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Fall 2025 Public Comment on Updates to the Subject Matter Knowledge (SMK) Guidelines

Welcome

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, October 27, 2025.

DESE is seeking public comment on the following updates to the Subject Matter Knowledge (SMK) Guidelines:
  • Removal of old implementation language
  • SMK updates to the following licenses in alignment with the Comprehensive Health & Physical Education Framework:
    • Physical Education 
    • Comprehensive Health
  • SMK updates to the following special education licenses in alignment with curriculum framework content expectations: Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (all levels), Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 & 5-12), and Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Please see the following timeline for the updates to the SMK Guidelines:
  • Week of 9/15/25:  Release revised SMK Guidelines for public comment
  • Through 10/27/25: Public Comment period
  • November 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.
2. Please select your primary affiliation. *This question is required.
Select your role(s).
3. Please rate your level of support for the following updates to the SMK Guidelines *This question is required.
Space Cell SupportSomewhat SupportDo Not SupportNeutral
Removal of old implementation language
Updates to the Physical Education SMKs
Updates to the Comprehensive Health SMKs
Updates to the Moderate Disabilities SMKs
Updates to the Severe Disabilities SMKs
Updates to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing SMKs
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