*This advisory replaces Charter School Technical Advisory 17-1: Educator Qualifications in Commonwealth Charter Schools
Charter School Technical Advisory 20-1 was last updated June 18, 2020
This technical advisory provides guidance regarding educator qualifications in Commonwealth charter schools1. It is intended to clarify the requirements of the charter school statute in Massachusetts, G.L. c. 71, § 89; the charter school regulations, 603 CMR 1.00; the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); and the state statute governing the education of English Language Learner (ELL) students, G.L. c. 71A, as amended in 2002; and the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as they apply to Commonwealth charter schools.
Qualifications and Licensure Requirements for Massachusetts Charter and Traditional Public Schools
All positions require appropriate MA educator license or DESE-approved waiver (see Licensure Hardship Waiver below).
A licensed educator may be employed for a maximum of 20% of educator's time in a role and/or at a level for which the educator does not hold a license (not applicable to ESL).
MA educator license required only for ESL teachers.
All Commonwealth charter teachers must either have an appropriate license or pass required MTEL(s) within first year of employment in a teacher role at the Commonwealth charter school.
Charter schools, at their discretion, may require teachers to pass additional matter tests as a matter of employment.
A bachelors (or higher) degree is required for teachers.
1 Please note that this advisory does not address educator qualifications in Massachusetts Horace Mann charter schools because, pursuant to G.L. c. 71, § 38G, employees of a Horace Mann charter school are employees of the school district and are therefore subject to the same licensure and other requirements as other district public school educators. The table below includes some educator qualification requirements for Horace Mann charter school, but it not comprehensive.
2 "Core academic teacher" shall mean early childhood and elementary teachers, teachers of students with moderate disabilities, teachers of students with severe disabilities, and teachers of the following academic subjects: English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, civics and government, economics, history, and geography. (603 CMR 14.07)
3 Primary responsibility is at least 50 percent of time on oversight of the ELE program.
4 This license is no longer obtainable, but is valid in the field.
5 Employment after August 10, 2000.
6 If this person is under direct supervision of a qualified teacher, they need not be licensed. If this person is acting as a teacher, they are subject to these requirements.
7 603 CMR 1.06(4); see also G.L. c. 71, § 89(ii).
8 603 CMR 14.07
9 See the Paraprofessionals, Aides, Instructional Assistants, etc. section for requirements of staff working under the direct supervision of a qualified teacher.
10 34 CFR 300.156(a)
11 Primary responsibility is at least 50 percent of time on oversight of the ELE program.
12 This license is no longer obtainable, but it is valid in the field.
13 This license is no longer obtainable, but it is valid in the field.
14 This license is no longer obtainable, but it is valid in the field.
Last Updated: June 18, 2020
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