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Proposed revision to educator licensing regulations

The State Board of Education has approved a period of public comment for several changes to the Regulations for Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval (603 CMR 7.00). One revision (below in bold) is completely new language and has the potential to help many
individuals who have been caught in the transition from one set of licensing requirements to the next -- old regulations versus new regulations. The deadline to submit comment is next Monday, June 7, 2004. 

    THE CHANGE: COMMISSIONER'S AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE REQUIREMENTS

    7.14: General Provisions

    (6) Commissioner's Determination. Upon an applicant's showing of extreme hardship the Commissioner, for good cause, may determine which specific requirements for licensure set forth in 603 CMR 7.04, 7.05, 7.06, 7.07, 7.09, 7.11, and 7.14 (2) and (3)* shall apply and/or be modified. A showing of extreme hardship may include evidence that the applicant has substantially met the requirements for licensure in effect prior to a change in the regulations or that the applicant would have met the requirements but was unable to do so because of circumstances beyond the applicant's control. No modification of the requirements will be granted without satisfactory evidence that the applicant has made a good faith effort to complete the requirements and that only extreme hardship circumstances prevented the applicant from doing so. The Commissioner, at his discretion, may impose reasonable conditions upon any modification granted. The decision of the Commissioner shall be final.

THE REASON: The general thrust of the proposal is very helpful. Even if you have not run into this specific situation, you know that the licensing regulations are unnecessarily complex and often obstructapplicants' progress. MTA has invested a great deal of effort in bringing about positive change, but progress has been very slow. However, this is a first step. If we are successful in improving any part of the current regulations and assisting those caught in the
licensing labyrinth, there is a better chance of further positive revisions.

MTA will comment in favor of this proposal. The intent is to help applicants move forward, and we enthusiastically support that. However, we anticipate there will be reluctance on the part of some Board of Education members to approve this revision. It will be viewed as a weakening of the standards of the 2003 Regulations. There is strength in numbers and comments "from the field,"in addition to our organizational response, do help.

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS! E-mail, write or fax your comments to The Department of
Education no later than June 7:  

Legal Office
Massachusetts Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
Email: legal@doe.mass.edu
Fax: 781-338-3390  

An optional comment form can be found on the Department's Web site at http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/comment/4_7_47_cform.pdf or by calling 781-338-3400.

The Department of Education is interested in your feedback and will consider all comments.

You may, of course, simply write, mail or e-mail a letter on the subject. Other relevant information is posted on the Department of Education Web site at http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/news04/0503.html  (Commissioner's memo with appropriate links.) and http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/proposed/p603cmr7.pdf
(all proposed changes).

*IMPORTANT NOTE:* There may be other changes to the licensing regulations that you would like the State Board of Education to consider at a future date. Feel free to add that comment to your form or letter!

*The citations in the text (from current regulations), can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr7/june03/