Bill > H669

This bill proposes several key changes to enhance teacher preparation and student literacy in Massachusetts. It requires the Commissioner of Education to regularly evaluate teacher preparation programs, focusing on their effectiveness in preparing candidates to meet students' needs, with a specific emphasis on evidence-based reading instruction in five key areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The bill mandates annual data publication on these programs, including enrollment, candidate demographics, and employment rates. It introduces new requirements for reading screenings in kindergarten through third grade, requiring districts to assess students' reading abilities at least twice yearly using approved, evidence-based screening instruments and to provide appropriate interventions for students significantly below benchmarks. Additionally, the bill establishes a two-year pilot teacher apprenticeship program in high-needs districts, providing paid classroom experience with mentor teachers and supporting candidates with wages and expenses to ensure diversity. The bill also requires that elementary literacy curricula be evidence-based and directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to study initiatives for recruiting and retaining diverse, high-quality educators in high-needs districts, including potential financial incentives and a master educator corps program. These provisions aim to improve teacher preparation, student literacy, and educational equity in Massachusetts.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H669