Educator Services
Preparing Educators

District-Based Licensure Programs for Teachers and Administrators
(Updated: December 2005)

The Regulations for Educator Licensure and Program Approval (603 CMR 7.00) require that all candidates seeking initial or professional licensure as a teacher in Massachusetts complete a Department-approved educator preparation program. Under the regulations, the Commissioner of Education has the statutory authority to approve an expanded variety of educator preparation programs, whether or not they are degree programs.

Types of Sponsoring Organizations and Programs
District-based licensure programs are offered by a variety of sponsoring organizations. Forty-five of the Commonwealth's school districts, charter schools, educational collaboratives, private training providers, and professional associations are at various phases of design and implementation of district-based programs. Most operate in close partnership with higher education. The variety of approved district-based teacher and administrator preparation programs that are now preparing candidates in Massachusetts includes:

• Licenses for teachers (Initial and Professional) in areas of high need, such as mathematics, science, reading specialist, and elementary and special education;
• Licenses for secondary teachers across a variety of fields;
• Licenses for principals/assistant principals, and other administrator roles.

District-Based Routes to the Initial License - Teachers
The regulations (603 CMR 7.05) allow five routes to the Initial teaching license, two of which are district-based:

• Route 3 is for teacher candidates who hold a Preliminary license, are participating in an approved program in a school as a teacher of record or as an apprentice in a classroom.

• Route 4, the Performance Review Program for Initial Licensure (PRPIL), is for teacher candidates who hold a Preliminary license, are working as a teacher of record, and are in a district that does not have an approved program. See http://www.doe.mass.edu/edprep/prpil.html for more information.

Route 3 district-based programs include field-based experiences and seminars or courses that address the Professional Standards for Teachers (603 CMR 7.08), subject matter knowledge and/or related pedagogy, and candidate performance assessment. Note: Initial teaching licenses earned in district-based programs may not be granted reciprocity in states with which Massachusetts has signed the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement.

District-Based Professional Licensure Programs - Teachers
Sponsoring organizations are now developing district-based programs leading to the Professional license for teachers. These programs focus on advanced content and include an advanced mentored experience. They are generally undertaken in close partnership with higher education. Requirements for the district-based professional licensure programs appear in the regulations (603 CMR 7.03 (2) (b) 1. a.)

District-Based Routes to Administrator Licensure
The regulations (603 CMR 7.09) allow district-based routes to a variety of administrator licenses. The most frequent route is through state-approved programs. The administrative apprenticeship/internship is an alternative choice.

Program Approval Process
In order to receive state approval, district-based licensure programs must complete a two-step process of informal and formal review. Successful completion of informal review allows a sponsoring organization to serve as a licensing agent for one year. The formal review is then conducted during a program's second year of operation. Successful completion of the formal review confers the status of an approved program, allowing the sponsoring organization to operate as a licensing agent for program completers for an additional five years.

Technical Assistance for Program Developers
The Department supports prospective district-based programs through a strong program of technical assistance. Experts in the area of program approval advise sponsoring organizations at all phases of the program development and review process. Program developers seeking technical assistance should contact the Office of Educator Preparation and Quality at (781) 338-3235 for further direction and assistance. The attached study, District-Based Initial Licensure Programs in Massachusetts: Program Status - 2004/2005 (coming soon) and Success Factors in Program Development and Operation   , provides you with a view of existing district-based programs in the state and insights on their planning and implementation. The District-Based Initial Licensure Programs for Teachers: A Program Developer's Guide gives detailed descriptions of what is required in an approved initial licensure program and how to develop these programs.

Current Listing Alternative Educator Preparation Programs (formerly called district-based programs)    
The following listing presents district-based programs that have either completed the informal review and are in process for formal approval, or are approved programs. All programs listed may endorse candidates for licensure. Only programs that are currently in operation and/or seeking new candidates are included on this list.