We are pleased to announce planned updates to a subset of MTELs over the course of the next five years as part of our Evaluation Systems group (ES) of Pearson contract.
Below please find an operational timeline for these MTEL updates. We will continue to provide updates to the MTEL page of the DESE website on the timing for test updates.
Please note with these updates there will be a score report delay when a new test is first released. There is typically a delay of several months for a candidate to receive their score.
Only one version of an MTEL can be made available to individuals at any given time. As such, as soon as an updated version of an MTEL is live, the previous version will retire and will no longer be available to candidates. If a candidate wishes to take the current version of the test, we recommend they take the test as far in advance as possible from the times that the tests will be updated.
If candidates take and pass an MTEL that becomes retired before they have met other licensure requirements, they can still use the retired MTEL passing score towards earning their license. There is no expiration date on the validity of a passing score on an MTEL.
We will be seeking committee members for bias review committees and content specific committees for the tests above over the next five years. If you are interested in participating, or want to nominate someone, please click here: Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® Recruitment (nesinc.com). You can learn more about test development activities here: Test Development Activities (nesinc.com).
In addition, we want to make you aware of several other updates related to the MTEL program.
New Interactive Right Start Learning Course for Foundations of Reading on the MTEL website — Learn more here: Preparation Materials
Free test prep — We now offer free MTEL test prep courses on the DESE website.
Reduced cost for subtests — Effective 7/23/24, the fee for individual subtests for the following tests was reduced to $69.50: Communication and Literacy Skills (101 & 201), General Curriculum (178 & 278), and Vocational Technical Literacy Skills (191 & 291).
Alternative Testing Arrangements — As a reminder, ES offers a number of alternative testing arrangements for candidates who are:
More information about requesting alternative arrangements for each test can be found here: Alternative Testing Arrangements (nesinc.com)
Approved Alternative Assessments — The Department is in the final year of a regulatory pilot offering approved alternative assessments to the MTEL. Proposed regulations will be brought to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education at the February 25th meeting to permanently authorize alternative assessments beyond 6/30/25. Please learn more here: Pilot of Alternative Assessments to the MTEL - Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL)
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