New Regulations for Education of English Learners, Educator Licensure and Preparation Programs, and Recertification
New teacher licensure and renewal laws and regulations were approved in Massachusetts as part of a comprehensive redesign of standards and knowledge essential for core academic teachers who provide sheltered English instruction to English language learners. The Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Teacher Endorsement is a credential that evidences a teacher's training to provide subject matter content instruction in English to a student learning English. All core academic teachers of ELLs will be required to hold an SEI endorsement as of July 2016. Please go to the ESE website to review the new regulation. Educator license candidates are encouraged to review the memo below from the DESE.
Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement Requirement for Educator Candidates in Preparation Programs
To: Educator Candidates in Preparation Programs
From: Liz Losee, Assistant Director, Educator Policy, Preparation and Leadership
Date: March 6, 2013
For over a decade, the K-12 achievement of the Commonwealth's English language learners (ELLs) has lagged behind the performance of other students. In July 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) notified the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) that the state has a duty to mandate preparation and training requirements for educators who provide Sheltered English Instruction (SEI) to ELLs. The Department has initiated RETELL (Rethinking Equity and Achievement for English Language Learners), a major initiative to mandate state standards, provide training to incumbent core academic teachers of ELLs, and address these achievement gaps.
In June 2012, under RETELL, regulations that govern educator licensure, education of English learners, and educator preparation program approval, 603 CMR 7.00, were revised. These regulatory changes impose important new requirements upon you as a candidate for educator licensure. They also require all Massachusetts educator preparation programs to implement changes so that you can meet these requirements.
• Effective July 1, 2014, an SEI Endorsement will be required to obtain an Initial License as a core academic teacher1 , and for an Initial Administrative License2 leading to supervision and evaluation of core academic teachers.
If you successfully complete a program leading to Initial licensure prior to July 1, 2014, and if you apply for your Initial license prior to July 1, 2014, the SEI Endorsement will not be required. Please note: your eligibility to receive the Initial License is based on both your program completion date and your application date. However, beginning on July 1, 2016, all core academic educators working with one or more ELLs will be required to have the endorsement or earn the endorsement within one year of such assignment.
• If you are scheduled to complete your program prior to July 1, 2014, but you are for some reason delayed and have not completed all program requirements by that time, the SEI Endorsement will be required in order to receive your Initial License. This is true even for candidates who have applied for their Initial License prior to July 1, 2014.
• All educator preparation programs in Massachusetts must incorporate new knowledge and professional practice standards into their curricula so that prospective educators are prepared to meet the requirements for an SEI Endorsement upon graduation.
o Beginning in the 2013-2014 academic year, all candidates prepared as educators in the Commonwealth will engage with children who are ELLs during their field-based experiences. The Pre-service Performance Assessment will be revised for the 2013-14 school year field based experience and will include evaluation of pre-service candidates' SEI skills and knowledge as outlined in the Professional Standards for Teachers.
o Programs will deliver instruction about these knowledge and professional practice standards through no more than two courses. Programs are required to submit the syllabi for the courses delivering this content to ESE for approval by June 1, 2013. Most programs will implement new course curricula and SEI requirements in the 2013-14 academic year.
• If you successfully master the required standards, your educator preparation program will endorse you for the SEI Endorsement so that you are eligible to obtain your Initial license.
If you have any questions about what will be required of you in order to earn your SEI endorsement as part of your educator preparation program, about whether you will or will not be able to fulfill those requirements, or about how your program may change in response to these new requirements, please contact your program administrator. You can also learn more about the RETELL initiative by visiting our website, at http://www.doe.mass.edu/retell/.
1. Core Academic Teachers: For purposes of sheltered English immersion instruction, early childhood and elementary teachers, teachers of students with moderate disabilities, teachers of severe disabilities, and teachers of the following academic subjects: English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, civics and government, economics, history, and geography. 603 CMR 7.02.
2. Principals, assistant principals, and supervisor-director licenses that supervise core academic teachers.
All MTELs Migrating to Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
Beginning September 2012, a total of six MTEL tests will be available ONLY on computer:
- Communication & Literacy Skills (Reading and Writing subtests)*
- Foundations of Reading*
- General Curriculum (Multi-Subject and Mathematics subtests)*
- Early Childhood*
- English**
- History**
* Tests will be available for scheduling year-round.
** Tests will be available for scheduling during six two-week windows
throughout the program year.
Candidates can schedule computer based test dates via the MTEL website. Tests are taken on a computer at a professional testing site; CBT locations, addresses, and real-time seat availability can be accessed at Pearson Vue. About 12 additional tests will be available on computer by fall 2013.
The
MTEL program website has more details and an
on-screen tutorial. There is an additional computer testing service fee of $25. There are no late or emergency registration fees with computer testing since candidates will be responsible for registering for their own testing appointment--but slots fill up quickly, so plan accordingly and register early.
Conditional Pass for General Curriculum Math No Longer Available
Candidates must earn a 240 to receive a passing score on the General Curriculum Math subtest.
Alert: Candidates Who Earn a Conditional Pass on General Curriculum Math Subtest Will Not be Able to Move a Preliminary License to Initial Until Scoring 240 on the Subtest
Candidates who earn a scaled score of 227-239 on the General Curriculum Math Subtest will have passed the subtest for the purpose of their first stage of licensure (referred to as a "conditional pass"). These candidates must retake the math subtest and earn a score of 240 in order to renew their license or move up to the next stage of licensure. Thus, if candidates earn a Preliminary license based on a conditional pass, they will not be granted an Initial license, even when completing a Lesley initial licensure program, unless and until they have passed the General Curriculum Math Subtest with a 240.
Therefore, Lesley recommends that candidates who have a "conditional" pass on the General Curriculum Math subtest not apply for a Preliminary license, but wait until completing the program and then apply for the Initial license (unless required by their job or other extenuating circumstances).
The Conditional Pass option ends June 2012. Beginning July 2012, candidates taking the General Curriculum Math subtest must earn at least a 240 to pass.
Paperless System for Licensure
The Department's Licensure Office has discontinued offering hard-copy licenses as of April 28, 2011. The online Educator Licensure and Recruitment (ELAR) system will serve as the official record of educator licensure and most correspondence will be via email. Educators may print unofficial copies of their license or request paper duplicates ($25).
Paperless System for MTEL Score Reports
Electronic individual score reporting will be implemented beginning with the September 2011 test administration, replacing paper score report mailings. Candidates will be able to access, print and save their own individual score reports via a secure website for 45 days following the score report date.
Licensure Application Review
Applications will not be reviewed until the ESE Licensure Office has received payment, official transcripts and notification of passing scores on the MTEL Communication & Literacy Tests. (MTEL scores are automatically received from MTEL vendor.)
Although the Lesley Certification and Educator License Office has attempted to ensure that the information contained on the website is accurate and complete at the time of posting, the contents are subject to change at any time.