Public Comment: Educator Preparation Program Approval Guidelines

DESE is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the Guidelines for Educator Preparation Program Approval. The new language includes resources for Professional license programs, Endorsement programs and expectations for hybrid/virtual programs.

The Educator Effectiveness team at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is currently revising the 2023 Guidelines for Educator Preparation Program Approval. These Guidelines include the requirements for all approved educator licensure programs in Massachusetts. The current set of Guidelines was approved in 2023. In a few short years, the landscape and demand for specialized programs in Massachusetts exposed a few gaps in state guidelines.

DESE is collecting your feedback on the proposed language through Sunday April 5. Public comments can be submitted via:

• Survey: Program Approval Guidelines Public Comment
• Email: educatorpreparation@mass.gov 

The proposed new language appears across three documents. You can submit comments or feedback on all or just part of the proposed new language.

Note: This round of changes does not include any new program requirements for literacy instruction. The amended language that added the Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria were adopted in 2024 and DESE has utilized grant funding to support targeted program reviews and support approved programs in revising educator preparation programs that prepare teachers in early literacy instructional practices.

Any Sponsoring Organization that seeks to provided an educator preparation program in one or more fields and grade levels must be approved by DESE to endorse candidates for Initial or Professional academic licensure. Completion of an approve program (either in state or eligible out of state programs) is a requirement for all Initial academic licenses in Massachusetts. Massachusetts does not require programs to be accredited by an external organization such as the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) or the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) .

Guidelines for Educator Preparation Program Approval (Public Comment Draft)

DESE has proposed some technical changes to the over arching guidelines for the program approval process. The standards for Program Approval are established in 603 CMR 7.00. The proposed new language includes:

• Adjustments to Review Timelines for Small Sponsoring Organizations and Large Sponsoring Organizations (page 37-41)
• Clarifications about sponsoring organization and individual program approval determinations in the Formal Review (See pages 43-45)  
• Language specifying status of sponsoring organizations and programs. (page 45 onwards)
• Updated language on the publication of assessment date to include MTEL alternatives (page 55)
• Prohibitions on programs relying primarily on asynchronous learning (page 82)

Addendum: Program Approval Criteria for Professional Teacher Programs (Public Comment Draft)

Professional Teacher Licensure programs are advanced teacher licensure programs that will satisfy the requirements for a Professional Academic Teacher license in the field and grade level of the license. Profession Teacher Licensure programs may be embedded in a degree program (e.g. master’s or doctorate degree) or operate as a license-only program that does not award a degree. A master’s degree is not required to qualify for a Professional license in Massachusetts.

The draft Program Approval Criteria for Professional Teacher Programs:

• Establishes program approval criteria for Professional Teacher Licensure programs
• Creates an Instruction Domain specific to Professional Teacher license level which includes deeper subject matter knowledge and advance professional standards for teachers.

Addendum: Program Approval Criteria for Endorsement Programs (Public Comment Draft)

Endorsements are specialized credentials established under 603 CMR 7.14. Endorsements are not licenses, however, an endorsement may require a prerequisite educator license and/or professional experience in addition to coursework and a supervised internship/practicum.

The draft Program Approval Criteria for Endorsement Programs include:

• Establishes specific program approval criteria in the Instruction Domain that apply to the relevant content area for each Endorsement program.
• Applies only to Endorsement Programs with standalone guidelines include the Autism Endorsement, Bilingual Education, Media arts and Transition Specialist.
• The addendum will not apply to the SEI Endorsement stand-alone course requirements.