery will be live via a virtual or in-person session. All students will be issued a selection number. The first 16 selected via lottery will be offered the 16 available seats. All other students remaining will be issued a lottery number 17 through the last applicant and will be placed in this order on a waitlist for the two-year drafting program.

The student(s) and parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified of their selection. They will have 7 days to accept or decline the offer. If there is a decline, the next person on the lottery driven waitlist will be notified and given the same amount of time to accept or decline. This process will continue until all seats are filled. The process will conclude when all seats are filled or until the first week in September.

The offer of admission into the two-year Drafting program does not guarantee enrollment. All portions of the registration process must be completed within the deadline provided and include the submission of transcripts confirming the successful completion of the student’s 9th & 10th grades and thus, confirming the student’s eligibility for promotion to the 11th grade to be considered eligible for enrollment.

Students applying for the two-year drafting program are not eligible for in-school program transfers.
 

VII. SELECTION CRITERIA
The Selection Criteria pertains to applicants for freshmen, sophomore and junior years (9th, 10th and 11th). The Admissions Committee, using admissions criteria, process completed applications. Each applicant will be assigned a score derived from the sum of the sub scores of the following criteria.

After points are given in each area, the points are totaled for each applicant. A maximum total of one hundred (100) points can be earned.

A. Scholastic Achievement: Maximum 25 points

Grade Averages        Points
         80 – 100                   25
         70 – 79                      20
         65 – 69                      15
         60 – 64                      10
         0 – 59                          0

For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the average of grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 marks in English language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science from the local school report card/transcript are used. For applications to grades 10, 11 and 12 (fall admission) the average of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 of the current school year marks in English language arts, social studies, mathematics and science from the local school report card/transcript are used. For applications to grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 (admission during the school year) the current school year to the date of the application marks in English language arts, social studies, mathematics and science from the local school report card/transcript are used.

B. Attendance: Maximum 15 points
Absences for all excused reasons by the sending district will not be counted. The absences from Grade 7 are added to the absences from the first 2 terms of Grade 8 and then divided by six (6) to establish a final average of absences per term. Points are awarded as follows:

Average Days              
Absent Per Term         Points
              0                        15 points
              1                        12 points
              2                        10 points
              3                         8 points
              4                         5 points
              5+                       0 points  

For applicants receiving a score of 8 points or less in the category of Attendance have the opportunity to submit a letter of evidence indicating the extenuating circumstances surrounding the unexcused absences. This letter will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee to determine if the absences or a portion of the absences will be excused for the purposes of the application.

C. School Discipline/Conduct: Maximum 15 points
Applications will consider student discipline in a binary method. If a student has been suspended for any infractions under M.G.L. c.71, § 37H or M.G.L. c.71, § 37H-½ or been suspended or expelled for more than 10 days cumulative under M.G.L. c.71, § 37H- ¾ they will receive 0 points in this category. Otherwise full points will be awarded to the applicant.

D. Local Guidance Counselor's Recommendation: Maximum 15 points
A member of the Guidance Department in each member town will complete a recommendation based on a rubric on the application form.

Rating                        Points
Excellent                       15
Above Average          10
Average                          5
Below Average            0

E. Interview: Maximum 30 points
Licensed teaching staff and administration from Blackstone Valley Tech will conduct personal interviews with all students who apply. The interviewer will award a maximum of 30 points for the applicant’s answer to 5 questions. Questions range in point value from 1 to 10 points. The same five interview questions are asked of each applicant and are scored using a rubric.

Rating                        Points
Excellent                       30
Above Average          23
Average                        18
Below Average          10
Poor                                 0

Blackstone Valley Tech provides a document of helpful interview techniques and a bank of sample interview questions to all applicants. This resource is provided in multiple languages. For students whose first language is not English or is more comfortable answering in another language, interviews will be conducted in the applicant’s native language.

For students with learning disabilities (including IEPs, 504s or DCAP plans), a multitude of resources are available to support the applicant during the interview process. The resources include, but not limited to, extended answering time, word banks, repeated questions, additional prompts, etc. To access these accommodations, parent(s)/guardian(s) of students with learning disabilities are encouraged to contact the Student Services at BVT at 508-529-7758 x3013. Sending school guidance counselors can also assist in this process with authorization from the applicant’s parent/guardian.
 

VIII. SELECTION PROCESS
In March, members of Blackstone Valley Tech’s Admissions Committee will assemble to review all fully completed applications received by January 15th. They will check each application for accuracy before awarding rating points in each category. After awarding rating points, each category will be totaled. The applicants from each town will be ranked from high to low. Students listed above the cut-off score will be selected for admission. Those below the cut-off point will be placed on a hold list. In the event of a tie-breaker situation, acceptances will be prioritized to mitigate the greatest fluctuations in enrollment of a given town versus its enrollment from the prior year. The cut-off score is determined annually by ranking all applicants from top to bottom and selecting the number of applicants necessary to fill the Freshmen Class (i.e. 400 applicants, 225 top ranked are accepted). All students and their local guidance counselors are advised of their admissions status (accepted, hold list) by the 2nd week in April.

After the completion of the first round of admissions, Blackstone Valley Tech will continue to draw from the hold list to fill all available seats until the last Friday in September. Seats may become available due to declines, withdrawals, out-of-district moves, and other methods resulting in opportunities to offer admission to additional students.

Non-resident applicants are evaluated using the criteria in this Admissions Policy and will be placed on the applicant list after the resident applicants. Non-resident applicants on the list will only be accepted if all resident applicants have been accepted.

Late applications received after January 15th will be evaluated using the same criteria as other applications and their composite score will be integrated in rank order on the established applicant list.

Late applicants whose applications were not received by Blackstone Valley Tech by January 15th will receive a letter informing them of their status.
 

IX. ENROLLMENT
In order to enroll at Blackstone Valley Tech for the fall, applicants must have been promoted to the grade they wish to enter by their local school district. In addition, they must have passed courses in English language arts or its equivalent and mathematics for the school year immediately preceding their enrollment at Blackstone Valley Tech. A student who is under a felony complaint, convicted of a felony, or suspended for any infractions under M.G.L. c.71, § 37H or M.G.L. c.71, § 37H-½ or been suspended or expelled for more than 10 days cumulative under M.G.L. c.71, § 37H- ¾ from the time of acceptance until the first day of school at Blackstone Valley Tech, will be considered ineligible for enrollment at Blackstone Valley Tech.


X. VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL PROGRAM PLACEMENT
Because Blackstone Valley Tech offers 5 or more Chapter 74 state-approved programs, BVT provides a half year exploratory program for 9th grade students, which is based on the applicable Vocational Technical Education and Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.

All 9th grade students enrolled at Blackstone Valley Regional Technical High School participate in a vocational technical exploratory program (August through December) designed to introduce each student to several career pathways while helping them discover their talents and interests through a brief (typically 4-5 days) immersion in seven different vocational-technical areas. Students will rank their top ten program choices. The vocational office will schedule their top four choices and the three remaining shops from their top ten selection if possible. Additionally, Blackstone Valley Tech will provide exposure to pathways that explore non-traditional careers in compliance with Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) . Throughout the exploratory experience, vocational teachers evaluate each student based upon a common rubric/scoring guide in the following areas:

• Competency in Technical Area – Skill Development
• Following Technical Instructions – Employability
• Quality of Work – Workmanship
• Safety – Workplace Readiness
• Shop Behavior – Professionalism

Students may receive a maximum of 20 points in each criterion for a total of 100 points. Exploratory scores are entered into the student information system, tabulated, organized and become available to each individual student the week following each experience.

At the conclusion of the exploratory period, each student selects their program of choice; as well as second through seventh choices from the explored shops. The administrative team meets to review scores and student requests which are sorted to rank order the students according to their score in the shop the student requested as their first choice.

To assist in the selection process, Blackstone Valley Tech offers a Freshmen Vocational Career Night which provides the opportunity for parents/guardians to visit the student’s top four program choices. Vocational staff present information pertaining to the program’s curriculum and State frameworks, post-secondary placement and career paths, co-op and employment opportunities. Language interpreters are present onsite at the school during the Freshmen Vocational Career Night and are available throughout the evening to assist with presentation in the program areas and answer questions regarding the vocational selection process.

Students are admitted into the shop of their choice based on the point total they received in their first choice shop. Their rank order (using exploratory scores) is then compared to other students requesting that shop or example, a student with a point total of 90 would be admitted before a student with a point total of 80. Students will not be placed in a particular shop if they did not pass that shop during exploratory. The passing score in an exploratory shop is 60 and above.

Tie breaker procedure for all placements:

(a) First tie breaker – Based on the average score of common shops (if any) between the students tied for the remaining spot.

(b) Second tie breaker – Based on the average of all seven exploratory shops.

Students not placed into their first choice shops will be placed in their 2nd through 7th choice according to the same procedure.

Program wait lists are created when students are placed in a program other than their first choice, yet would like to be in a different shop that is at full capacity. Students on a wait list are rank-ordered by their exploratory scores. Waitlisted students are notified if an opening occurs in their desired shop and given the option to change shops or remain in their current placement.

If a student did not receive any of their seven choices and wishes to explore additional shops they may do so for two additional cycles provided there is space to safely do so.

After placement, students continue in the shop in which they were placed for the remainder of their school tenure unless they request a transfer. Students who wish to transfer from one shop to another may apply for transfer through their school counselor by completing a Request for Shop Transfer form and obtaining the appropriate signatures after the second 9th grade trimester is completed.

• Transfer requests will be considered subject to availability of openings in the requested program(s). Each transfer applicant will receive career counseling prior to final transfer approval.
• Transfer requests in shop placement will not be allowed after the completion of the 1st trimester of sophomore year. Exceptions to this may only be authorized and approved at the discretion of the Assistant Superintendent-Director (Principal).

Students who enroll in Blackstone Valley Tech High School after grade 9 will be accepted into a specific technical program upon admission. If, after enrollment, the student desires a shop change, the students may apply for transfer through their school counselor by completing a Request for Shop Transfer form and obtaining the appropriate signatures.

Transfer requests will be considered subject to availability of openings in the requested shops. Each transfer applicant will receive career counseling prior to final transfer approval. Transfer requests in shop placement will not be allowed after the completion of the 1st trimester after enrollment at BVT.

The Assistant Superintendent-Director/Principal reserves the right to place and/or remove students in any program regardless of choice or score as necessary due to legal, safety or other such circumstances.

XI. REVIEW & APPEALS
The applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s), upon receipt of a letter from Blackstone Valley Tech indicating that the applicant was not accepted, may request a review of the decision by sending a letter requesting a review to the Vocational Director within thirty days of the receipt of the letter. The Vocational Director will respond in writing to the letter with the findings of the review within thirty days.

If after the review, the parent/guardian wishes to appeal the findings of the review they may do so by sending a letter requesting a meeting with the Superintendent-Director to appeal the Vocational Director’s findings. The Superintendent-Director will respond in writing to the parent/guardian with a scheduled date for the appeal within thirty days of the receipt of the letter. The Superintendent-Director will respond in writing to the letter with their decision on the appeal within thirty days of the meeting with the Superintendent-Director when the appeal was presented.

The applicant's parent/guardian, upon receipt of a letter from Blackstone Valley Tech indicating that the applicant was not accepted or placed on a waiting list for a particular program (shop)(major), may request a review of the decision by sending a letter requesting a review to the Vocational Director within thirty days of the receipt of the letter. The Vocational Director will respond in writing to the letter with the findings of the review within thirty days.

XII. MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School maintains records of all students who apply, enroll, or are waitlisted, as well as their score on admission criteria (if used), to facilitate analysis of its admissions system and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Blackstone Valley Tech will provide this information to the Department upon request.


XIII. ADMISSION INITIATIVES 2024–2025
The Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District has continuously evaluated and revised its Admission Policy to reflect the need to provide equitable access to our school and its programs. Using tools provided by the DESE to evaluate data, stakeholder input, and program trends, revisions to the Admission Policy are proposed and along with a plan of initiatives to support the admission process. The following initiatives are planned for the 2024-2025 admission season to support the approved Admission Policy:

1. Application assistance – Laptop access to allow for interested candidates access to admission information and the online application a variety of community locations.

1. Increased and expanded use of multiple language resources in all areas of our admission process, including but not limited to:

• Online materials
• Application
• Printed materials
• In-person tours
• Interviews
• Open house
• Career & curriculum nights

Appendices of Admission Policy Resources for 2024–2025
Appendix A: BVT Admission Website page: www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/admissions/applytobvt
New Translation feature allows admission information and application to be translated into all languages using the bubble icon in the top left corner of the website.

Appendix B: Interview Anxiety & Sample Interview Questions: Page 17–25
                          English, Spanish, Portuguese Translation
Appendix C: Interview Accommodation: Page 26
Appendix D: Graphic Organizer for Interviews : Page 27