Budget Amendment ID: FY2025-S4-694

EDU 694

Teacher Diversification & Certification

Messrs. Gomez, Eldridge, Pacheco, Oliveira and Brady moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section: -

"SECTION ___. During the 2024-25 school year, unless extended by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall, in consultation with the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership, implement a pilot program in the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership which will allow candidates pursuing their educator certification to substitute satisfactory passage of the writing section testing requirement in section 38G of chapter 71 of the General Laws, with the satisfactory passage of a course substitute. This course shall be administered by the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership or a provider approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. To be eligible for the course substitute, a candidate must have previously taken and not passed the writing component of the testing requirement, as verified by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, under said section 38G of said chapter 71, and the candidate must be employed as a teacher in the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership.”