We are currently seeking public comment on the draft Guidelines for the Professional Standards for Teachers (PSTs) and draft Guidelines for the Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP) .Share your perspective by June 2nd!
We would love to hear from educator preparation leaders and faculty, program supervisors, supervising practitioners, PK–12 administrators and classroom teachers, recent preparation program completers, and others with recent, nuanced, and varied experiences with the Professional Standards for Teachers and Candidate Assessment of Performance.
Input will directly inform final revisions to the Guidelines and impact all new teachers who complete Massachusetts educator preparation programs.
Discuss the updated Guidelines with colleagues to provide collective feedback to DESE. Please register for the option that best fits your schedule.
In-person Session Registration For educator preparation personnel only
Virtual Session Registration Candidates, recent completers, supervising practitioners, and partners are also encouraged to attend!
The PSTs define the pedagogical knowledge and skills required of all teachers as they complete preparation programs in Massachusetts. They determine which practices are emphasized and evaluated in teacher preparation coursework and field-based experiences. The PSTs are aligned to the Standards of Effective Practice that define effective teaching and leading in the Commonwealth. This alignment enables educators to complete preparation programs with the knowledge and skills they will be expected to demonstrate as effective beginning teachers who well-serve all students in their care.
All Initial Teacher candidates in Massachusetts educator preparation programs are required to successfully complete CAP before they are endorsed for licensure. CAP measures teacher candidates' practice across a set of key elements from the PSTs determined to be most essential for beginning teachers to well-serve all students, particularly those from systemically marginalized groups and communities. CAP is structured to provide all candidates with high-quality feedback to support their growth, assess essential knowledge and skills, and prepare them for the Model Educator Evaluation process as early teachers.
The 2015 PST Guidelines and CAP Guidelines have been updated to align with revisions to the elements in the Standards for Effective Practice. Revisions to the elements were grounded in DESE's Educational Vision for effective teaching and leadership, and reflect input from educators, students, and families across Massachusetts on antiracist, inclusive, and equitable practices that support all students to attain academic knowledge and skills, understand and value themselves and others, and engage with the world.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, DESE collected additional feedback from over 200 stakeholders from across Massachusetts and partnered closely with a working group of educator preparation faculty and leaders, program supervisors, supervising practitioners, recent completers, and other PK–12 representatives to update the Guidelines.
PST/CAP Working Group Members:
Please reach out to EducatorPreparation@mass.gov with any questions.
Last Updated: April 17, 2024
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
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