Middle School Teacher Preparation :
Massachusetts

Analysis of Massachusetts's policies

Massachusetts requires a middle school certificate (grades 5-8) for all middle school teachers. Candidates must either complete a mathematics/science or English/history program of study consisting of 36 semester hours. This does not preclude the possibility of obtaining a single-subject license in any of these subjects for grades 5-8.

All new middle school teachers in Massachusetts are also required to pass a subject-matter portion of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL). For those seeking single-subject certification, a single-subject content test is required. However, for the combination certificates, the tests combine mathematics with science and English with history. Although the state provides subscores, they are only used to provide insight into the candidate's strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, middle school teachers may answer many questions on one subject incorrectly and still pass the test.

Citation

603 CMR 7.03, -.06 http://www.mtel.nesinc.com/MA_testobjectives.asp

Recommendations for Massachusetts

Refine middle school subject-matter preparation policy.
Although Massachusetts is commended for not allowing middle school teachers to teach on a K-8 generalist license, it should strengthen middle school teachers' subject-matter preparation. Massachusetts should be more specific about its coursework requirements so that it is requiring the equivalent of two academic minors. Middle school candidates who intend to teach a single subject should earn a major in that area. 

Enhance subject-matter testing requirements for middle school teacher candidates.
Massachusetts should require passing scores on its subject-matter test for all middle school teacher candidates in every core academic area they intend to teach as a condition of initial licensure.

State response to our analysis

Massachusetts was helpful in providing NCTQ with facts that enhanced this analysis. The state questioned a theory of action with respect to educator preparation that specifies courses rather than the content to be mastered in its educator approval regulations. It, therefore, asserted that the first recommendation is not consistent with the state's theory of action, which provides clear statements and guidelines for the subject-matter knowledge needed for licensure but leaves to preparing institutions the task of translating these knowledge and skill requirements into a coherent program of preparation. Massachusetts also noted that in 2012-2013, it will comprehensively revise its licensure requirements, moving toward a performance-based system of licensure and program approval.   

Last word

NCTQ agrees that clear guidelines for the knowledge and skills that teachers must have, paired with a rigorous assessment, would be a sound framework for teacher preparation. In this particular case, the recommendation about two minors for multi-subject middle school teachers is to ensure that preparation programs have such teachers on a path to being highly qualified in every subject they are licensed to teach.