HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 873        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 436

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act RESOLVE RELATIVE TO TEACHER LICENSURE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission to study and report on ways to improve the teacher licensure process. The commission shall consist of the commissioner of education; 3 members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall to be appointed by the speaker of the house, and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house; 3 members of the senate, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president, and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader;  the chancellor of higher education; a representative of the Massachusetts Teacher Association; and a member appointed by the governor. The scope of the commission shall include, but shall not be limited to: researching the current process of teacher licensure and ways to streamline the process of certifying qualified applicants; analyzing the effectiveness, clarity and accessibility of applications and certification via email and the internet; examining the feasibility of streamlining the application process for teachers who have previous extensive experience in a public or a private school system; evaluating possible options to simplify or lessen current state teacher licensure regulations; and examining the capacity of the department to process all teacher applications and certifications in a timely manner. The commission shall submit its report to the board of education, the joint committee on education, and the senate and house clerks no later than six months after the passage of this act.