Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H665 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 838 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 665
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Kelly W. Pease
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 amending the professional licensure requirements for teachers.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kelly W. Pease4th Hampden1/13/2025 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 838 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 665
18	18	By Representative Pease of Westfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 665) of Kelly
19	19	W. Pease relative to amending the professional licensure requirements for teachers. Education.
20	20	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
21	21	_______________
22	22	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
23	23	(2025-2026)
24	24	_______________
25	25	An Act amending the professional licensure requirements for teachers.
26	26	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
27	27	of the same, as follows:
28	28	1 SECTION 1. Section 38G of Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
29	29	2striking out the first paragraph of the definition of “Standard educator certificate” and replacing
30	30	3it with the following:
31	31	4 "Standard educator certificate" shall be a license to teach issued to a person who has
32	32	5successfully met the preparation and eligibility requirements as established by the board. The
33	33	6standard educator certificate shall be valid for renewable terms of five years. A teacher may
34	34	7qualify for a standard educator certificate upon completing the following requirements: (1)
35	35	8holding a provisional educator certificate for at least five years, (2) successfully demonstrating
36	36	9teaching proficiency through performance evaluations and evidence of student learning, (3)
37	37	10meeting subject matter knowledge requirements established by the board, and (4) completing a
38	38	11professional development plan that satisfies the criteria set forth by the board, which must be
39	39	12approved by the local school district. 2 of 3
40	40	13 SECTION 2. Section 38G of Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
41	41	14striking out the following paragraph:
42	42	15 “In not less than one year after the issuance of a provisional educator certificate, the
43	43	16commissioner upon receipt of a proper application shall issue a standard educator certificate to
44	44	17such provisional certificate holder who has provided the commissioner with evidence, in such
45	45	18manner and form as prescribed by the board, that he has met the preparation and eligibility
46	46	19requirements set by the board through a master's degree program approved by the commissioner,
47	47	20or through an equivalent district program for standard certification approved by the
48	48	21commissioner, or other equivalent programs approved by the commissioner; and has met the
49	49	22requirements set by the commissioner for demonstration of successful performance.”
50	50	23 and replacing it with the following:
51	51	24 “In not less than one year after the issuance of a provisional educator certificate, the
52	52	25commissioner, upon receipt of a proper application, shall issue a standard educator certificate to
53	53	26such provisional certificate holder who has provided evidence, in such manner and form as
54	54	27prescribed by the board, that the individual has:
55	55	28 (i) successfully completed at least five years of service as a provisional educator in a
56	56	29Massachusetts public school district;
57	57	30 (ii) demonstrated satisfactory performance based on district evaluations, which shall
58	58	31include evidence of student learning and growth, instructional effectiveness, and classroom
59	59	32management, as determined by district evaluations and the board's established guidelines; 3 of 3
60	60	33 (iii) completed a professional development plan that satisfies the standards set by the
61	61	34board, which must be approved by the local school district and include continued education in
62	62	35teaching strategies, content knowledge, and classroom management, aligned with state and
63	63	36district goals for improving student outcomes; and
64	64	37 (iv) met subject matter knowledge and teaching skill standards established by the board
65	65	38through assessments, observations, or portfolio reviews that demonstrate proficiency in the
66	66	39subject area(s) being taught.”
67	67	40 SECTION 3. The Board of Education is hereby authorized to revise its regulations to
68	68	41eliminate the requirement of a master's degree for obtaining a standard educator certificate and to
69	69	42establish new pathways to achieve standard educator status based on demonstrated performance,
70	70	43professional development, and classroom experience.
71	71	44 SECTION 4. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall
72	72	45issue guidelines and instructions to school districts for the implementation of this new pathway
73	73	46to certification. These guidelines shall ensure that teachers who have completed five years of
74	74	47teaching service under a provisional educator certificate have the opportunity to obtain a
75	75	48standard educator certificate based on performance evaluations, professional development, and
76	76	49subject matter proficiency.
77	77	50 SECTION 5. The Board of Education shall prepare a report within 12 months of the
78	78	51enactment of this law, analyzing the impact of removing the master’s degree requirement on
79	79	52teacher retention, student outcomes, and professional development, and provide
80	80	53recommendations for any additional supports that may be needed for the successful
81	81	54implementation of this new certification process.