Feb/March 2025 Public Comment on Updates to Subject Matter Knowledge (SMK) Guidelines

This public comment is designed to gather feedback on the proposed changes to the Subject Matter Knowledge (SMK) Guidelines. The survey will be open until Monday, March 31 2025.

DESE is releasing an updated version of the SMK Guidelines designed to:

Update the SMK requirements for School Social Workers/Adjustment Counselors in alignment with the expectations and role of a School Social Worker/ Adjustment Counselor

Please see the following timeline for the updates to the SMK Guidelines:

Week of 2/17/25: Release revised SMK Guidelines for public comment
Through 3/31/25: Public Comment period
April 2025: Release updated/final SMK Guidelines, including any updates based on public comment

The current SMK Guidelines can be found here. The revised SMK Guidelines with track changes to easily reference updates can be found under Educator Effectiveness Updates here.

If you need assistance with this survey or have any questions, please email: EducatorPreparation@mass.gov

1. Please indicate how you are responding to this survey. *This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

2. Please select your primary affiliation. *This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

Select your organization. *This question is required.

Select your district. *This question is required.

Select your role(s). *This question is required.

Teacher Candidate
Field-Based Experiences Coordinator/Director
Program Supervisor
SO Leader
Ed Prep Faculty
A&S Faculty
Other - Write In Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

Select your role(s). *This question is required.

District Leader/Administrator
School Leader/Administrator
Supervising Practitioner
Teacher
Other - Write In Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

3. Please provide your public comment on the revisions to the School Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor SMK Requirements.

Application of principles of therapeutic relationships.
Knowledge of the psychology of learning (cognitive, social, physical, mental illness and emotional development).
Understand the diagnosis and evidence-based treatment of learning and mental health disorders, including possible medications.
Knowledge of strategies used for the prevention and treatment of addiction, maltreatment and neglect, violence and trauma informed practices.
Knowledge and interpretation of behavioral, emotional, intellectual, and social development assessments in the K-12 school setting.
Skills to effectively consult and collaborate with all stakeholders: student families, caregivers, teachers, school personnel, administrators, community members, and outside agencies/institutions.
Knowledge of and coordination with outside systems and agencies (such as Department of Youth Services, Department of Children and Families, etc.) that intersect with children, youth, and families, as well as understanding the impact these systems/agencies might have on students and their families.
Knowledge and application of ethical practices, regulations and laws (federal state and school) including Federal and state special education laws, Section 504 and IEPs.
Knowledge and application of evidenced-based group interventions and strategies.
Skills in culturally and linguistically responsive counseling, identity development, social justice, and advocacy, including the understanding of the historical and social role of schools and schooling in perpetuating causal inequities due to individual and systemic racism.
Skills in engaging families and students to provide feedback on their experience and to continue to recognize, challenge, and promote anti-racism in the school experience.
Knowledge of research in counseling (statistics, research design, data collection and program evaluation.

Feb/March 2025 Public Comment on Updates to Subject Matter Knowledge (SMK) Guidelines

Welcome