Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL)

English, Mathematics (Middle School), and Mathematics (Secondary) MTEL Release and Score Report Information

The revised English, Mathematics (Middle School) and Mathematics (Secondary) MTEL tests scheduled to be released on May 31, 2021. As noted on the MTEL website and as standard with all newly revised MTELs, score reports for the revised tests will be delayed due to standard-setting activities and determination of qualifying scores by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Scores will be released upon the completion of these activities. This information is available to candidates under the "Score Reporting" section of the Test Information page.

We understand the impact that the delays can have on teacher candidates and wanted to provide some information about the test development activities to make the process clear, and to share the reason behind the delayed release of the score reports.

Once the tests are operational, the Department's partner, Evaluation Systems Group (ES) of Pearson begins to collect data on candidate performance on the revised tests. ES must collect enough test data to ensure that there is robust evidence for making a passing score recommendation. That collected data is then provided to a Qualifying Score Panel composed of up to 20 content experts, including currently practicing teachers, and educator preparation faculty.

At the Qualifying Score Conference, Panel members review the candidate data and additionally undergo a simulated test-taking activity in order to inform the overall score recommendation. You can find additional detail about this process in the MTEL Technical Manual. Specifically, the section "Determination of Qualifying Scores" provides information about the score-setting process. The Qualifying Score Conferences for Mathematics (Middle School and Mathematics (Secondary) are currently scheduled to take place the weeks of July 19th and July 26th respectively. The English Qualifying Score Conference is currently scheduled to take place the first week in August. The conference is set for this time in order to ensure that Evaluation Systems of Pearson is able to collect enough performance data from candidates to inform the recommendation.

Following the Qualifying Score Conference, ES then calculates recommended performance levels for the multiple choice and open-response sections of each test based on the recommendations provided by the Qualifying Score Panel members which in turn informs the analysis and report for the Commissioner. This information is used by the Commissioner to determine the passing score for the tests based upon the panel-based recommendations and other input.

This process can take several weeks following the Qualifying Score conference and score reports will then be released in the next score report date after the passing score is determined by the Commissioner.

Please email testhelp@doe.mass.edu if you have any questions.