Guidelines for the Administrative Apprenticeship/Internship and Panel Review Routes
January 2016
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906
Phone 781-338-3000 TTY: N.E.T. Relay 800-439-2370
www.doe.mass.edu
This document was prepared by the
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.
Commissioner
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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906
Phone 781-338-3000 TTY: N.E.T. Relay 800-439-2370
www.doe.mass.edu
Table of Contents
Introduction and Context 2
License Requirements 3
Overview: Routes to Licensure 4
A. Approved Program of Studies 4
B. Administrative Apprenticeship/Internship 4
C. Panel Review 4
Understanding the Administrative Apprenticeship and the Administrative Internship 6
A. Definition 6
B. Purpose 6
C. Required Hours 6
D. Distinguishing Features of the Apprenticeship and Internship 6
E. The School District’s Role 7
F. Planning the Experience: The Candidate and the District 8
G. Additional School District Responsibilities 9
Understanding the Licensure Panel Review Process 10
A. Definition 10
B. Purpose 10
C. Eligibility 10
D. Process Components 10
Appendix A – Professional Standards and Indicators for Administrative Leadership 12
Appendix B – Verification/Endorsement Form for Administrator Licensure 16
Performance Assessment for Initial Licensure Verification Form 17
Appendix C – Candidate Checklist 19
Appendix D – Mentor Role and Training Resources 20
Appendix E – Administrator Performance Assessment for Initial License 21
Appendix F – Selected Definitions 22
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4906 Telephone: (781) 338-3000
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.Commissioner
MEMORANDUM
To: / School District Superintendents, Charter School Leaders, Candidates for Licenses as Administrative Leaders, Aspiring Administrative Leaders, and Other Interested StakeholdersFrom: / Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D. Commissioner
Date: / April 22, 2014
Subject: / Overview of Routes to Administrator Licensure and Guidelines for the Administrative Apprenticeship/Internship and Panel Review Routes
I am pleased to provide you with the Overview of Routes to Administrator Licensure and Guidelines for the Administrative Apprenticeship/Internship and Panel Review Routes. The amendments to the regulations for Educator Preparation and Licensure (603 CMR 7.00) passed by the Board in December 2011 and June 2012 required updating the Guidelines to Administrator Routes to Licensure (2003). This new document, which provides both an overview and guidelines, replaces that document.
The regulation changes included new Professional Standards for Administrative Leadership (603 CMR 7.10) as well as increased minimum hours for the field experience for some administrator licenses (603 CMR 7.09). The Professional Standards for Administrative Leadership are now aligned to the Standards for Effective Administrative Leadership Practice, creating a seamless connection and ensuring a coherent system of leadership development from preparation to evaluation and professional growth.
The overview of the routes to Administrator Licensure is intended to provide basic information on the three routes to licensure. The Overview section will be useful to aspiring leaders and those contemplating pursuing an administrative leadership role. The guidelines related to the administrative apprenticeship/internship and the panel review provide detailed process information for individuals and districts pursuing licensure through either of these routes.
The Department also is developing performance assessments for initial licensure for all administrator licenses. Leadership candidates must demonstrate their ability to do the authentic work of school and district leaders. The first administrator performance assessment will be for principals, and it will be available in fall 2015. Appendix E of this Overview provides updated information on the Department’s expectations related to candidate performance assessment for initial licensure.
Preparing future administrative leaders who are ready to take on the challenges of leading the Commonwealth’s schools and districts is a shared responsibility between administrative leadership preparation programs and P-12 Districts. I urge all stakeholders engaged in the preparation of these leaders to embrace these new standards and higher expectations.
Guidelines for Administrator Routes to LicensurePage 1
Introduction and Context
In 2011 and 2012, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) approved changes to the Regulations for Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval that impact licensure for administrators and these changes took effect on January 1, 2014. The December 2011 Educator Licensure and Program Approval Regulations introduced new professional standards applicable to all administrator licenses. These Professional Standards for Administrative Leadership replace the Professional Standards for Administrators. The Department subsequently published the Guidelines for the Preparation of Administrative Leaders, in May 2012, which contains detailed indicators for each of the four standards. Please refer to Appendix A of this document for the complete set of Standards and Indicators.
On June 20, 2012, the Board approved further changes to the Regulations for Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval, including revisions to Licenses and Routes for Administrators [603 CMR 7.09 (1-2 and 4)]. The June 2012 regulations contain increased required hours for the practicum/practicum equivalent and the apprenticeship/internship for some administrator licenses. Please refer to the chart on page 7 of this document for the complete list of required hours.
The central purpose of these changes is to ensure that all schools in the Commonwealth have well-prepared school and district administrators; these leaders are essential to achieving the goal of providing an effective learning environment for students. While there are new standards and higher expectations related to the routes to administrator licensure, there continues to be a variety of means for licensed educators, non-traditional educators, and career-changers from other professions to pursue licensure as an administrator in the Commonwealth. Individuals interested in school or district leadership may choose to prepare for one of five administrator roles requiring licensure in this state:
· superintendent/assistant superintendent,
· principal/assistant principal,
· supervisor/director,
· special education administrator, and
· school business administrator
The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of the three routes to administrator licensure, which are the approved program, the administrative apprenticeship/internship, and panel review. Additionally, the purpose is to provide guidelines containing more in-depth information for the administrative apprenticeship/internship route and the panel review route.
Guidelines for Administrator Routes to LicensurePage 1
License Requirements
To obtain an administrator license, candidates must demonstrate successful application of the Professional Standards for Administrative Leadership through an approved program, an administrative apprenticeship/internship, or panel review culminating in the Department’s Performance Assessment for Initial License.
Candidates applying for an administrator license, other than a Temporary, must receive a passing score on the MTEL Communication and Literacy Skills Test.
As of July 1, 2014, candidates who are applying for their first administrator’s license, other than a Temporary, as either a principal or as a supervisor/director of a core academic[1] teacher will be required to have a Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Administrator Endorsement. It is highly recommended that applicants for other administrator licenses consider carefully whether to obtain a SEI endorsement. If an administrator will be supervising and/or evaluating core academic teachers (as defined above) with ELL students, then he/she will be required to have a SEI endorsement. As a newly licensed administrator, you will not know your precise job responsibilities in advance; therefore, it is wise to consider obtaining a SEI endorsement so that you are not limited in the administrator positions you can assume. For the most updated information on SEI requirements, please visit the Department’s RETELL webpage.
Specific requirements for each administrator license regarding prerequisite licenses and experience, degrees, subject matter coursework, additional or out-of-state licenses, may be found in the Educator Licensure Regulations (603 CMR 7.00). In addition to this document, candidates are encouraged to review the Department’s Licensure webpage as well as other guidance documents referenced in this document in order to assist them in determining the best means to obtain an administrator licensure.
Overview: Routes to Licensure
The purpose of each licensure route is to prepare candidates who can successfully demonstrate the Professional Standards and Indicators for Administrative Leadership. This will enable them to be dynamic and effective school and district leaders, capable of facilitating the development of a district and/or school learning community that promotes student achievement. The Professional Standards and Indicators for Administrative Leadership serve as the basis for assessing candidate eligibility for licensure by the Department. Each preparation route includes an Administrator Performance Assessment for Initial License (refer to Appendix E for more information).
This document focuses on two of the three routes to licensure: the Administrative Apprenticeship/Internship route and the Panel Review route. Brief references and resources are provided about obtaining licensure through an approved program. The routes are:
A. Approved Program
The Department approves educator preparation programs sponsored by higher education institutions, professional associations, collaboratives, school districts, charter schools, and other organizations. Approved programs are designed to meet the requirements for a specific administrator license. Candidates interested in enrolling in an approved program should refer to the Department’s website: www.doe.mass.edu/edprep for a list of approved administrator preparation programs. Candidates wishing to pursue a master’s or other advanced graduate program may investigate approved programs that are degree granting or offer graduate credit transferable to a graduate program. Additional information regarding this route can be found in the Guidelines for the Preparation of Administrative Leaders.
B. Administrative Apprenticeship/Internship
This route to licensure, detailed further in the document, is primarily a field-based experience in the role of the license sought. With the regulation changes of June 2012, new minimum hours were introduced for several administrator roles. Candidates interested in an apprenticeship or internship must find a school district that is willing to provide the structure and support needed, including an administrator who holds a valid professional license in the same role and level, has been rated as proficient in his/her most recent summative evaluation, has been trained as a mentor, and who is willing to supervise the candidate. The district must also provide appropriate seminars or workshops to assist the candidate in adequately addressing the Professional Standards and Indicators for Administrative Leadership. Additional information is provided throughout these Guidelines for both candidates and interested school districts.
C. Panel Review
The Panel Review, detailed further in this document, is a route to licensure that allows candidates to use a combination of their education (formal schooling and coursework) and their professional experience as a means to demonstrate that they have the qualifications for an administrative license. The Panel Review route is only available for administrator licensure candidates who have the specific prerequisite experiences and is available for all superintendent candidates. The process is typically a two-step process: (1) Compilation of requisite materials by the candidate, and (2) An interview with a panel of experienced administrators and educators. Additional information is provided in these Guidelines for candidates.
Understanding the Administrative Apprenticeship and the Administrative Internship
A. Definition
B. Purpose
These guidelines are for candidates and school districts that have chosen the Administrative Apprenticeship/Internship pathway for meeting the requirement of demonstrating the successful application of the knowledge and skills expected of school administrators. This route is available for eligible candidates applying for the following administrative licensure areas:
A. Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (levels: all)
B. Principal/Assistant Principal (levels: PreK-6; 5-8; 9-12)
C. Supervisor/Director (levels: dependent on prerequisite license)
D. Special Education Administrator (levels: all)
E. School Business Administrator (levels: all)
C. Required Hours
Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent / 500 hoursPrincipal/Assistant Principal / 500 hours
Supervisor/Director / 300 hours
Special Education Administrator / 500 hours
School Business Administrator / 300 hours
D. Distinguishing Features of the Apprenticeship and Internship
A candidate with either traditional or non-traditional educational experiences or a candidate with a non-educational background may pursue either an administrative apprenticeship or an administrative internship in a school district as the route to a specific administrator license. Both require a commitment from the district, including the assignment of a trained mentor to work closely with the candidate. (Please refer to Appendix D for more detailed information on mentors.) It is expected that the candidate will work in the apprentice/intern role over the course of an academic year; experiences should cover a range of time periods within the school year and cover the span of the full school day.
An administrative internship is one that typically has the licensure candidate employed by the school district as an acting administrator (administrator of record). The administrative apprenticeship can be a paid or unpaid experience and has the candidate functioning in the role of the license sought under the guidance of the mentor for at least the minimum hours required.
E. The School District’s Role
A school district may choose to support an applicant for whom the administrative apprenticeship/internship is the best route to licensure. Alternatively, the district may sponsor or collaborate with another organization with an approved administrator preparation program to support aspiring administrators.