Principal Licensure Strand Licensure Orientation Sections Just the Facts (JTF): slides 2-7 Future Planning (FP): slides 8-11 Action Items and Notations: slides Interstate Agreement (aka Reciprocity): – with selected state examples: slides Teacher Licensure: slides 22-27

JTF: MA Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Selected Licensure Definitions New Regulations: School Principal/Assistant School Principal “Primary” License is School Principal/Assistant School Principal “Initial” License is the stage of license you will receive upon completing PLS and passing the MTEL Grades PreK-6, 5-8, and 9-12 Grade Level refers to Grades PreK-6, 5-8, and 9-12 Practicum means fieldwork Field refers to the Subject area of the license Validity of License Initial licenses are valid for 5 years of employment in MA, renewable once. Professional licenses are valid for 5 years and are to be renewed through the Recertification process every 5 years.

JTF: Obtaining the Principal License at the Initial Stage via PLS ( See and /Professional Standards ) Prerequisite: 1.Possess a valid Massachusetts or out-of-state teaching license 2.Complete and document four years of full-time teaching experience Additional Requirements: 1.Complete Principal Licensure Strand Coursework and Fieldwork requirements 2.Demonstrate Professional Standards (See link above)-these are addressed via the PLS program 3.Pass the MTEL (Communication and Literacy Test)

JTF: Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL)** Test Dates and related information- (See MTEL Bulletin Parts of Exam: Communication and Literacy Skills (4 Hour Exam / Reading and Writing Subtests) Passing Score - Reading 240 / Writing 240 / Cost: Computer-based testing for Communication and Literacy Skills (Reading and Writing) You can choose Testing Locations including Boston/Cambridge Thumbprint Taken at Test Site Who Has Access to Your Scores- You/DESE/HGSE/Other Institutions Upon Your Request **If you possess a MA Teaching License and took MTEL to get that license, you do NOT have to retake the MTEL.

JTF: MTEL Prep Resources –Online –Practice tests –MA DESE –Gutman Library - MTEL prep resources in the reference area

JTF: Adding a New Grade Level to your Principal License Complete ONE of the following ( See Regs. Section 7.14/Additional Licensure link ): A course addressing the curriculum and developmental characteristics of the age group appropriate to the license sought. -For Additional 5-8 and 9-12 Principal License: H-236 Adolescent Development has been approved by DESE -For Additional PreK-6 Principal License: H-250 Developmental Psychology has been approved by DESE OR Complete an additional 300 – 500 hour fieldwork experience at the new level

JTF: What if you took a developmental course elsewhere? MA DESE makes the final decision on accepting a course so… If you believe you have coursework, apply and pay for your license and submit to DESE the course description from the year you took the course along with a transcript. If the above option does not appeal to you, provide HGSE licensure the course description from the year you took the course and we’ll include it with your portfolio to DESE. DESE still has the final word on acceptance. Check with your university registrar’s office for course descriptions if you do not have a copy with you.

Future Planning: Advancing from MA Initial to Professional Level Principal License ( See ) 1.Possession of an Initial Principal/Assistant Principal license (which you will have from the PLS program) 2.Complete three full years of employment as a MA School Principal/Assistant Principal (including a 1-year Induction Program – See Section ) 3.NEW: Possess SEI Administrator Endorsement (or SEI Teacher Endorsement)

Future Planning: Recertification in MA When is it applicable? The end of the 5th year of your Professional license What do you have to do to renew your license? -Obtain 150 PDPs (professional development points) See Recertification for details—which are recently updated: Submit application--Not documents

Future Planning: Obtaining an Additional MA Administrator License Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent See Regs. Section 7.14 Additional Licenses for Administrators Complete three full years of employment under the Principal license 2.Performance Assessment for Initial Licensure

Future Planning: A note on adding MA Supervisor/Director License You need to meet the additional requirements for directors, department heads, and curriculum specialists in core academic subjects at the secondary level- You will also need A master's degree in the arts or sciences in one of the core academic subjects you will supervise OR At least 18 credits of advanced graduate studies in one of the core academic subjects you will supervise

Action Item: Create Your Profile in MA DESE Database Create Your Profile on DESE** 1. Go to 2. Click “Online Tools/ELAR” 3. Click “Create ELAR Profile” 4. Key in your data (including higher education institutions) and submit -Watch accuracy and remember the auto generated username and password you create! Consider a “permanent address” where documents can be sent, rather than your current “temporary” address. stating “Profile Submitted to DESE.” (Do this immediately after you submit your **If you have a MA license, you already have a profile. You may want to review it at this time for change of address, , etc.

Notations Get the computer based MTEL Communication & Literacy (reading and writing) test out of the way now, certainly by March. For adding any additional license requiring paper test, consider March 3 paper/pencil MTEL test as the very last option for testing. HGSE Licensure will communicate with you as to what is needed to complete your licensure portfolio which we submit to Mass DESE to expedite processing. HGSE Licensure endorses you online and submits your application portfolio to Mass DESE after commencement. You should expect to get your MA principal license in the summer.

Interstate Agreement- also known as Reciprocity What Does Reciprocity Really Mean? -You are NOT Automatically licensed in another state. You may have to address some of the unique state requirements (for example, take selected assessment tests). States Participating in the Interstate (Reciprocity) Agreement Verification Form -- A note on the Verification Form you may need to submit. States may ask you to submit a form confirming that you completed a state approved licensure program. That form you provide to HGSE licensure to complete and sign for you.

Exams Required for Licensure in Other States Test Requirements for All States are found on their websites Examples Below: The Praxis Series and School Leaders Licensure Assessment Praxis I: School Leadership Series (SLS): SLS State Requirements Page CBEST: IL: NYSTCE School Leadership Assessments:

Additional Reciprocity Resources Licensure Reference Book Titled, “Requirements for Certification of Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Administrators for Elementary and Secondary Schools” ( ), by Elizabeth A. Kaye. (copy in licensure office) NASDTEC Knowledgebase Website: Access to DOE Link for All States: Contact Roger Dempsey or Mary Frazier-Davis at or call

California Reciprocity: Preliminary “Administrative Services” Credential 1.A teaching license with 3 years teaching experience 2.Complete PLS 3.The CBEST is required before you can receive the Preliminary license However You can receive a one-year nonrenewable credential if you have obtained a job but have not taken the CBEST exam 4.You cannot apply until you complete the PLS program 5.Special Mention: SLLA test not required because you completed PLS For CA information:

CBEST: CA Basic Educational Skills Test CBEST (you can take it online during certain test dates) CBEST test sites including Boston area: For information, registration and Online test dates For General Information “Test Specifications” to Download CBEST Practice Tests at

Illinois Complete Application for Certificate (Form 73-03D for administrative certificates). Provide HGSE licensure the State-Approved Program Verification Form (Form ). We complete and send to IL asap. NEW: Give HGSE Licensure Grade Verification Form (Form 73-06). This form must be completed if any of your endorsement area(s) or professional education courses have grades of “P” (Passing) or “S” (Satisfactory). Submit copy of your MA license and any additional documentation required (such as official transcripts) per application instructions. Submit employment verification letters from prior teaching experience. Pass (a) Basic Skills* and (b) the appropriate administrative content area test: Principal test * Applicants who hold a valid and comparable certificate from another state are not required to pass the Basic Skills test unless they have previously attempted to pass the Illinois Basic Skills test and failed it.

New York Reciprocity: NY “Leadership Certification for Applicants from Other States” for School Building Leader Certificate You can obtain the (Conditional) Initial School Building Leader certificate by meeting the following requirements and submitting the appropriate documents: - HGSE Ed.M. - Complete PLS Program and obtain MA Principal’s license - 3 Years Prior Full-Time Teaching Experience - Fingerprinting - NYSTCE Leadership Assessment Exams Required Child Abuse Identification Workshop (might have 1 or 2 years to meet requirement, no guarantee) - School Violence Intervention and Prevention Workshop (might have 1 or 2 years to meet requirement, no guarantee)

New York (continued) Process: review site resources to become familiar with unique processes of NYS via the “Teach System” at ) Fall: - Have fingerprints taken. Early Spring: - Apply for the NY certificate. Click the box with the word “TEACH” and then click “Self-Registration” in the right margin to begin the process. -Call (518) or re: difficulty applying online – they will walk you through problem (Note: Using a Mac to apply online is sometimes a - Pay with credit card online July or earlier: - Mail MA license and undergraduate and graduate transcripts to NY (certified/return receipt requested). Keep records of documents sent.

Resources for Teacher Licensure Quick overview of obtaining and adding teacher licenses follows

Obtaining a MA Preliminary Teacher License* Possess of a bachelor's degree. Pass the MTEL Communication and Literacy Skills test. Pass MTEL Subject Matter knowledge test(s) appropriate to the license sought * This license is good for 5 years while one pursues an initial license.

You have an Out-of-State Teacher License and want to add a MA Teacher License See Route 5 at Evidence of the following: -Completion of a state-approved teacher licensure program in a state with which Massachusetts has reciprocity (submit Verification Form) OR -Possession of the equivalent of at least an Initial MA license, and three years of employment under that license during the previous seven years 2.Passing score on the MTEL C&LS exam 3.Passing score on the appropriate Subject-Matter MTEL exam(s)

How to Obtain an Additional MA Teaching License in Another Subject See Section 7.05(5) Note: Must hold a MA Initial Teacher License. -Complete State-Approved Program -Pass Subject-Matter MTEL Exam Requirements- See Pass MTEL exam in new Subject Special Mention: -Adding students with disabilities -Additional 150-Hour Fieldwork -Competency Review

How to Obtain Your MA Teaching License at a New Level See Note: Must hold a MA Teacher License. Requirements 1.Complete a course directly related to the age and developmental stage of children at the new level 2.Pass MTEL exam in Subject (if you haven’t taken it)

How to Upgrade Your MA Teaching License from Initial to Professional (See ) Note: Must hold a MA Initial Teacher License. - Complete State-Approved Program -Pass Subject-Matter MTEL Exam Requirements Possession of an Initial MA Teaching license 2.Three full years of employment (which includes a 1-year Induction Program – See hours of a mentored experience beyond the induction year 4.Complete coursework requirements