Developing an Adult Basic Education Licensure Process for Massachusetts
The ABE Teacher's License Update [formerly the "ABE Certification Update" and recently renamed to reflect changes in preK-12 licensure terminology] 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 License. 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.
BOARD OF EDUCATION REVIEW DATE SET
The Regulations for the ABE teacher's license are almost ready for public comment and will be presented to the Board of Education on Tuesday, January 23rd, sometime between 4-7 P.M. The meeting will be held at the ESE in Malden. If you would like to attend the meeting, you may do so, or you may watch the meeting via live video feed on the ESE web-site at www.doe.mass.edu.
The ABE model has been reviewed by members of the Department, and recommended changes were discussed and voted on by the statewide ABE Certification Advisory Committee at its final meeting on Friday, December 8th. ACLS, the Advisory Committee, and other relevant parties have been very gratified by the positive reception the licensure model has received as it has worked its way closer to the Board presentation. Deputy Commissioner Sandra Stotsky and Associate Commissioners Ann Duffy and Carole Thomson, among others, have provided input that most agree has strengthened the model while respecting its adult basic education focus.
At the Board meeting, there will be a 10-15 minute presentation of the model after which a panel of ESE staff and ABE Certification Advisory Committee members will respond to questions by the Board. The Board will then vote whether to release a draft of the Regulations for public comment. If the Board approves the draft for public comment, it will be released for a 60-day period, during which time ESE will hold at least two hearings in different regions of the state, dates and times to be announced. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the draft will be revised, as appropriate, based on the feedback received. A final draft of the Regulations will be presented to the Board in April for their approval.
NEW PILOT COURSES COMING IN MARCH 2001
"ABE Curriculum and Methods"
hosted by Northeast SABES and developed/presented by Jeri Bayer and Alisa Povenmire.
March 23, 31, April 6, 27, May 4, 11, 18 [Fridays, except for 3/31].
Contact Sharon Clark at 978-738-7302 or klufts@aol.com for an application.
"ESOL I"
hosted by Central SABES, developed by a MATSOL team--Johan Uvin, Janet Isserlis, and Marcia Chaffee--and
presented by members of that team.
March-May dates to be determined.
Contact Joanne Harrington at 508-854-4476 or joanneh@qcc.mass.edu for an application.
NEEDS SURVEY DATA BEING PROCESSED
Of the approximately 4,500 Needs Surveys distributed to practitioners this past Fall, nearly 25% were returned--an excellent percentage. The data processing is not yet complete, but of 623 surveys processed thus far, nearly half of respondents have indicated that they intend to pursue the ABE teacher's license as either an add-on to their existing license(s) or as a stand-alone. That means that so far roughly 300 practitioners have shown an interest in pursuing the new license. Once processing of the surveys is complete, the data will be analyzed to make a valid projection of level of interest across the entire population of Massachusetts ABE practitioners.
For those of you who responded to the Needs Survey, we appreciate and thank you for your time and effort.
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS NEEDED?
Contact:
Mary Jayne Fay, ABE Certification Specialist, at MJFay@doe.mass.edu
or
Carey Reid, SABES Staff Development Specialist, at 617-482-9485 at CReid@worlded.org
last updated: January 1, 2001
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