Developing an Adult Basic Education Licensure Process for Massachusetts
The ABE Teacher's License Update is published by the ESE (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) in coordination with SABES (System for Adult Basic Education Support) in an effort to keep practitioners and interested parties apprised of the status of the ABE Teacher's License. This Update, past issues, and other relevant documents are posted on the ESE Website www.doe.mass.edu/acls and the SABES Website www.sabes.org.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES THE ABE REGULATIONS!
On April 24th, the Massachusetts Board of Education approved the Regulations for the Licensure of Adult Basic Education Teachers and Preparation Program Approval. Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to have an ABE teacher's license that is not predicated on a preK-12 license and that requires the same depth of knowledge, rigor of standards, and minimum educational requirements equivalent to their own state's K-12 teacher licenses! The license is voluntary, by statute, and is valid for five years and renewable every five years thereafter.
We'd like to take this opportunity to once again thank the ABE Licensure Advisory Committee members for their hard work and dedication. You might be interested to learn that the committee members originally agreed to meet 3-4 times over 6 months and ended up meeting 17 times over two years!
Thank you to Ruth Derfler and Bob Bickerton for co-chairing the committee, and to the following committee members: Barbara Ash, Donna Branco, Harneen Chernow, Joan Koss-Cole, Kerry DeJesus, Mary Jayne Fay, Maryclare Forry, Marion Gillon, Jim McCarthy, John McGovern, Suzanne Martin, Carey Reid, Lisa Soricone, Kathie Skinner, Phil Veysey, and Sally Waldron.
We'd also like to thank the hundreds of ABE practitioners who participated in focus groups and online discussion groups, and to those who took the time to read and respond to the Interim Reports and the Proposed Regulations.
CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE ON YOUR GREAT WORK
AND FOR ENABLING MASSACHUSETTS
TO ACHIEVE THIS VERY SIGNIFICANT GOAL!
There are important new documents posted on the ESE web-site. Please be sure to log on and check them out!
What's Next?
The ABE Teacher's License will be available beginning October 1, 2001, at which time the Department will be prepared to accept applications. In the meantime, a work group has been formed to make recommendations to the Department for guidelines and criteria to support the implementation of the regulations. Please watch for opportunities to review and comment on proposed guidelines. We look forward to your continued participation.
Department Responds to the Public Comment on The Proposed Regulations
On January 23, 2001, the Massachusetts Board of Education voted to release the Proposed Regulations for Adult Basic Education Teacher Licensure and Preparation Program Approval (603 CMR 47.00) for 60 days of public comment. The proposed regulations were publicized widely and posted on the Department's web-site. Public comment was invited in the form of letters, faxes, and e-mails through March 23, 2001. A summary of the major areas of concern, as well as the Department's responses is available on the ACLS web-site at www.doe.mass.edu/acls/abecert/. Excerpts of the public comment are also included.
Needs Survey
Last fall the Department, with the assistance of SABES, distributed a Needs Survey to Massachusetts ABE practitioners. A report on the findings from the Needs Survey is also available on the ACLS web-site. Thanks to all who responded and thanks to the SABES RSCs for helping with the mailing. Briefly, of the 737 respondents, over half expressed interest in pursuing the ABE license. Additionally, many of those expressing interest in pursuing the license will qualify to pursue the license using Route 4 (which requires 5 years of ABE teaching experience and therefore considers certain licensure requirements to have been fulfilled); 93% possess a bachelor's degree or higher; 85% may be willing to add on the ABE teacher's license; and 19% of those who hold a current K-12 license may be willing to replace it with an ABE license.
Update on Pilot Courses
Over the next year, the Department and SABES will be working together to pilot five additional courses that are compatible with the ABE teacher's license. Once locations and times are finalized, be sure to watch for further information in the Updates and on the ESE or SABES web-site. While some of the courses are in the process of being developed, RFRs will be posted on the Department's COM-PASS system to solicit bids for the development of the final two courses (marked with an asterisk). The proposed courses are:
Foundations of Reading and Writing
Reading and Writing (4-8 GLE)
Diversity and Equity for ABE
*Reading and Writing (9-12 GLE)
*Adult Human Development
ESE Offers FREE Summer Institutes
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is offering FREE summer institutes across the Commonwealth for Massachusetts teachers. For further information, please check the ESE web-site at http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.asp?id=268
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS NEEDED?
Contact:
Mary Jayne Fay, ABE Licensure Specialist, at MJFay@doe.mass.edu
or
Carey Reid, SABES Staff Development Specialist, at 617-482-9485 or CReid@worlded.org
last updated: May 1, 2001
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