Informal Review Toolkit

Overview

Informal Review is the method by which existing sponsoring organizations put new programs forward for approval outside of the Formal Review cycle. It is also the method by which organizations wishing to prepare educators in Massachusetts may seek initial approval to operate as a sponsoring organization within the state.

The Informal Review process aligns with the expectations for educator preparation programs outlined in the 2023 Guidelines for Educator Preparation Program Approval. These Guidelines were shaped by contributions from over 450 educator preparation personnel, preparation candidates and recent completers, district and school leaders and educators, and PK-12 students and families from across the Massachusetts.

The materials below are organized by review type and phase:

New Sponsoring Organizations
- Intent to Submit
- Overview Call
- Informal Review Submission
- DESE Review
- Notification of Approval Determination
New Programs
- Intent to Submit and Needs Assessment
- Informal Review Submission
- DESE Review
- Notification of Approval Determination

Important Notes Regarding Programs Put Forward for Review During the 2026 Informal Review Cycle

DESE is currently Only accepting new program submissions for licenses on the high need program list
Sponsoring Organizations with Formal Reviews in 2026-27 or 2027-28: DESE does not accept proposals for new programs during the two-year period preceding a Formal Review. The sponsoring organizations may submit new program proposals as part of their Formal Review process. Those designated as Approved with Distinction may submit new programs at any time.
Sponsoring Organizations with Early Literacy Interim Reviews in 2027-28: DESE does not accept proposals for new early literacy programs during the academic year prior to an Early Literacy Interim Review. Proposals may be submitted during the academic year in which the Early Literacy Interim Review occurs; however, determinations will be issued alongside the Early Literacy Report rather than following the Informal Review timeline outlined below.
All Professional Teacher Programs: DESE is developing updated guidance for Professional Teacher programs. New Professional Teacher programs may not be put forward until the updated expectations are released.
All Endorsement Programs: DESE is developing updated guidance for Endorsement programs. New Endorsement programs may not be put forward until the updated expectations are released.
Streamlined Approval Process for Moderate Disabilities PK–2 and Severe Disabilities PK–2 Programs: The Subject Matter Knowledge Guidelines have been updated to reflect two new licenses approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2024: Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities, PK–2 and Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities, PK–2. Both licenses now also appear on DESE's list of MA High Needs Programs. For sponsoring organizations that have an approved program in both PK–2 Early Childhood and either Moderate Disabilities PK–8/5–12 or Severe Disabilities, All Levels (depending on the PK–2 program) at the same level (Baccalaureate or Post-Baccalaureate) as the proposed program, we are offering a streamlined approval process. Sponsoring organizations who meet these requirements may submit a Statement of Assurance and program of study for each proposed program to EducatorPreparation@mass.gov . If your sponsoring organization does not meet these requirements, proposed PK–2 Moderate Disabilities or PK–2 Severe Disabilities programs must go through the standard Informal Review process.
- July 2024 Message Regarding Streamlined Process
- PK–2 Moderate and Severe Disabilities Statement of Assurance Template

The table below provides a full overview of the process to propose a new sponsoring organization. For a comprehensive understanding of the expectations for sponsoring organizations, please review the 2023 Guidelines for Educator Preparation Program Approval and resources available on DESE's educator preparation Guidelines and Advisories webpage.

Please note that DESE's Informal Approval expectations and process are distinct from other accreditations such the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Stage	Timing	Description of Activities
Intent to Submit	Accepted throughout the year.	To initiate the Informal Review process, prospective sponsoring organizations must communicate the intention to seek approval to operate an educator preparation program in Massachusetts. By obtaining advance notification, DESE can more effectively support the submission process and plan internal capacity for a timely review. To signal intent to submit, please email EducatorPreparation@mass.gov with the following information: Name of proposed sponsoring organization Name and contact information for a designee appointed to oversee the Informal Review process (if the designee is not the organization's formal leader, the leader must be copied on the email) Please note that out-of-state universities must be approved by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education prior to submitting licensure programs through the Informal Review process.
Overview Call	Prior to beginning the submission process.	A member of DESE's Educator Preparation team will walk the prospective sponsoring organization through DESE expectations for sponsoring organizations, provide guidance for the Informal Review process, and answer questions.
Informal Review Submission	Accepted throughout the year.	The prospective sponsoring organization will submit the following materials to demonstrate alignment with DESE expectations: INF Worksheet — Cover Page INF Worksheet — Organizational Overview INF Worksheet — Organization Domain INF Worksheet — Continuous Improvement Domain INF Worksheet — Partnerships Domain INF Worksheet — Candidate Domain INF Worksheet — Field-Based Experiences Domain In addition to completing the organization-level worksheets above, the prospective sponsoring organization must also submit information for each licensure program it wishes to offer. Instructions and materials for this process can be found in the New Program table below. DESE will provide each sponsoring organization with a link to a private SharePoint folder to support the submission process. This folder will include templates for all required worksheets. Once ready, all submission materials should be uploaded as Word or Excel documents.
DESE Review	Submissions will be reviewed by DESE on a rolling basis.	DESE will then review the Informal Review Submission to determine whether the prospective sponsoring organization and proposed licensure program(s) sufficiently meet expectations as outlined in the 2023 Guidelines for Educator Preparation Program Approval.
Notification of Approval Determination	Decisions will be communicated to each sponsoring organization within six months of receipt of the Informal Review Submission. Results will be shared as quickly as possible; however, this process takes time, as it involves close collaboration between the Educator Preparation team and content specialists.	Determination — As a result of the review, DESE will notify the prospective sponsoring organization of its approval determination. *Informal Approval Granted:* Sponsoring organization sufficiently meets expectations and is approved to operate. Each proposed licensure program will also receive a distinct approval determination. *Informal Approval Pending:* Sponsoring organization meets most expectations but must make targeted revisions to be approved to operate. *Informal Approval Not Granted:* Sponsoring organization does not meet expectations and is not approved to operate. If desired, the organization may resubmit with substantial revisions. Approval Period — For new sponsoring organizations, Informal Approval is granted for a three-year period, at which point a Formal Review will be conducted. Full approval is granted only after the successful completion of a Formal Review. Enrolling Candidates — Sponsoring organizations must receive approval from DESE before enrolling candidates into any educator preparation program. Organizations may be required to implement specific changes prior to enrolling candidates. If applicable, these requirements will be outlined by DESE in the approval letter. Annual Report — After the first year of operation under Informal Approval and for each subsequent year, the sponsoring organization must submit an annual report to DESE in accordance with 603 CMR 7.03 (4).

The table below provides a full overview of the process to propose a new licensure program. For a comprehensive understanding of the expectations for each licensure program, please see DESE's complete list of educator preparation program Guidelines and Advisories.

Stage	Timing	Description of Activities
Needs Assessment	Accepted on a rolling basis from Feb 16, 2026 through July 31, 2026. Sponsoring organizations are strongly advised to complete the Needs Assessment as early as possible to allow adequate time to prepare the Informal Review Submission.	Self-Study (optional) — Proposing, reviewing, and operating a high-quality preparation program requires considerable time and resources from both sponsoring organizations and DESE. Given this, DESE encourages sponsoring organizations to conduct an internal self-study to evaluate objectives and capacity prior to putting any new program forward for review. A template for this process can be accessed in Appendix A of the Needs Assessment Advisory. Intent and Needs Assessment Survey — To officially initiate the Informal Review process, sponsoring organizations must complete an Intent and Needs Assessment Survey During the 2026 Informal Review cycle, only programs on the high need program list will be considered for approval.
Informal Review Submission	Accepted from August 1 through September 13, 2026.	If DESE determines that need is demonstrated, the sponsoring organization will move on to the Informal Review Submission. During this stage, the sponsoring organization submits materials to demonstrate alignment of the program's content and structure with DESE's expectations. Submission requirements vary by licensure category, field, and grade span. DESE will provide each sponsoring organization with a link to a private SharePoint folder. This folder will include templates for the required worksheets and matrices for the specific program being proposed. DESE's templates can be downloaded using the links below. Sponsoring organizations will also be expected to upload programs of study, course descriptions, and syllabi to the private SharePoint folder. All must be shared as Word or Excel documents. Informal Review Worksheets INF Worksheet — Administrator INF Worksheet — Endorsements INF Worksheet — Professional Support Personnel INF Worksheet — Specialist Teacher INF Worksheet — Teacher Initial PST/PSI and SMK Matrices, and Literacy Addendum
DESE Review	Regardless of when they are completed within the submission window, submissions from all sponsoring organizations will be reviewed by DESE's content experts between September 2026 and March 2027.	DESE's content specialists first evaluate criteria related to Subject Matter Knowledge (INS 2), the Professional Standards for Teachers/Professional Standards and Indicators (INS 3), and how sequencing and connections between courses are designed to build candidates' readiness for full responsibility in the licensure role (INS 5). If evidence for any of these criteria is insufficient, materials are returned to the sponsoring organization for revisions prior to continuing the review for the remaining criteria (INS 1, INS 4, and INS 6).
Notification of Approval Determination	Decisions will be communicated to each sponsoring organization by March 12, 2027. Results will be shared as quickly as possible; however, the review process takes time, as it involves close collaboration between the Educator Preparation team and DESE's content specialists.	Determination — As a result of the review, DESE will notify each sponsoring organization of its approval determination: *Informal Approval Granted:* Program meets all expectations and is approved to operate. *Informal Approval Pending:* Program meets most expectations but must address key findings to fully meet expectations and be approved. The sponsoring organization will have one opportunity to make targeted revisions and resubmit its application(s) within the current Informal Review cycle. The sponsoring organization will have at least one month to make changes and may request additional time if needed. Upon resubmission, DESE will review the application and may approve the program or request additional revisions to address the findings. *Informal Approval Not Granted:* Program does not meet expectations and is not approved to operate. If desired, the sponsoring organization may resubmit the program with substantial revisions during the next Informal Review cycle. Approval Period — For existing sponsoring organizations proposing new programs, Informal Approval is granted until the next Formal Review. Full approval is granted only after the successful completion of a Formal Review. Enrolling Candidates — Sponsoring organizations must receive approval from DESE before recruiting candidates for or enrolling candidates into any new educator preparation program. Organizations may be required to implement specific changes before recruiting or enrolling candidates. If applicable, these requirements will be outlined by DESE in the approval letter. Annual Report — After the first year of operation under Informal Approval and for each subsequent year, the sponsoring organization must submit an annual report to DESE in accordance with 603 CMR 7.03 (4).

Please email EducatorPreparation@mass.gov with questions.

Last Updated: February 19, 2026