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Public Comment - Guidelines for Alternative Assessments to the MTEL

We Want YOUR Feedback

Following a regulatory pilot that operated from 2020 to 2025, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (the Board; BESE) voted on May 20, 2025 to approve regulations providing the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education with the ability to approve alternative assessments to the MTEL. In alignment with the regulations, the Department is issuing Guidelines for the approval and sustainability of all approved alternative assessment options (603 CMR 7.04(2)(f)). These Guidelines will expand options for licensure assessments for educators in support of developing and sustaining a diverse and effective educator workforce. We welcome your feedback on these draft Guidelines.  

We Want YOUR Feedback  

Through this survey, we hope to gather input about the newly developed Guidelines for Alternative Assessments to the MTEL that will be used to guide the applications, selection, and monitoring of alternative assessments to the MTEL.   

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

  • aspiring educators  

  • candidates currently enrolled in a preparation program

  • educator preparation leaders and faculty  

  • PK-12 administrators  

  • school-based educators and other personnel 

  • classroom teachers  

  • recent preparation program completers  

  • PK-12 parents and guardians 

  • PK-12 students 

Thank you in advance for taking the time to consider the individual impact these Guidelines might have for you and their potential impact statewide. Your responses will directly inform how the Department considers the implementation of alternative assessments.     

Directions  

Please complete a series of rating and open response survey questions about the draft Guidelines for Alternative Assessments to the MTEL. We recommend keeping the draft Guidelines open while completing the survey. 

1. Are you providing comment as an individual, a representative of an organization/district, or as a collective?    *This question is required.
This question requires a valid email address.
5. What is your role? (select all that apply) *This question is required.
6. Have you previously taken a licensure assessment (MTEL or alternative)?  
If so, which licensure assessment? (please select all that apply) 
7. What is your race/ethnicity?
8.

The questions within this section refer to the draft Guidelines for Alternative Assessments to the MTEL. Please reference the draft Guidelines when answering both rating and open response questions. When relevant, reference specific section headings or page numbers in your responses.  
The draft Guidelines for Alternative Assessments to the MTEL...  
Space Cell AgreeSomewhat AgreeNeither Agree or DisagreeSomewhat DisagreeDisagree
Provide clear expectations
Articulate purposeful connections and coherence to DESE’s Educational Vision and other related resources.
Provide clear background context for the development of the Guidelines
Articulate appropriate requirements for Alignment for approval of alternative assessments
Articulate appropriate requirements for Viability for approval of alternative assessments
Articulate appropriate measurements of and requirements for Utility for implementation of alternative assessments
Articulate appropriate measurements of and requirements for Impact for implementation of alternative assessments
Articulate appropriate measurements and requirements for monitoring for Sustainability
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