After Years of Advocacy, Massachusetts Establishes Alternative Pathways to Educator Licensure to Strengthen K-12 Workforce (May 28, 2025)
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves regulations making MTEL alternatives permanent
Establishing alternative pathways to support those interested in becoming educators - a long-standing priority of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts to strengthen and diversify the Commonwealth’s pipeline of educators – is now a reality.
At their May meeting, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted unanimously to establish alternative assessments to the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), creating a broader range of pathways for those aspiring to be teachers.
"This is a critical step forward to address the current teacher shortage we're facing and, more importantly, increase the diversity of our pipeline of teachers,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “Research has shown time and time again that all students benefit from a diverse educator workforce – one that accurately reflects the wonderful diversity of our communities. As we build a stronger, more diverse pipeline, more students will be able to identify with their teachers and will be more likely to consider becoming teachers themselves. We look forward to working with the state and Legislature to continue to identify ways to make stronger, more supportive schools for all."
Since 2020, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has used a pilot program to offer 26 alternative assessments for educator licensure. The assessments were intended to expand access to the teaching profession, allowing prospective teachers to demonstrate competencies in different ways while maintaining high standards for subject matter knowledge, communications and literacy skills. The Board’s vote made these alternatives permanent.
“Massachusetts leads the nation in education, and we’re proud to have the best teachers in the country,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These additional licensure assessments will open doors for aspiring educators, remove unnecessary barriers, and help us build a stronger, more inclusive educator workforce."
“These new regulations give candidates more ways to demonstrate their content knowledge while still upholding high standards," said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “By approving alternative assessments to licensure, we’re supporting talented individuals who have the passion and skills to lead in the classroom but may not have performed well on the MTEL.”
According to a recent evaluation by the National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data, candidates who took the alternatives are performing similarly to teachers who passed traditional MTELs and are more diverse than those who took traditional MTELs.
“In Massachusetts, our diversity is our strength. Research shows us students perform better when they have teachers who look like them and understand where they come from,” said Education Secretary Patrick A. Tutwiler. “The Board’s action this week represents an important step toward ensuring every classroom has excellent, diverse educators while also improving student outcomes.”
In response to advocacy from the public, the final regulations incorporate an expanded list of prerequisite license options for the new Media Arts Endorsement. This now includes Radio and Television Broadcasting, Engineering Technology, Drafting, Information Support Services and Networking, Programming and Web Development, and Painting and Design Technology.
In addition to adding a new Media Arts Endorsement, the final regulations include new flexibilities for obtaining professional licensure, and the ability to apply the Bilingual Educator Endorsement toward the Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement requirement.
For more information about alternative assessments, visit DESE’s website: Pilot of Alternative Assessments to the MTEL - Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).