Updates on Educator Licensure: Review and Initiatives

1. Review & Updates on Educator Licensure Brian Devine, Director Office of Educator Licensure (OEL) MASPA – October 26, 2018

2. OEL Office Updates Current processing time for an academic license is 2+ weeks (likely less for some applications like Vocational or a secondary Provisional field) YTD, have reviewed over 65,000 applications and issued over 21,000 licenses and endorsements Through 10/19, have responded to 37,955 of the 39,625 inquiries to the Call Center (96% response rate). Average wait time is just 101 seconds and we have not had an average wait time that exceeds on minute since September 17th. June 2019, next major license renewal cycle – anticipate close to 27,000 renewals 2

3. Licenses Issued

4. Licensure Initiatives Set and achieve/maintain high standards – processing time of 2 weeks or less (October-June) and 4-6 weeks (July-September); 95% response rate in the Call Center; 96% on accuracy of evaluations; expedites completed in 24-48 hours. Launching of MELS – a series of videos posted on YouTube that provide specific licensure advice on a particular topic. Currently 11 are posted and all relate to teacher licensure. Anticipate that in total, more than 40 will be posted and range from teacher, to administrator to renewal to vocational to SEI, etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wctZ6dBB4Q8 Developing policies and procedures related to the new Subject Matter Knowledge requirements (SMKs). New waiver process – for “SPED” licenses, require participation in SG&S or approved program. Can accept a non-MTEL test – when there is no MTEL – for example, ASL (California) and Autism (Michigan) A call for new members of the Panel Review.

5. Review of some of June 2017 Regulation Changes • Moved all of the SMKs out of the regulations and into guidelines. • Temporary license – valid for 1 year of employment vs. one calendar year; must have a bachelor’s degree and “any” three years of experience is ok, does not have to be under the Initial (or equivalent license). • Preliminary was changed to Provisional & validity period (see slide 7). • New distribution of PDPs – 15 in content, pedagogy, SEI/ESL/Bilingual & special education/different learning styles (see slide 14). • Initial Extension – can obtain it at any point in the 4th year of employment. • PRPIL – open to all teacher licenses including elementary, moderate disabilities, library. • “Reciprocity”: • PAL required if less than one year of experience; • Foreign Teacher Panel (FTP) for out-of-country candidates; • 3 out of the last 7 years of employment no longer required.

6. License specific changes in June of ‘17 • Creation of the Digital Literacy/Computer Science license & Instructional Technology will be a specialist license on 7/1/19. • Core Supervisor/Director – initial license with 3 years experience rather than 18 graduate credits. • New names – Social Science, School Counselor, Early Childhood, Earth & Space Science. • New grade levels: • No more 5-8 for science but for General Science (as of 7/1/19) • Principal/Assistant Principal – PreK-8 & 5-12 rather than PreK-6, 5-8 and 8-12 • 5-12 for English, History & Social Science • Supervisor of Attendance – no longer issued by DESE, guidance regarding conditions of employment. • ECH & Moderate – teaching of math, reading & English language arts no longer required.

7. Validity of a Provisional License • As of July 1, 2019, going forward, someone with multiple licenses can’t be employed more than five years under that Provisional license. • Scenarios: • Possess multiple Provisional licenses and employed prior to 7/1/19 • Possess multiple Provisional licenses and not employed prior to 7/1/19 • Possess one Provisional license and employed prior to 7/1/19 • Possess one Provisional license and not employed prior to 7/1/19 • Possession of a Provisional license and employed prior to 7/1/19 and obtains an additional Provisional license on/after 7/1/19 • Possession of a Provisional license but not employed prior to 7/1/19 and obtains an additional Provisional license on/after 7/1/19

8. Structured Guidance & Supports • Overview : A new path for licensure candidates to meet the competency review for licensure. • Currently available for Moderate, Severe, Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing (both ASL/TC and Aural/Oral), Visually Impaired & DLCS • Reminder: Competency Review: • The process for determining whether the subject matter knowledge requirements for a license have been met in a field for which there is no subject matter knowledge test, using Department guidelines. • Relevant for candidates seeking to earn a Provisional (formerly Preliminary) license in a field where there is no MTEL or seeking to earn an additionalInitial or Professional license • Coursework, seminars/workshops & mentored employment traditionally can satisfy a competency – 10 hours

9. What is Structured Guidance & Supports? • A new path for licensure candidates to meet the competency review requirement conducted in accordance with DESE Guidelines. • The SG&S process is a performance-based assessment for a teacher licensure candidate that includes: • High-quality professional support growth opportunities that are sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused in order to have a positive impact on classroom instruction; • Intensive supervision that consists of structured guidance and regular ongoing support; • An assessment of the candidate’s knowledge and skills against a performance rubric, aligned to and fulfilling the subject matter knowledge requirements of that license. • Occurs over a 150-hour field experience process, supervised by a licensed educator and administrator.

10. SG&S Roles • Teacher Candidate: The individual who is seeking the license. • Supervising Educator • Holds license being sought or special education administrator license • 3+ years of experience • Summative rating of Proficient/Exemplary • Supervising Administrator • superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, special education administrator, or educator preparation faculty member

11. SG&S Format • Initial Meeting • Discuss the logistics and expectations of the SG&S process. • Formative Meeting • Discuss progress towards demonstration of the subject matter knowledge requirements, including targeted feedback for the candidate. • Summative Meeting • Discuss the candidate’s readiness for licensure and determine final ratings. • Note, SG&S is an all or nothing path, individual competencies can’t be verified via SG&S.

12. Rubric and Required Forms • Preparation, implementation and evaluation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) • Initial/Formative/Summative Meetings and Dates • For each performance rubric indicator: • Ratings against a performance rubric • Candidates must meet at least a Proficient threshold across all indicators for the specific license and receive an overall “Met Requirements.” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

13. Revised Waiver Process - New Requirement in IDEA • Each person who is employed as a special education teacher in the State has either obtained full State certification; or • Is participating in an alternate route to certification where he/she: • Receives high-quality professional development that is sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction, before and while teaching; • Participates in a program of intensive supervision that consists of structured guidance and regular ongoing support for teachers or a teacher mentoring program;

14. Licensure Waivers for Special Educators • Starting with the 2018-19 SY, applications for waivers for special education licenses will require an assurance that either a) the waiver candidate is enrolled in an approved MA preparation program or b) the Structured Guidance & Supports process. • Applicable for: • Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities • Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities • Teacher of the Visually Impaired • Teacher of the Deaf (ASL) • Teacher of the Deaf (oral/aural)

15. License Renewal • New distribution of PDPs: 150 required for the primary area: • 15 PDPs in content • 15 PDPs in pedagogy • 15 PDPs in SEI/ESL/Bilingual • 15 PDPs in special education/diverse learning styles • Changes are effective immediately. • Provides educators greater flexibility in obtaining PD that can improve their practice and/or is connected to their environment. • Additional area – 30 PDPs with at least 15 in content.

16. License Renewal • SEI is not required to renew all Professional licenses • SEI/ESL/Bilingual PDPs are required to renew a professional license regardless of core vs. non-core. • Those that were in a cohort and did not obtain the SEI Endorsement will be unable to renew since they are restricted. • If they were incorrectly identified as being in a cohort – upload a signed letter from the district and educator follows up with a call to the Call Center.

17. License Renewal • Educator Plan can be used in lieu of the IPDP. • Educators can synchronize the renewal date of multiple professional licenses. • Can use the Educator Licensure Status Drop Box to help manage upcoming renewals, who has SEI, licensure statuses, etc.

18. THANK YOU Brian Devine, Director Office of Educator Licensure 781.338.3124 bdevine@doe.mass.edu www.doe.mass.edu/licensure 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148