Family & Community Adult Education Adult & Community Learning Services
ABE Teacher's License Update
Volume 2 Number 4 - October 2000

Developing an Adult Basic Education Licensure Process for Massachusetts

The ABE Teacher Certification Update is published by the ESE (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) in coordination with SABES (System for Adult Basic Education Support) in an effort to keep practitioners and interested parties apprised of the status of the ABE Teacher's Certificate. This issue includes a Q&A (attached) in response to the many questions posed by your comments on the Second Interim Report. The Second Interim Report, the responses to the Second Interim Report, and this Update, past issues, and other relevant documents are posted on the ESE Website www.doe.mass.edu/acls and the SABES Website www.sabes.org.

RESPONSES TO THE SECOND INTERIM REPORT: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Over the summer we received many comments regarding the Second Interim Report from practitioners. Some practitioners attended focus groups and others sent comments via mail or email. We would like to thank everyone who took the time out of their busy schedules to study the Second Interim Report and provide thoughtful responses. You will find a report of all practitioner responses, which is arranged thematically, on the ESE Website. See the attached Q&A for responses to questions that practitioners raised in their comments.

NEEDS SURVEY ALERT!
Approximately 4,500 Needs Surveys have been mailed to practitioners. Please take the time to complete the surveys and return them. We need this information so we can plan for the number of practitioners who will be pursuing the certificate. We also need to know how many practitioners will need additional professional development and how many will need to obtain a bachelor's or a master's degree. If you did not receive a survey in the mail, you can download one from either Website or you can pick one up at Network.

NEW PILOT COURSE FOR THE FALL:
Reading and Writing (0-3 GLE) - Sponsored by YALD, hosted by Southeast SABES
CONTACT Annemarie Espindola at 508-678-2811 x2782 for an application
When: 10/14, 21, 28 11/4, 18 12/2, 9
Where: SABES, Bristol Community College, Fall River, MA

Just a few spaces left for enrollment! Participants will receive a $300 stipend and 45 PDPs for full course completion and extensive course evaluation.

Please Stop By The Certification Table At Network And Say Hello!

Your feedback is critical!
It is not too late to have your comments heard. Please take the time to give us your reactions. To those of you who have responded, we thank you. For those of you who have not, we encourage you to send responses via letter, fax, or email to:

Mary Jayne Fay
ABE Certification Specialist
Adult and Community Learning Services
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
email: MJFAY@doe.mass.edu
FAX: 781-338-3394