District/School Administration Administration
The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Amendments to Vocational Technical Education Regulations (603 CMR 4.00)

I am pleased to present for review and Board vote the proposed amendments to the Vocational Technical Education Regulations (603 CMR 4.00). The amendments were first discussed at the November 18, 2008 meeting, at which time you authorized me to solicit public comment. The proposed amendments make the following changes:

• Add one new vocational technical teacher license titled Construction Craft Laborer.

  This license would be required for individuals who will teach in a new high school vocational technical education program in the field of skilled construction laboring. The United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration - Office of Apprenticeship as well as the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Division of Apprentice Training have approved a two-year registered apprenticeship program in skilled construction laboring. The high school program in Massachusetts is being developed in partnership with the Laborers International Union. Students who complete the program will receive credit toward the two-year apprenticeship at the postsecondary level through an articulation agreement with the Laborers International Union. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, they will be journey workers engaged in technical work including hazardous materials remediation, remote tunneling, concrete work, and an array of building construction work.

• Align the vocational technical educator licensure provisions more closely in several areas with the Chapter 71 Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval Regulations, 603 CMR 7.00, and the Recertification Regulations, 603 CMR 44.00.

  The amendments would add provisions regarding inactive and invalid licenses to the Vocational Technical Education Regulations. These provisions are basically identical to the provisions in the Recertification Regulations and provide that a license that is not renewed becomes inactive for a period of five years and an inactive license that is not renewed becomes invalid. The amendments allow educators to become employed under an inactive license and give them two years from the date of employment to renew the inactive license. Educators cannot be employed under an invalid license unless the school district receives an employment waiver from the Commissioner. In addition, the amendments provide for licenses to be valid for five years of employment under the license, in place of five calendar years.

During the public comment period, the Department received only one written comment on the proposed amendments, from an official with the Laborers International Union suggesting that the title of the license be "Construction Craft Laborer," rather than Construction Crafts. I recommend that the title of the license be Construction Craft Laborer so that the title is consistent with the name of the program. Note that the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) and the Educational Personnel Advisory Council (EPAC) have indicated support of the proposed amendments that were released for public comment.

The following documents are enclosed for your review:

• Strikethrough version of the Vocational Technical Education Regulations, indicating the proposed amendments. Note: Sections of the regulations that are not being amended are not included in this copy.
• A motion for your consideration.

We will make available the complete set of the Vocational Technical Education Regulations and the written comment on the amendments to any Board member who would like to have them.

Department staff will be at the meeting to respond to your questions.

Enclosures:
   Proposed Amendments to Vocational Technical Education Regulations - 603 CMR 4.00