Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S286 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 309 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 286
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Adam Gomez
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act ensuring diversity in public education.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Adam GomezHampdenVanna Howard17th Middlesex1/31/2023 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 309 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 286
18	18	By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 286) of Adam Gomez and Vanna
19	19	Howard for legislation to ensure diversity in public education. Education.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE SENATE, NO. 338 OF 2021-2022.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
25	25	(2023-2024)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act ensuring diversity in public education.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. Section 38G of Chapter 71, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is
31	31	2hereby amended by striking the twelfth paragraph in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the
32	32	3following new paragraph:-
33	33	4 To be eligible for certification as a provisional educator, the candidate shall (1) hold a
34	34	5bachelor's degree in arts or sciences from an accredited college or university with a major course
35	35	6in the arts or sciences appropriate to the instructional field; (2) pass a test or satisfy alternative
36	36	7measures of proficiency established by the board; provided, that if the candidate chooses to take
37	37	8a test, that test shall consist of two parts: (A) a writing section which shall demonstrate the
38	38	9communication and literacy skills necessary for effective instruction and improved
39	39	10communication between school and parents; and (B) the subject matter knowledge for the 2 of 3
40	40	11certificate; provided further, that in providing an alternative to the test, the board shall consider:
41	41	12(A) the candidate’s proficiency in communication and literacy skills and (B) in subject matter
42	42	13knowledge for the certificate; and (3) be of sound moral character. Candidates who complete the
43	43	14requirements in this paragraph shall be issued provisional educator certificates which will permit
44	44	15them to seek employment in teaching positions requiring instructional certification in districts
45	45	16which have an approved provisional educator preparation program.
46	46	17 SECTION 2. Said section 38G of Chapter 71, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
47	47	18is hereby further amended by striking the eighteenth paragraph in its entirety and inserting in
48	48	19place thereof the following new paragraph:-
49	49	20 To be eligible for certification as a provisional educator with advanced standing, the
50	50	21candidate shall provide evidence that he (1) holds a bachelor's degree in arts or sciences from an
51	51	22accredited college or university with a major course in the arts or sciences appropriate to the
52	52	23instructional field or the equivalent baccalaureate degree; (2) pass a test or satisfy alternative
53	53	24measures of proficiency established by the board; provided, that if the candidate chooses to take
54	54	25a test, that test shall consist of two parts: (A) a writing section which shall demonstrate the
55	55	26communication and literacy skills necessary for effective instruction and improved
56	56	27communication between school and parents; and (B) the subject matter knowledge for the
57	57	28certificate; provided further, that in providing an alternative to the test, the board shall consider:
58	58	29(A) the candidate’s proficiency in communication and literacy skills and (B) in subject matter
59	59	30knowledge for the certificate; and (3) has satisfactorily completed a board of education approved
60	60	31teacher preparation program; and (4) is of sound moral character. A candidate who completes the
61	61	32requirements of this paragraph shall be issued a provisional educator certificate with advanced 3 of 3
62	62	33standing which will permit him to seek employment in a teaching position requiring instructional
63	63	34certification.
64	64	35 SECTION 3. Section 18 of Chapter 74, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is
65	65	36hereby amended by striking the first paragraph in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the
66	66	37following new paragraph:-
67	67	38 The state board shall establish basic competency-based vocational-technical teacher
68	68	39training standards which shall serve as the fundamental, pedagogical requirements for beginning
69	69	40vocational-technical instructors. The board shall further require that all persons seeking to meet
70	70	41the board's requirements shall have successfully passed performance and written tests in areas as
71	71	42determined by the board or shall have satisfied alternative measures of proficiency established by
72	72	43the board and shall have successfully completed an approved seminar on teaching skills and
73	73	44methods.