Secondary Teacher Preparation: Massachusetts

Analysis of Massachusetts's policies

Massachusetts requires that its secondary teacher candidates pass a content test to teach any core secondary subjects.  Unfortunately, Massachusetts permits a significant loophole to this important policy by only requiring its social studies teachers to pass a general content test, rather than subject-matter testing for each subject area within the discipline (see Goal 1-H).

Further, to add an additional field to a secondary license, teachers must also pass a content test. However, as stated above, Massachusetts cannot guarantee content knowledge in each specific subject for those secondary teachers who add social studies endorsements. 

Citation

MTEL https://www4.doemass.org/elar/licensurehelp/FAQDisplayPageControl.ser

Recommendations for Massachusetts

Require subject-matter testing for all secondary teacher candidates.
Massachusetts wisely requires subject-matter tests for most secondary teachers but should address any loopholes that undermine this policy (see Goal 1-H). This applies to the addition of endorsements as well.

State response to our analysis

Massachusetts recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis. However, the state asserted that it does not offer a social studies license or endorsement. 

Last word

For the purpose of this goal, the generic term "social studies endorsement" is used to describe the state's secondary history and political science/political philosophy certificates, which require tests that combine subject areas within social studies and do not report subscores (see Goal 1-H).