Educator Preparation Reviewers

The Guidelines for Educator Preparation Program Approval set the expectation that all aspiring educators must be prepared in evidence-based practices, including anti-racist and culturally and linguistically sustaining practices, that well serve all students in Massachusetts.

To hold educator preparation providers accountable to these expectations, DESE conducts rigorous reviews of every provider in the state. For existing providers, these are called Formal Reviews.

The Formal Review process is designed to:

• Recognize providers' varied contexts and structures
• Elevate stakeholder perspectives
• Gather a comprehensive evidence base for decision-making
• Drive toward increasingly equitable experiences and outcomes for all preparation candidates and the PK–12 students they serve as educators

At a high level, the Formal Review process evaluates whether providers:

• Have sufficient systems, structures, and personnel in place to enable equitable program experiences and outcomes for all candidates.
• Provide effective instruction to all candidates such that they develop the content knowledge and pedagogical skills needed to be effective educators.
• Ensure all candidates engage in a range of high-quality field-based experiences that prepare them to be effective educators for all PK–12 students.
• Provide comprehensive guidance and support to all candidates from recruitment through graduation to prepare all completers to be effective educators.
• Cultivate collaborative PK–12 school and district-level partnerships that benefit candidates/completers, schools/districts, and PK–12 students by building an increasingly diverse and effective educator workforce and creating anti-racist and culturally and linguistically sustaining learning experiences for both candidates and PK–12 students.
• Engage in continuous improvement efforts that drive toward better experiences and equitable outcomes for all candidates and the PK–12 students, schools, and districts they serve.

Formal Reviews directly influence the quality of educator preparation programs in Massachusetts and support crucial improvement in candidate and PK–12 student experiences and outcomes.

• At the conclusion of each review, the provider receives a detailed report outlining judgements and supporting evidence. The report elevates strengths and areas where improvement is needed. Providers are required to report progress in identified areas of improvement to DESE annually and are expected to address them by the point of their next review.
• Many providers report that review results have led to increased institutional support and resources, changes to program structures and staffing, and updates to course and fieldwork. For example, reviews have led to the creation of field-based experience offices, updated trainings for field supervisors, revisions to core coursework, new advising and support processes, the development of collaborative partnerships with PK–12 schools/districts, and more.
• These programmatic changes then impact the nearly 4,500 newly licensed educators who are hired in Massachusetts public schools each year and the roughly 63,000 students who they serve.

After thoughtful selection and in-depth training, Ed Prep Reviewers support DESE in making evidence-based, equity-centered judgements about program effectiveness.

Each Ed Prep Reviewer is assigned to a review team that works together across multiple components of one provider's review. Reviewers work closely with DESE staff and are responsible for:

• Analyzing qualitative and quantitative evidence collected through surveys, focus groups, interviews, and written submissions.
• Identifying key evidence that demonstrates whether the provider is meeting DESE's expectations.
• Collaborating with a team of education professionals to make judgements regarding provider performance.

The total time commitment is estimated to be 25–30 over the span of approximately one month. Significant portions of reviewers' work may be completed independently within this window.

Open the document below to learn more about the current cohort of Ed Prep Reviewers.

• 2025 Ed Prep Reviewer Biographies

When selecting Ed Prep Reviewers, DESE looks for individuals who have:

• Have experience in PK–12 schools, educator preparation programs, or related organizations
• Are passionate about strengthening the educator pipeline
• Are committed to ensuring that all students have access to diverse, equity-driven educators
• Are open-minded about different approaches to educator preparation
• Are comfortable analyzing qualitative and quantitative data
• Enjoy collaborating with professionals with different backgrounds and perspectives

• Earn Compensation and Recognition — Receive a $500 stipend, 30 Professional Development Points, and public acknowledgment for your contributions to the field
• Make an Impact — Your insights will directly influence the coursework, fieldwork, and support systems for aspiring educators
• Grow Professionally — Gain a deeper understanding of educator preparation, expand your network, and bring fresh ideas back to your own workplace

Complete the 2026 Ed Prep Reviewer Application by February 16^th, 2026.

If you think someone else in your network would be a great fit for the role, please fill out an Ed Prep Reviewer Nomination Form.