Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 71 - Public Schools
Section 38g - Certification for Certain Teaching and Administrative Positions; Provisional and Standard Certificates; Policies and Guidelines Regarding Requirements and Qualifications; Applications; Recommendations; Review; Continuing Education; Rene...

[Section impacted by 2020, 92, Secs. 14, 16 and 17, effective June 5, 2020 relating to emergency educator licenses in order to address disruptions caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.]
Section 38G. As used in this section the following words shall have the following meanings:
''Board'', the board of education established by chapter fifteen.
''Provisional educator'', a person who holds a provisional educator certificate.
''Provisional educator with advanced standing'', a person who holds a provisional educator certificate with advanced standing; said certificate shall be valid for five years of employment as an educator in the schools of the commonwealth and may be renewed for an additional five years of employment in accordance with regulations adopted by the board.
''Provisional educator certificate'', a license to teach issued to a person who has successfully met the preparation and eligibility requirements as established by the board. The provisional educator's certificate shall be valid for five years of employment as an educator in the schools of the commonwealth.
''Provisional educator certificate with advanced standing'', a license to teach issued to a person who has successfully met the preparation and eligibility requirements as established by the board for provisional certification and completed (1) a college program, graduate or undergraduate, approved by the board of education for the preparation of teachers; or (2) a college preparation program included in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC); or (3) an out of state teacher education program approved by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); or (4) other program approved by the board.
''Regionally licensed or certified educator'', an applicant for a teacher's certificate in Massachusetts who has been granted a regional license or certificate by another state jurisdiction under terms of a contract entered into pursuant to chapter seven hundred and forty-eight of the acts of nineteen hundred and sixty-eight, the Interstate Agreement on Certification of Educational Personnel. Such certificate shall be equivalent to the provisional educator certificate with advanced standing.
''Reciprocity of certified educators'', the process and requirements established by the commissioner for candidates to obtain certification who have completed (1) a college preparation program included in the alternative certification reciprocity system of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC); (2) out-of-state programs approved by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); or (3) other programs approved by the board. Such certificate shall be equivalent to the provisional educator with advanced standing certificate.
''Standard educator'', a person who holds a standard educator certificate.
''Standard educator certificate'', a license to teach issued to a person who has successfully met the preparation and eligibility requirements as established by the board. The standard educator's certificate shall be valid for renewable terms of five years.
''Temporary certificate'', a license to teach which the commissioner of education may, at his discretion, issue to a person who holds a valid teaching certificate from another state and who has been employed under the certificate for a minimum of three years but has not satisfied the certification testing requirements contained in this section. The temporary certificate shall be valid for one year and is nonrenewable. Service under a temporary certificate shall be counted as service in acquiring professional teacher status, contingent upon the teacher passing the applicable certification tests.
The commissioner of education shall have authority to grant, upon application, provisional educator, provisional educator with advanced standing, temporary, and standard educator certificates to persons who have satisfied the requirements for such certificates as established by the board. The board shall define the knowledge of subject matter and demonstration of competencies commensurate with attainment and renewal of such certificates.
To be eligible for certification as a provisional educator, the candidate shall (1) hold a bachelor's degree in arts or sciences from an accredited college or university with a major course in the arts or sciences appropriate to the instructional field; (2) pass a test established by the board which shall consist of two parts: (A) a writing section which shall demonstrate the communication and literacy skills necessary for effective instruction and improved communication between school and parents; and (B) the subject matter knowledge for the certificate; and (3) be of sound moral character. Candidates who complete the requirements in this paragraph shall be issued provisional educator certificates which will permit them to seek employment in teaching positions requiring instructional certification in districts which have an approved provisional educator preparation program.
The commissioner shall establish standards for the training, support and supervision of provisional educators. During the period of employment, a person holding a provisional teaching certificate pursuant to this section shall be under the direct supervision of the principal or other appropriate supervisor who shall regularly observe and evaluate the performance of assigned duties by such holder of a provisional teaching certificate. Such evaluation shall be according to relevant to nationally recognized professional standards for personnel evaluation.
Each public school district seeking to hire a provisional educator must submit an provisional educator program plan to the department of education. No district shall be authorized to employ a provisional educator unless it has submitted a plan for such a program and received approval of the commissioner. Each plan shall describe the key elements of the proposed provisional educator program in accordance with guidelines established and published by the department. Such guidelines shall require that provisional educators in district-based programs meet the equivalent standards that provisional educators with advanced standing meet in approved college and university programs. Districts shall show either evidence of joint sponsorship or collaboration of training programs with (1) colleges or universities, or (2) other districts, or (3) other programs approved by the commissioner to provide such programs. The department shall issue standard district plans which districts may implement in lieu of developing original plans. The department shall coordinate the training efforts of districts, shall insure that district programs meet fair, substantive and comprehensive professional development standards and shall establish regional programs for provisional educators. The department shall also provide orientation programs for support team members. Provisional educators shall be observed by a professional support team. The department of education shall devise standardized criteria for a final comprehensive evaluation of each provisional educator, conducted at the end of the provisional educator period by the professional support team. All such evaluations shall be conducted according to nationally recognized professional standards for personnel evaluation.
At the conclusion of each year of the approved district training program for provisional educators, the chairperson of the support team shall prepare a comprehensive evaluation report of the provisional educator's performance. Such report shall be submitted by the chairperson directly to the department of education. The final comprehensive evaluation report on each provisional educator shall be made on forms provided by the department of education. Said report shall include an assessment of the individual's on the job performance and one of the following recommendations:
(1) Approved: recommends that advanced standing status be granted upon completion of the other preparation and eligibility requirements as established by the board;
(2) Insufficient: recommends that the candidate be allowed to seek entry in the future into a district training program; or a candidate found insufficient twice shall not be allowed to enter another district training program; or
(3) Disapproved: recommends that advanced standing status not be granted and that the candidate not be allowed to enter into a district training program.
The support team chairperson shall provide the provisional educator with a copy of the written evaluation report and certification recommendation before submitting it to the commissioner of education.
If the recommendation is to disapprove, the provisional educator may, within fifteen days, submit to the chairperson written materials documenting the reasons why the provisional educator believes his provisional educator certification should continue to remain valid or a recommendation of insufficient granted. The chairperson shall forward all such documentation to the commissioner of education along with the evaluation report and recommendation concerning certification.
Candidates who receive a recommendation of ''disapproved'' or two or more recommendations of ''insufficient'' may appeal to the commissioner for approval of additional opportunities to seek provisional educator employment in districts other than those in which they received unfavorable recommendations. The candidate shall be responsible for demonstrating why he would be likely to succeed if granted the requested opportunity.
To be eligible for certification as a provisional educator with advanced standing, the candidate shall provide evidence that he (1) holds a bachelor's degree in arts or sciences from an accredited college or university with a major course in the arts or sciences appropriate to the instructional field or the equivalent baccalaureate degree; (2) has passed a test established by the board which shall consist of two parts: (A) a writing section which shall demonstrate the communication and literacy skills necessary for effective instruction and improved communication between school and parents; and (B) the subject matter knowledge for the certificate; (3) has satisfactorily completed a board of education approved teacher preparation program; and (4) is of sound moral character. A candidate who completes the requirements of this paragraph shall be issued a provisional educator certificate with advanced standing which will permit him to seek employment in a teaching position requiring instructional certification.
Each public school district seeking to hire a provisional educator with advanced standing must submit a plan to the department of education which details how the district will supervise and support such provisional educators with advanced standing. No district shall be authorized to employ a provisional educator with advanced standing unless it has submitted a plan for the support and evaluation of such educator to the commissioner and received the approval of the commissioner. The department of education shall issue standard plans for provisional educators with advanced standing which districts may implement in lieu of developing an original plan.
In not less than one year after the issuance of a provisional educator certificate, the commissioner upon receipt of a proper application shall issue a standard educator certificate to such provisional certificate holder who has provided the commissioner with evidence, in such manner and form as prescribed by the board, that he has met the preparation and eligibility requirements set by the board through a master's degree program approved by the commissioner, or through an equivalent district program for standard certification approved by the commissioner, or other equivalent programs approved by the commissioner; and has met the requirements set by the commissioner for demonstration of successful performance.
Each standard educator certificate shall be valid for five years and continued every five years thereafter upon the successful completion of an individual professional development plan that meets the subject matter knowledge and teaching skill requirements set by the board. Such plan shall be designed to increase the ability of the person to improve student learning.
Certificates granted by the board prior to October first, nineteen hundred and ninety-four are hereby deemed standard certificates which shall be renewed every five years. All such certificates must be renewed by June eighteenth, nineteen hundred and ninety-nine.
The commissioner shall develop alternative paths for certifying school management and educational leadership personnel which shall facilitate a process whereby persons with significant managerial experience can obtain such certification.
Any certificate issued by the commissioner may be revoked for cause, pursuant to standards and procedures established by the board.
The board shall have the authority to promulgate, amend and rescind such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. Such regulations shall be presented to the joint committee for informational purposes ninety days before implementation.
All applications for any certificates granted under this section shall be accompanied by a fee to be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provisions of section three B of chapter seven. Said fees shall be established and limited to allow the department to carry out the certification and recertification responsibilities but in no case shall said applications exceed one hundred dollars per year with an annual increase no greater than the consumer price index.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board shall establish for each certification area alternate methods for fulfilling the professional development requirement, at least one of which shall be provided at no cost to persons employed by a school district, including paraprofessionals or assistant teachers, who are engaging in such activity for the purpose of satisfying the professional development requirement of this section.
No person shall be eligible for employment as a teacher, guidance counselor, director, school psychologist, school adjustment counselor, school social worker, school nurse, library media specialist, school business administrator, principal, supervisor, director, assistant superintendent of school, and superintendent of schools by a school district unless he has been granted by the commissioner a provisional, or standard certificate with respect to the type of position for which he seeks employment; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to prevent a school committee from prescribing additional qualifications; and provided further, that a superintendent may upon request be exempt by the commissioner for any one school year from the requirement in this section to employ certified personnel when compliance therewith would in the opinion of the commissioner constitute a great hardship in securing teachers for that school district. During the time that such a waiver is in effect, service of an employee of a school district to whom the waiver applies shall not be counted as service in acquiring professional teacher status or other rights under section forty-one.
In addition to any other requirements of this section, the board shall require, as a provision of an administrator's or educator's initial certification, that all educators and administrators shall have training in strategies for effective inclusive schooling for children with disabilities, instruction of students with diverse learning styles and classroom organization and management. Such training shall include, at a minimum, practical experience in the application of these strategies.
In addition to any other requirements in this section, in order to receive a provisional or standard educator certificate, persons applying for such certification shall have completed such courses or training sessions as the board shall require in second language acquisition.
Competence in Braille instruction shall be a requirement for initial certification as a teacher of students with vision impairments. Such competence shall be verified through a testing program which meets the standards of the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind or its successor.
For the purposes of certifying educators, the board shall establish policies and guidelines and the commissioner may approve preparation programs devoted to the preparation of teachers and other educational personnel. A college or university or school or district or other institution offering such an approved program shall certify to the commissioner that a student has demonstrated satisfactory competence in the skills and knowledge expected of college graduates in the most advanced nations, and has completed the program approved. The college or university or school district or other institution shall also provide the commissioner with a transcript of the student's record.
At the end of each five-year period each standard educator shall attest to and provide appropriate supporting evidence and documentation to the state department of education, in such form and at such time as the commissioner shall prescribe, that the standard educator has successfully completed a professional development plan which meets the standards set by the board.
In addition to any other requirements of this section, the board shall require, as a provision of an administrator's or educator's recertification, that all educators and administrators shall have training in strategies for effective inclusive schooling for children with disabilities, including children with autism, instruction of students with diverse learning styles and classroom organization and management. Such training shall include, at a minimum, practical experience in the application of these strategies.
It shall be one of the objectives of all school districts' professional development plans to satisfy the individual professional development plans required by this section; provided, however, that this requirement shall not be construed to require that a school district or the commonwealth provide funding for the fulfillment of the professional development requirements of this section and section thirty-eight Q beyond the foundation budget.
The board shall establish policies and guidelines for approval for any continuing education units, inservice seminars, projects, courses and other activities which would be deemed sufficient to maintain the development of professional skills and the knowledge of subject matter pertinent to particular certificates in accordance with the same procedures used for initial approval of collegiate preparation programs. The commissioner shall establish for each certification alternate methods for fulfilling the professional development requirement, at least one of which must be at no cost to persons employed by a school district who are engaging in such an activity for the purpose of satisfying the professional development requirements for recertification of this section.
Such policies shall provide that a teacher who is to be employed in a position in an area of certification in which he is not currently employed, but for which he held a certificate which had been valid within five years immediately preceding the starting date of employment in this position, shall be given a reasonable period, as determined by the board, to fulfill a professional development plan which demonstrates currency in the subject matter knowledge and requalify him for certification in said area. In every instance, all evaluations and assessments shall follow nationally recognized professional standards.
Each local and regional school district shall attest to the department of education, in such form and at such time as the commissioner shall prescribe, that professional development activities for which credit toward certification renewal is granted meet the requirements set by the board and are documented in accordance with procedures established by the board.
The board shall, in establishing said policies and criteria for professional development, give special consideration to the best interests of the students in the commonwealth, including the need for high quality teachers of English learner programs established under chapter 71A and the need to maintain the highest performance standards of teachers while taking into proper consideration the financial or time constraints these policies may require. In developing such policies, guidelines and assessment methods, the board shall obtain the input of teachers, administrators, educational experts, parents, business leaders and others interested in the improvement of the professional status of teachers.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section, no rights of any employees of a school district under the provision of this chapter shall be impaired by the provisions of this section.
Anyone granted either a provisional or standard certificate under this section or currently holding such certification shall be required to maintain the development of professional skills and the knowledge of subject matter pertinent to the areas of certification.
Teachers who were authorized, permitted or approved to teach in a subject or area for which there was no certification standard before September first, nineteen hundred and eighty-two, shall acquire and maintain the development of the skills and training required of persons certified to teach in said subject or areas after that date.
This section shall not apply to trade, vocational, temporary substitute teachers, exchange teachers, regionally licensed or certified teachers or to teaching or administrative interns; provided, however, that approval for the employment of such personnel shall be generated by the board under such rules and regulations as it may adopt.
The requirements of this section shall not apply to the certification of teachers of adult education. Nothing in this section or section 1H of chapter 69 shall be construed to prohibit a school committee from employing a teacher certified under this section to teach adult education.

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