SENATE DOCKET, NO. 309        FILED ON: 1/13/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 286

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Adam Gomez

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act ensuring diversity in public education.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 309        FILED ON: 1/13/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 286

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 338 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act ensuring diversity in public education.

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

SECTION 1. Section 38G of Chapter 71, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the twelfth paragraph in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new paragraph:- 

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 or satisfy alternative measures of proficiency established by the board; provided, that if the candidate chooses to take a test, that test 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; provided further, that in providing an alternative to the test, the board shall consider: (A) the candidate’s proficiency in communication and literacy skills and (B) in 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. 

SECTION 2. Said section 38G of Chapter 71, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by striking the eighteenth paragraph in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new paragraph:- 

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) pass a test or satisfy alternative measures of proficiency established by the board; provided, that if the candidate chooses to take a test, that test 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; provided further, that in providing an alternative to the test, the board shall consider: (A) the candidate’s proficiency in communication and literacy skills and (B) in subject matter knowledge for the certificate; and (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. 

SECTION 3. Section 18 of Chapter 74, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the first paragraph in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new paragraph:- 

The state board shall establish basic competency-based vocational-technical teacher training standards which shall serve as the fundamental, pedagogical requirements for beginning vocational-technical instructors. The board shall further require that all persons seeking to meet the board's requirements shall have successfully passed performance and written tests in areas as determined by the board or shall have satisfied alternative measures of proficiency established by the board and shall have successfully completed an approved seminar on teaching skills and methods.