Public Comment Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Communication and Literacy Skills Framework

Survey open through September 30th, 2024 at 11:59pm. 

Welcome 

We Want YOUR Feedback 

Through this survey, we hope to gather input about the newly developed Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Communication and Literacy Skills Framework that will be used to guide updates to the Communication and Literacy Skills (CLST) Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL).  

We welcome everyone to provide feedback on these updates, but they are particularly relevant for: 

educator preparation leaders and faculty 
PK-12 administrators 
school-based educators and other personnel required to take the CLST MTEL 
classroom teachers 
recent preparation program completers 
current preparation program candidates
PK-12 parents and guardians
PK-12 students

Thank you in advance for taking the time to consider the individual impact this framework might have for you and their potential impact statewide. Your responses will directly inform how evidence-based practices, including anti-racist and culturally and linguistically sustaining practices, and literacy skills, are emphasized and assessed in the revised CLST MTEL and impact all new educators in Massachusetts who seek an academic PK-12 educator license. 

Context 

The MTELs are a statutory requirement for licensure. Educators are required to “…pass a test established by the board which shall consist of two parts: (A) a writing section which shall demonstrate the communication and literacy skills necessary for effective instruction and improved communication between school and parents; and (B) the subject matter knowledge for the certificate…” (M.G.L. ch.71, §38G). The CLST MTEL fulfills the requirement for Part A in the statute. Prior iterations of the CLST MTEL have been based solely on reading and writing skills in alignment to the Massachusetts English Language Arts and Literacy Skills Curriculum Framework. Following the development of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Education Vision, there was an opportunity to develop the new Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Communication and Literacy Skills Framework to ensure new educators are familiar with critical culturally and linguistically sustaining communication practices necessary for communicating with students and families, as well as the literacy skills required to support those communication practices. As a result, DESE, in partnership with Throughline Learning, has developed a new Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Communication and Literacy Skills Framework to guide the redevelopment of the CLST MTEL. In this process, DESE is seeking public comment on the draft Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Communication and Literacy Skills Framework, not the CLST MTEL.

Directions 

Please complete a series of rating and open response survey questions about the draft Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Communication and Literacy Skills Framework. 

1. Background Information
Are you providing comment as an individual, a representative of an organization/district, or as a collective?  *This question is required.

2. You indicated the comment is being provided by a collective. Please provide names and affiliations associated with that group below. *This question is required.

2. I am commenting as a representative of: *This question is required.

2. Name *This question is required.

3. Email Address *This question is required. This question requires a valid email address.

4. Sponsoring Organization (if applicable) *This question is required.

4. PK-12 District (if applicable) *This question is required.

4. I am a representative of an organization other than an educator preparation sponsoring organization or PK-12 District. The organization I represent is: *This question is required.

5. Have you previously taken the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL? *This question is required.

Draft Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Communication and Literacy Skills Framework 

The questions within this section of the survey refer to the draft Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Communication and Literacy Skills Framework. Please reference the draft Framework when answering both rating and open response questions. When relevant, reference specific section headings or page numbers in your responses. 

Space Cell	Agree	Somewhat Agree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Somewhat Disagree	Disagree
is clearly written	is clearly written  : Agree	is clearly written  : Somewhat Agree	is clearly written  : Neither Agree or Disagree	is clearly written  : Somewhat Disagree	is clearly written  : Disagree
articulates purposeful connections and coherence to DESE’s Education Vision and other related resources	articulates purposeful connections and coherence to DESE’s Education Vision and other related resources : Agree	articulates purposeful connections and coherence to DESE’s Education Vision and other related resources : Somewhat Agree	articulates purposeful connections and coherence to DESE’s Education Vision and other related resources : Neither Agree or Disagree	articulates purposeful connections and coherence to DESE’s Education Vision and other related resources : Somewhat Disagree	articulates purposeful connections and coherence to DESE’s Education Vision and other related resources : Disagree
provides clear background context for the development of the Framework and its connection to the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL	provides clear background context for the development of the Framework and its connection to the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL : Agree	provides clear background context for the development of the Framework and its connection to the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL : Somewhat Agree	provides clear background context for the development of the Framework and its connection to the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL : Neither Agree or Disagree	provides clear background context for the development of the Framework and its connection to the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL : Somewhat Disagree	provides clear background context for the development of the Framework and its connection to the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL : Disagree
well articulates what the draft Framework is, and what is not	well articulates what the draft Framework is, and what is not : Agree	well articulates what the draft Framework is, and what is not : Somewhat Agree	well articulates what the draft Framework is, and what is not : Neither Agree or Disagree	well articulates what the draft Framework is, and what is not : Somewhat Disagree	well articulates what the draft Framework is, and what is not : Disagree
effectively explains how to engage with the framework	effectively explains how to engage with the framework : Agree	effectively explains how to engage with the framework : Somewhat Agree	effectively explains how to engage with the framework : Neither Agree or Disagree	effectively explains how to engage with the framework : Somewhat Disagree	effectively explains how to engage with the framework : Disagree
will support educators to understand the culturally and linguistically sustaining communication practices and literacy skills necessary for new educators	will support educators to understand the culturally and linguistically sustaining communication practices and literacy skills necessary for new educators : Agree	will support educators to understand the culturally and linguistically sustaining communication practices and literacy skills necessary for new educators : Somewhat Agree	will support educators to understand the culturally and linguistically sustaining communication practices and literacy skills necessary for new educators : Neither Agree or Disagree	will support educators to understand the culturally and linguistically sustaining communication practices and literacy skills necessary for new educators : Somewhat Disagree	will support educators to understand the culturally and linguistically sustaining communication practices and literacy skills necessary for new educators : Disagree
will support educators to more effectively serve all students, particularly those from systemically marginalized groups and communities	will support educators to more effectively serve all students, particularly those from systemically marginalized groups and communities  : Agree	will support educators to more effectively serve all students, particularly those from systemically marginalized groups and communities  : Somewhat Agree	will support educators to more effectively serve all students, particularly those from systemically marginalized groups and communities  : Neither Agree or Disagree	will support educators to more effectively serve all students, particularly those from systemically marginalized groups and communities  : Somewhat Disagree	will support educators to more effectively serve all students, particularly those from systemically marginalized groups and communities  : Disagree
the included glossary is supportive of understanding and engaging with the framework	the included glossary is supportive of understanding and engaging with the framework : Agree	the included glossary is supportive of understanding and engaging with the framework : Somewhat Agree	the included glossary is supportive of understanding and engaging with the framework : Neither Agree or Disagree	the included glossary is supportive of understanding and engaging with the framework : Somewhat Disagree	the included glossary is supportive of understanding and engaging with the framework : Disagree

8. You selected a response other than “agree” for one or more of the statements above. Please use this space to help us understand your rating(s).  *This question is required.

Space Cell	Agree	Somewhat Agree	Neither Agree or Disagree	Somewhat Disagree	Disagree
Includes the domains and corresponding competencies most essential for beginning educators	Includes the domains and corresponding competencies most essential for beginning educators : Agree	Includes the domains and corresponding competencies most essential for beginning educators : Somewhat Agree	Includes the domains and corresponding competencies most essential for beginning educators : Neither Agree or Disagree	Includes the domains and corresponding competencies most essential for beginning educators : Somewhat Disagree	Includes the domains and corresponding competencies most essential for beginning educators : Disagree
Domain 4 includes two parts - Foundational Literacy Skills AND Literacy Skills for Communication. The distinction between these two parts of Domain 4 is clear	Domain 4 includes two parts - Foundational Literacy Skills AND Literacy Skills for Communication. The distinction between these two parts of Domain 4 is clear : Agree	Domain 4 includes two parts - Foundational Literacy Skills AND Literacy Skills for Communication. The distinction between these two parts of Domain 4 is clear : Somewhat Agree	Domain 4 includes two parts - Foundational Literacy Skills AND Literacy Skills for Communication. The distinction between these two parts of Domain 4 is clear : Neither Agree or Disagree	Domain 4 includes two parts - Foundational Literacy Skills AND Literacy Skills for Communication. The distinction between these two parts of Domain 4 is clear : Somewhat Disagree	Domain 4 includes two parts - Foundational Literacy Skills AND Literacy Skills for Communication. The distinction between these two parts of Domain 4 is clear : Disagree

9. Please provide feedback on Domain 1 based on your rating to "Includes the domains and corresponding competencies most essential for beginning educators"

9. Please provide feedback on Domain 2 based on your rating to "Includes the domains and corresponding competencies most essential for beginning educators"

9. Please provide feedback on Domain 3 based on your rating to "Includes the domains and corresponding competencies most essential for beginning educators"

9. Please provide feedback on Domain 4 based on your rating to "Includes the domains and corresponding competencies most essential for beginning educators"

9. Do you foresee any unintended consequences that may arise as a result of the new Framework? If yes, what are your concerns?  *This question is required.

Public Comment Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Communication and Literacy Skills Framework

Public Comment Summer 2024 – Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Communication and Literacy Skills Framework

Public Comment Summer 2024 –  Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Communication and Literacy Skills Framework