Educator Preparation in Massachusetts

The resources on this page are primarily for Massachusetts approved educator preparation programs.

If you are an individual hoping to become an educator in Massachusetts, visit our Careers in Massachusetts page.
If you are from an organization seeking to become an approved educator preparation program, visit our Informal Review toolkit.

Quick Links:

Ed Prep Frequently Asked Questions (For quick access to frequently asked questions and an extensive library of resources.)
Educator Preparation Review and Approval
Guidelines and Advisories
PST and CAP Guidelines
Other Educator Preparation Resources

DESE Educator Preparation Resources and Opportunities 2024-2025

We are excited to share upcoming opportunities to learn from and collaborate with the DESE team and your colleagues from other educator preparation programs throughout the 2024-2025 school year. We will continue to update this list as more specific details become available. If you have additional questions about any of these opportunities, please contact educatorpreparation@mass.gov .

In addition to the opportunities below, our team will continue to communicate and collect feedback through our Monthly EE Newsletter and regular attendance at SCOPE, MACTE Board, and COMTEC meetings. The Educator Preparation Advisory Group and PST/CAP Working Group will also continue to collaborate with our team throughout the year to inform specific projects.

PST and CAP Implementation Support

These opportunities will provide support, collaboration, and learning on the 2024 Guidelines for the Professional Standards for Teachers (PSTs) and 2024 Guidelines for the Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP) to prepare for their full implementation in 2025-2026. These opportunities will be designed for those involved in Initial Teacher programs.

The updated Guidelines were released in June 2024 and include significant changes, including updated levels of practice, modifications to the expectations of supervising practitioners and program supervisors when conducting observations, and changes to CAP evidence collection, among others. SOs must implement these changes beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year. In support of implementation planning throughout 2024-2025, DESE will provide multiple opportunities for SO personnel, program supervisors, supervising practitioners, and district personnel to learn more about the updates.

These opportunities were designed through extensive input, including public comment on the 2024 CAP and PST Guidelines, virtual and in-person CAP and PST Guidelines roundtables, and the 2023-2024 CAP and PST Working Group. Support for using the Early Literacy Observation Form, in particular providing high-quality feedback to candidates on culturally and linguistically sustaining practices in early literacy will be interwoven with these opportunities.

Key Resources:

Opportunity or Resource	Links, Date(s), & Registration Info
Statement of Assurance and Implementation Plan Templates Each sponsoring organization is expected to complete and submit a statement of assurance and high-level implementation plan attesting to their commitment to prepare for full implementation of the updated PST and CAP Guidelines in 2025-2026.	The templates are available at 2024 PST and CAP Guidelines & Resources
PST and CAP Info Sessions These info sessions will provide an overview to key audiences about the updates to the PST and CAP Guidelines and provide time to answer questions. They will be held virtually and recordings will be shared for those who cannot attend.	For sponsoring organization personnel — focus on both CAP and PST updates: Tuesday, October 1 from 1–2pm For program supervisors: Monday, October 7 from 3–4pm Registration link For supervising practitioners and PK12 partners: Thursday, October 17 from 3–4pm Registration link For sponsoring organization faculty — focus on coursework/PST updates: Friday, October 25 from 2–3pm Registration link
NAFSCE and DESE Drop-In Session on Family and Community Engagement in CAP One-hour virtual session on the topic of family and community engagement, focusing on how evidence can be used to demonstrate this expectation in CAP.	December 5, 10–11am Registration link
Communities of Practice Series of collaborative meetings led by members of the prep field to calibrate evidence for each Essential Element. Evidence produced during Communities of Practice will be archived and published as examples on the DESE website.	Application to facilitate will be released early in the Fall. Sessions will run between January–April 2025 Application link
Community of Practice: Significant Implementation Cohort Series of peer-directed meetings to collaboratively problem solve issues related to implementation of the 2024 CAP and PST Guidelines. Open to sponsoring organizations who are executing significant implementation of the 2024 CAP and PST Guidelines during the 2024-2025 academic year. DESE will use these sessions to inform future supports and resources.	Sessions will take place monthly throughout the 2024-2025 academic year.
PST and CAP Drop-in Sessions One-hour virtual sessions led by members of the prep field, each with a featured topic requested by the field. Topics will include: Using evidence Providing feedback Training SPs Adjusting coursework to align with updated PSTs	Application to facilitate will be released early in the Fall. Sessions will run in March–April 2025
CAP Introduction Videos These will be published on the DESE website describing the purpose and structure of CAP, intended for supervising practitioners and candidates.	Fall 2024
Updated CAP Handbook Handbook providing suggestions and resources to support CAP implementation, including CAP roles and responsibilities, the CAP process, optional forms, and optional protocols.	Fall 2024 (updated forms are available on the 2024 PST and CAP Guidelines & Resources page)
Quick Reference Guides Short reference guides describing specific areas in need of more clarification, as requested from the field.	Fall 2024
CAP Online Platform The CAP Online Platform will be revised to align with the 2024 Guidelines for the Candidate Performance of Assessment.	Summer/Fall 2024: Input and Planning Winter/Spring 2025: Building, Testing, and Feedback July 1, 2025: Launch updated Platform

Last Updated: October 1, 2024