Forums on Licensure Redesign
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) would like to invite you to participate in an upcoming discussion regarding the future of educator licensure in Massachusetts. DESE has been examining the Commonwealth’s licensure policies to support the design of a world class system of educator licensing and license renewal. Stakeholder engagement has been a critical part of this work, in May and June; DESE convened over 25 focus groups with more than 300 educators across Massachusetts. The full report and the executive summary from that first phase of outreach have been posted on the DESE website.
DESE is convening a number of conversations with stakeholders this October and November to solicit input regarding a set of draft guiding principles and policy options developed by DESE based on research of best practices and the feedback received from stakeholders. Five forums in different locations throughout the state will be open to all educators. Participants will be asked to share their thoughts on the pros and cons of multiple policy options that could advance those guiding principles for a new system of licensure. The schedule of these forums is as follows:
Tuesday, October 21st (4:30pm -7:00pm) at Springfield College
Thursday, October 23rd (4:30pm -7:00pm) at Worcester Technical High School
Saturday, October 25th (9:30am – 12:00pm) at Simmons College
Wednesday, November 19th (4:30pm – 7:00pm) at Malden High School
Thursday, November 20th (4:30pm – 7:00pm) Bridgewater State University
We hope you will be able to participate in this important, collaborative process, and to help spread the word to your colleagues and peers. To participate in one of these open forums discussions, please register as soon as possible as space may be limited by seating availability.
For more information about this initiative, please contact: Brooke Trainum at btrainum@keystone.org or 1-855-666-8953.
Thank you in advance for your support of this timely effort to build a licensure system that serves both educators and students well throughout Massachusetts.