Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure

Last updated

The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) program was initiated by the Massachusetts Department of Education in 1998. It is part of a statewide education reform initiative for educators seeking pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 licenses. The MTEL program includes a test of communication and literacy skills as well as tests of subject matter knowledge. [1] The tests are designed to ensure that Massachusetts educators can communicate adequately with students, parents/guardians, and other educators and that they are knowledgeable in the subject matter of the license sought. The MTEL program was expanded in November 2004 to include tests for candidates seeking vocational technical and adult basic education licenses.

Contents

The MTEL is developed, administered, and scored by National Evaluation Systems, Inc. (NES), which is now known as the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson Education. Tests are scored on a criterion-based system, where examinees must attain a certain score based on standards established by the state. Constructed (written & oral) components of the tests are scored using a focused holistic scoring model (similar to holistic grading). Like regular holistic scoring, responses are viewed for their overall quality, not just for individual mistakes. However this is done according to specific criteria that the state has established (i.e., grammar, support, etc.). These criteria vary by test and assignment.

It is accepted in a few other states as a credential for teaching. The MTEL is a unique set of tests, whereas all other states in New England use the Praxis test, which have been adopted by 40 other states. [2] A wide variety of MTEL assessments are available, including: Academically Advanced (52) Adult Basic Education (55) Bilingual Education (79) Biology (66) Business (19) Chemistry (67) Chinese (Mandarin) (29) Dance (46) Digital Literacy and Computer Science (71) Early Childhood (72) Earth and Space Science (74) English (61) English as a Second Language (54) Foundations of Reading (190) French (26) General Curriculum (03)—current test General Curriculum (78)—future test General Science (64) German (27) Health/Family and Consumer Sciences (21) History/Social Science (73) Italian (30) Latin and Classical Humanities (15) Mathematics (Elementary) (68) Mathematics (Middle School) (65) Mathematics (Secondary) (63) Mathematics/Science (Middle School) (77) Middle School Humanities (50)—current test Middle School Humanities (76)—future test Music (16) Physical Education (22) Physics (69) Portuguese (32) Reading Specialist (62) Russian (31) Sheltered English Immersion (56) Spanish (28) Speech (44) Technology/Engineering (70) Theater (45) Visual Art (17)

Design

The MTEL is designed to align with state-regulated expectations of subject matter familiarity and state curriculum frameworks. Most MTELs contain sub-areas that correspond to the broader academic subjects, i.e., the General Curriculum Multi-Subject test includes various sub-areas such as language arts, history and social science, etc. Each sub-area also contains various objectives corresponding to more specific academic areas. These objectives are reviewed and approved by panels, following a review of state regulations, state-level curriculum frameworks, and surveys of both teacher candidates and university-level education faculty. The sub-areas determine the weight of each area in score calculation. The state also convenes a bias review committee to assist the advisory committee in assessing test items for bias. The bias committee reviews both content and language for topics and/or wording that may disadvantage certain demographics of teacher candidates. All concerns raised by the bias committee are submitted to the advisory committee, which is required to address all issues raised by the bias committee. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Standardized test</span> Test administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner

A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner.

A Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) is an undergraduate professional degree which prepares students for work as a teacher in schools. In some countries such as Tanzania and Kenya, additional tasks like field work and research are required in order for the student to be fully qualified to teach. It may also be accompanied with or followed by tests for licenses or certifications required for teachers in some areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curriculum</span> Educational plan

In education, a curriculum is broadly defined as the totality of student experiences that occur in the educational process. The term often refers specifically to a planned sequence of instruction, or to a view of the student's experiences in terms of the educator's or school's instructional goals. A curriculum may incorporate the planned interaction of pupils with instructional content, materials, resources, and processes for evaluating the attainment of educational objectives. Curricula are split into several categories: the explicit, the implicit, the excluded, and the extracurricular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comprehensive school</span> Type of school

A comprehensive school is a secondary school for pupils aged 11–16 or 11–18, that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude, in contrast to a selective school system where admission is restricted on the basis of selection criteria, usually academic performance. The term is commonly used in relation to England and Wales, where comprehensive schools were introduced as state schools on an experimental basis in the 1940s and became more widespread from 1965. They may be part of a local education authority or be a self governing academy or part of a multi-academy trust.

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a three-step examination program for medical licensure in the United States sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). Physicians with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree are required to pass the USMLE for medical licensure. However, those with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO) are required to take the COMLEX-USA (COMLEX) exams.

The anti-bias curriculum is a curriculum which attempts to challenge prejudices such as racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, weightism, homophobia, classism, colorism, heightism, handism, religious discrimination and other forms of kyriarchy. The approach is favoured by civil rights organisations such as the Anti-Defamation League.

A Praxis test is one of a series of American teacher certification exams written and administered by the Educational Testing Service. Various Praxis tests are usually required before, during, and after teacher training courses in the U.S.

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment system, commonly abbreviated as MCAS, is Massachusetts's statewide standards-based assessment program developed in 1993 in response to the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of the same year. State and federal law mandates that all students who are enrolled in the tested grades and who are educated with Massachusetts public funds participate in MCAS testing.

The Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) is the high school graduation examination given to sophomores in the U.S. state of Ohio. Students must pass all five sections (reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies) in order to graduate. Students have multiple chances to pass these sections and can still graduate without passing each using the alternative pathway. In 2009, the Ohio legislature passed an education reform bill eliminating the OGT in favor of a new assessment system. The development and transition of replacement began in 2014 and will end in 2022.

The Master of Education is a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, school psychology, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in their field. Similar degrees include the Master of Arts in Education and the Master of Science in Education.

The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is a U.S.-based association devoted to supporting social studies education. It is affiliated with various regional or state level social studies associations, including: the Middle States Council for the Social Studies, the Washington State Council for the Social Studies, the New York City UFT Association for the Teaching of Social Studies, the Michigan Council for the Social Studies, Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies, and Virginia Council for the Social Studies. They publish several journals; their flagship publication being a peer-reviewed journal titled Social Education which, according to their website, aims to strike "a balance of theoretical content and practical teaching ideas." They sponsor the high school honor society Rho Kappa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York State Education Department</span> Department of the New York state government

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is the department of the New York state government responsible for the supervision for all public schools in New York and all standardized testing, as well as the production and administration of state tests and Regents Examinations. In addition, the State Education Department oversees higher education, cultural institutions such as museums and libraries, vocational rehabilitation, and the licensing of numerous professions. It is headed by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York (USNY) and administered by the Commissioner of Education.

In India, board examinations refer to the public examinations that are conducted at the end of the completion of Secondary and Senior secondary Education .The class 10 Board Exam are conducted by State Board, Central Board of Secondary Education And Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations .The class 10 th exam is important for continue of Secondary Education.After Completion class X exam the Student persuade in different stream such as Science Commerce and Arts ( Humanities).The Class 12 Board Exam are conducted by State Board (HSC), Central Board of Secondary Education (AISSCE) And Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations ( ISC). The scores achieved in XII exams are considered very important for getting into universities, professional courses or training programmes and other occupations Such as getting in Major Public / Private University(College) or Institute of national importance Such as AIIMS, NIT,IIT, IIIT And IIM.

In an educational setting, standards-based assessment is assessment that relies on the evaluation of student understanding with respect to agreed-upon standards, also known as "outcomes". The standards set the criteria for the successful demonstration of the understanding of a concept or skill.

Education reform in the United States since the 1980s has been largely driven by the setting of academic standards for what students should know and be able to do. These standards can then be used to guide all other system components. The SBE reform movement calls for clear, measurable standards for all school students. Rather than norm-referenced rankings, a standards-based system measures each student against the concrete standard. Curriculum, assessments, and professional development are aligned to the standards.

Sandra Stotsky is Professor emerita in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas, and held the 21st Century Chair in Teacher Quality. Her research ranges from teacher licensure tests, e.g., (1), coherence in the literature and reading curriculum, e.g., (2), and academic achievement in single-sex classrooms, e.g., (3) to critiques of Common Core’s standards in English language arts, e.g., (4) mathematics.(5), and US History and civic education (6), and other aspects of the Common Core project, e.g., (7), and to reviews of books in education, e.g., (8) She is an advocate of standards-based reform and strong academic standards and assessments for students and teachers.

Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) are standardized tests used to assess the competencies of prospective teachers according to Florida's Sunshine State Standards. FTCE refers to 47 different exams: four General Knowledge sub-tests, one Professional Education exam, and 42 Subject Area examinations.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative, also known as simply Common Core, is an educational initiative from 2010 that details what K–12 students throughout the United States should know in English language arts and mathematics at the conclusion of each school grade. The initiative is sponsored by the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elementary schools in the United States</span> Primary education in the United States

In the United States, elementary schools are the main point of delivery of primary education, for children between the ages of 5–11 and coming between pre-kindergarten and secondary education.

Secondary education in Italy lasts eight years and is divided in two stages: scuola secondaria di primo grado, also known as scuola media, corresponding to the ISCED 2011 Level 2, middle school and scuola secondaria di secondo grado, which corresponds to the ISCED 2011 Level 3, high school. The middle school lasts three years from the age of 11 to age 14, and the upper secondary from 14 to 19.

References

  1. "Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure | Lesley University". lesley.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  2. Flippo, Rona F.; Canniff, Julie G. (April 2003). "Who is Not Teaching Our Children? The Paradox of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure". Multicultural Perspectives. 5 (2): 40–45. doi:10.1207/s15327892mcp0502_9. ISSN   1521-0960.
  3. Cowan, James; Goldhaber, Dan; Jin, Zeyu; Theobald, Roddy (October 2020). Teacher Licensure Tests: Barrier or Predictive Tool? Working Paper No. 245-1020. National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research.