Educator Effectiveness

Performance Review Program for Initial Licensure (PRPIL)

PRPIL is an attractive option for teachers who have experience and some coursework, but have not completed an approved initial licensure program. Candidates in districts without district-based programs and for whom college programs are not convenient may find PRPIL to be their most expedient initial licensure route. This is now Route Four to Initial Teacher Licenses in the regulations, 603 CMR 7.05(4), and has been expanded to include teaching fields beyond the earlier list of core academic areas. The Department has contracted with Class Measures to operate PRPIL for eligible candidates in teaching fields, EXCEPT those listed below, who have documented educational coursework/training, teaching experience, and are currently working under the Preliminary license. PRPIL consists of a five-stage review, including onsite observations and a preservice performance assessment using Department guidelines, in which the candidate works with an instructional consultant supplied by Class Measures and a district coach/mentor. Each stage will evaluate the candidate's ability to 1) demonstrate application of the Massachusetts Professional Standards for Teachers in the context of his/her subject area of the license and classroom, and 2) incorporate the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks into his/her practice.

Who is Eligible?

Only teachers who fulfill the following requirements are eligible to enroll in PRPIL. The candidate must:

Hold a Massachusetts Preliminary License in any teaching field EXCEPT:

Early childhood	Teacher of the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Elementary	Teacher of the visually impaired
Library	Academically advanced
Teacher of students with moderate disabilities	Reading specialist
Teacher of students with severe disabilities	Speech/language/hearing disorders
(PRPIL is not available for these licenses.)

Have at least three full years of employment in the role of the Preliminary license, as well as documented seminars, courses, and experience relevant to the Professional Standards for Teachers in 603 7.08 (2).
Be employed in a district in which there is no state-approved district-based program for obtaining an Initial license or in which the approved program is not available to the candidate. (Please see www.doe.mass.edu/gem/ for a list of approved district-based programs.)
Be recommended by the principal of each school where the candidate was/is employed under the Preliminary license or in the role of the Initial license sought.
Complete a competency review for those license fields that have no subject matter knowledge test, or for which not all the subject matter knowledge required for the license is measured by the test.

Please note that licenses earned through this alternative process may not be reciprocal in states with which Massachusetts has signed the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. The cost of the program is $2,500. Payment arrangements are between the candidate and Class Measures. For more information about the program and application requirements please visit www.classmeasures.com or contact Lisa Demoulias of Class Measures at (781) 939-5699 or lisa@classmeasures.com.

Last Updated: January 24, 2006