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Proposed licensing regs under review

The Massachusetts State Board of Education has released a series of proposed revisions to licensing requirements for a period of public comment. The deadline for comment is February 18, 2005.

Many members have sought assistance with the licensing process from MTA. While we are not the licensing agency (the Department of Education), nor do we have the resources to do that agency’s job, we are firmly committed to seeking positive change to the current regulations and to keeping you informed of our efforts and the results. We have spent more than a year advocating for some of the changes now being proposed. However, whether the Board ultimately approves them will be influenced by what they hear from you. In the public comment process, MTA is only one voice -- no more, no less than your voice. So we urge you to take the time to speak up for yourself and the other educators who are subject to these regulations.

How to submit your comments

• Download the Word version of the Public Comment and Review Form on the DOE Web site. Save the file on your computer.
• Insert your comments in the appropriate space provided for each area of revision. You can comment on one, several or all. You can also add to the form and comment on changes that are not there, but need to be made.
• The first page of the form asks for information about you. DOE is reasonably interested in the profile of respondents. Provide as much information as you are comfortable in doing.
• Send your completed form to the DOE address provided by mail, e-mail or fax.

Areas of Revision Who Will Be Affected?

1. Professional License Requirements: Teachers who still need to advance to the Professional stage of licensure.

2. Professional Support Personnel Licenses: School nurses, school guidance counselors, school psychologists and school social workers/school adjustment counselors.

3. Adding Licenses: All educators.

4. Educator Preparation Program Approval: Higher education deans and faculty; teachers who are considering “approved programs” to advance to Professional license.

5. Routes to an Initial License: Teachers who are attempting to advance from a Preliminary license to an Initial license in a non-college or university program.

6. Individual License Requirements: All

7. New and Revised Definitions: All

MTA’s clarifications and recommendations. This document is also available at http://www.massteacher.org/career/state_cert/career_2005-01-27.cfm

How To Find Other Relevant Documents

The Public Comment Notice and Link to the Review Form can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/comment/021805_7.html?printscreen=yes&

This document contains a concise description of the changes being proposed.

The actual changes to regulatory language can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/comment/021805_7.html?printscreen=yes&

This is a “strike-out” document that contains only the affected provisions.

For those of you who want to refer to a copy of the regulations in their complete, current form, http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr7/