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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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Adam GomezHampdenVanna Howard17th Middlesex1/31/2023 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 309 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 286
By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 286) of Adam Gomez and Vanna
Howard for legislation to ensure diversity in public education. Education.
[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:
1 SECTION 1. Section 38G of Chapter 71, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is
2hereby amended by striking the twelfth paragraph in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the
3following new paragraph:-
4 To be eligible for certification as a provisional educator, the candidate shall (1) hold a
5bachelor's degree in arts or sciences from an accredited college or university with a major course
6in the arts or sciences appropriate to the instructional field; (2) pass a test or satisfy alternative
7measures of proficiency established by the board; provided, that if the candidate chooses to take
8a test, that test shall consist of two parts: (A) a writing section which shall demonstrate the
9communication and literacy skills necessary for effective instruction and improved
10communication between school and parents; and (B) the subject matter knowledge for the 2 of 3
11certificate; provided further, that in providing an alternative to the test, the board shall consider:
12(A) the candidate’s proficiency in communication and literacy skills and (B) in subject matter
13knowledge for the certificate; and (3) be of sound moral character. Candidates who complete the
14requirements in this paragraph shall be issued provisional educator certificates which will permit
15them to seek employment in teaching positions requiring instructional certification in districts
16which have an approved provisional educator preparation program.
17 SECTION 2. Said section 38G of Chapter 71, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
18is hereby further amended by striking the eighteenth paragraph in its entirety and inserting in
19place thereof the following new paragraph:-
20 To be eligible for certification as a provisional educator with advanced standing, the
21candidate shall provide evidence that he (1) holds a bachelor's degree in arts or sciences from an
22accredited college or university with a major course in the arts or sciences appropriate to the
23instructional field or the equivalent baccalaureate degree; (2) pass a test or satisfy alternative
24measures of proficiency established by the board; provided, that if the candidate chooses to take
25a test, that test shall consist of two parts: (A) a writing section which shall demonstrate the
26communication and literacy skills necessary for effective instruction and improved
27communication between school and parents; and (B) the subject matter knowledge for the
28certificate; provided further, that in providing an alternative to the test, the board shall consider:
29(A) the candidate’s proficiency in communication and literacy skills and (B) in subject matter
30knowledge for the certificate; and (3) has satisfactorily completed a board of education approved
31teacher preparation program; and (4) is of sound moral character. A candidate who completes the
32requirements of this paragraph shall be issued a provisional educator certificate with advanced 3 of 3
33standing which will permit him to seek employment in a teaching position requiring instructional
34certification.
35 SECTION 3. Section 18 of Chapter 74, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is
36hereby amended by striking the first paragraph in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the
37following new paragraph:-
38 The state board shall establish basic competency-based vocational-technical teacher
39training standards which shall serve as the fundamental, pedagogical requirements for beginning
40vocational-technical instructors. The board shall further require that all persons seeking to meet
41the board's requirements shall have successfully passed performance and written tests in areas as
42determined by the board or shall have satisfied alternative measures of proficiency established by
43the board and shall have successfully completed an approved seminar on teaching skills and
44methods.