603 CMR, § 47.02 - Definitions

As used in 603 CMR 47.00, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Adult Basic Education (ABE) : Includes the many forms of instruction provided to academically underprepared and limited English proficient adults, including adult literacy, secondary education, and English for speakers of other languages.

Adult Basic Education Field Supervisor : A teacher or other educator holding a Professional license in ABE, or who meets one of the sets of criteria as outlined in guidelines set forth by the Department, under whose immediate supervision the candidate for licensure practices during a practicum.

Adult Basic Education Panel Review : A process for reviewing and recommending for licensure teachers of adult basic education who have not participated in and graduated from an approved ABE teacher preparation program, as set forth in 603 CMR 47.04. The Panel consists of experienced ABE practitioners recommended by their peers, and others who are trained and convened by the Department to evaluate their performance.

Adult Basic Education Subject Matter Test : The test of adult basic education subject matter knowledge included in the MTEL.

Adult Basic Education Teacher : Any person employed in or volunteering in an ABE context (e.g., community adult learning centers, corrections, family literacy, homeless shelters, workplace education).

Aggregate Pass Rate : The number of educator preparation program completers who passed all the Massachusetts Tests of Educator Licensure they took in a category of tests divided by the number of completers who took one or more of the tests in that category, expressed as a percent.

Bachelor's Degree : A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Board : The Massachusetts Board of Education.

Commissioner : The Massachusetts Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.

Communication and Literacy Skills Test : The test of communication and literacy skills included in the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure.

Department : The Massachusetts Department of Education.

Educator Preparation Program Supervisor : The supervisor from the ABE teacher preparation program, who meets one of the sets of criteria as outlined in guidelines set forth by the Department, under whose immediate supervision the candidate for licensure practices during the practicum.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): English language acquisition in oral fluency, reading, writing, and numeracy for speakers of other languages.

Field-based Experience : Experiences such as observations of a variety of ABE classrooms, prepracticum or practicum, that are integral components of any approved program for the professional preparation of educators.

Individual Professional Development Plan : A five-year plan completed by licensed ABE teachers that outlines the professional development activities to be undertaken for the renewal of the teacher's license.

License : Any credential issued to an educator under 603 CMR 7.00 and 603 CMR 47.00.

Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) : Examinations required of applicants as designated by the route to the Adult Basic Education Teacher's License. The examination covers: communication and literacy skills, and subject matter knowledge.

Master's Degree : A master's degree from an accredited college or university.

Performance Assessment : Assessment of educator performance as a component of an approved preparation program for licensure, or as part of the Adult Basic Education Panel Review for Licensure.

Performance Criteria : The measures by which teachers may demonstrate proficiency in the Professional Standards set forth in 603 CMR 47.08. The performance criteria are outlined in guidelines provided by the Department.

Performance Portfolio : Assembled materials, exhibits, and documentation from a candidate's practice that evidences proficiency in the Professional Standards for ABE teachers.

Practicum : A supervised field-based experience in the role of an ABE teacher, as set forth in 603 CMR 47.05(3)(a)2.

Practicum Equivalent : A period of supervised teaching in an ABE program. The duration of any equivalent to a practicum should be no fewer hours than provided for the practicum in 603 CMR 47.05.

Pre-practicum : Early field-based experiences in a variety of ABE settings, integrated into courses or seminars that address the Professional Standards for Teachers as set forth in 603 CMR 47.08. See 603 CMR 47.05(3)(a)1. for pre-practicum hours and requirements.

Professional License : A teacher's license issued to a person who has met the eligibility requirements for the license, passed a performance assessment, and met other requirements established by the Board set forth in 603 CMR 47.05. The Professional license is valid for five years and renewable for additional five-year terms as set forth in 603 CMR 47.10.

Professional Standards : The Professional Standards for ABE teachers as set forth in 603 CMR 47.08.

Program Approval : State authorization of an educator preparation program or its sponsoring organization to endorse and recommend program completers for ABE teacher licensure. Also, the process through which a program or sponsoring organization may receive state approval.

Program Completer : An individual who has completed all the requirements of a state-approved preparation program (i.e., instruction/course work and practicum), regardless of whether that person has taken and passed state tests or assessments for licensure or has been recommended for licensure by the program or its sponsoring organization.

Provisional License : A teacher license issued to a person who holds a bachelor's or a master's degree and has passed the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) and met other eligibility requirements established by the Board in 603 CMR 47.05(2)(a). The Provisional license is valid for five years from the date of issue.

Routes to Licensure : The four routes through which prospective and experienced ABE teachers may pursue an Adult Basic Education Teacher's License, as set forth in 603 CMR 47.06.

Single Assessment Pass Rate : The number of educator preparation program completers who passed a MTEL test divided by the number of all completers who took that test, expressed as a percent.

Sponsoring Organization : College, university, school district, professional association, or other organization that provides, or seeks to provide, an approved ABE teacher preparation program.

Subject Matter Knowledge Requirements : Topics that form the content of a discipline or field as set forth in 603 CMR 47.07. These topics do not necessarily coincide with academic courses or imply a specific number of credit hours.

Summary Pass Rate : The number of a sponsoring organization's teacher preparation program completers who passed all the MTEL tests they took divided by the number of the sponsoring organization's completers who took one or more tests, expressed as a percent.

Teacher Preparation Program : An ABE teacher preparation program approved by the Commissioner to prepare individuals for the Adult Basic Education Teacher's License.

Notes

603 CMR, § 47.02