Early Literacy in Educator Preparation

Evidence-based early literacy instruction, provided within schools and classrooms that are culturally responsive and sustaining, will put our youngest students on a path toward literacy for life. In the Massachusetts school system, some of our children receive the instruction and support they need to develop a strong foundation for literacy — and some don't. Today, only about half of 3^rd graders are meeting literacy expectations, and the reading proficiency levels for Black and Latinx students are less than half that for White students. These statistics reflect not student effort or ability, but opportunity and support to learn. DESE is committed to advancing evidence-based, culturally responsive early literacy practices across Massachusetts from educator preparation to K–12 classrooms.

Our Way Forward

DESE's goal is that all Early Childhood, Elementary, and Moderate Disabilities teacher candidates in Massachusetts are prepared, through coursework and opportunities for practice and high-quality feedback, in evidence-based early literacy as outlined in the Mass Literacy Guide.

Being able to read, write, speak, and communicate are essential for full participation in our society. Literacy affords access to ideas, opportunities, and so much more. In conjunction with a significant investment in our K–12 schools and classrooms, DESE has launched a multi-year initiative to support and invest educator preparation providers in meeting the goal of ensuring that all prospective teachers are learning evidence-based early literacy practices aligned to Mass Literacy.

In 2019, DESE launched the Mass Literacy initiative and its centerpiece, the Mass Literacy Guide. The goal of Mass Literacy is to support pre-service and in-service educators in grades PreK–3 to gain deep knowledge of literacy development and to skillfully implement evidence-based, inclusive, culturally responsive practices using high-quality instructional materials and assessments.

In line with the mission of Mass Literacy, it's critical that prospective teachers are learning evidence-based early literacy practices and how they can be enacted in a culturally responsive way. Currently in Massachusetts, the extent to which new teachers are learning evidence-based early literacy practices varies widely:

Only one-third of surveyed teacher candidates and recent completers in 2020 and 2021 agreed that "there are instructional routines for teaching each component of literacy which are supported by scientific evidence."
According to a 2021 syllabi review of required courses in elementary and early childhood programs across nine teacher preparation providers, some candidates currently are not afforded opportunities to learn about key topics such as decoding, phonemic awareness, and components of writing instruction.
From Fall 2022 through Spring 2024, DESE offered optional, no-stakes formative feedback reviews of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Moderate Disabilities PK–8 programs across the Commonwealth in order to provide sponsoring organizations with clear, comprehensive feedback on programmatic alignment to new expectations for early literacy instruction. Twelve sponsoring organizations took advantage of the opportunity and invited TPI-US to conduct a thorough review of literacy coursework as well as the extent to which field-based placements and partnerships with PK–12 districts supported pre-service teachers' preparation in evidence-based early literacy instruction. Our team is grateful for these organizations whose willingness to engage in this work and to provide thoughtful feedback informed revisions to the Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria and the review process. Read more about the formative feedback reviews: TPI-US Formative Feedback Review Summary & Final Report to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, June 2024

The Early Literary Program Approval Criteria set expectations for all Elementary, Early Childhood, and Moderate Disabilities PK–2/PK–8 initial licensure programs that these teacher candidates receive training and preparation in evidence-based literacy instruction so that they can meet the needs of all students from the moment they step into the classroom.

Download the Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria

Read the full memo regarding the Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria

As part of Governor Healey's Literacy Launch initiative, DESE is accelerating the review timelines for Elementary, Early Childhood, Moderate Disabilities PK–2, and Moderate Disabilities PK–8 teacher preparation programs. Starting in SY2024-2025, the Early Literacy Interim Reviews will assess programmatic alignment to the new Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria so that all teachers are prepared to implement evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally and linguistically sustaining early literacy instruction. Learn more at: Accelerated Early Literacy Program Review and Approval.

DESE has updated and expanded the number of licensure assessments aligned to Mass Literary and the MA curriculum frameworks, including the updated Foundations of Reading MTEL (released 2020), the Reading Specialist MTEL (released 2022), and the identification of alternative assessments for Foundations of Reading through the 3-year MTEL-Alternative Assessment Pilot.

The Early Literacy Observation From supports educator preparation supervisors to observe and provide high-quality feedback to teacher candidates on their practice in evidence-based early literacy. Beginning in the 2024-2025 academic school year, this tool will be integrated into the Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP) for all candidates in Early Childhood, Elementary, and/or Moderate Disabilities licensure programs. Read the full memo regarding the Early Literacy Observation Form Timeline.

Throughout this initiative, DESE is working closely with faculty and administrators, K–12 educators, families, and students as we collectively work to empower educators with the evidence-based practices for early literacy that all students need.

In order to better support organizations as they make programmatic shifts in alignment with the Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria, DESE will be publishing an Early Literacy in Educator Preparation Resource Hub in the upcoming months. Stay tuned!

Early Literacy Email Updates

Want to stay in the loop about our Early Literacy in Educator Preparation initiative? Every quarter, we share news, upcoming opportunities, and announcements in our Early Literacy in Educator Preparation Quarterly Update.

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Last Updated: December 18, 2025