WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – During the COVID-19 pandemic the state issued around 4,000 emergency licenses to persons who were unable to complete their schooling or take the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTELs) due to lockdowns.
Those emergency licenses will expire this year. Due to the shortage of teachers, the state is offering to help transition those to permanent licenses.
Map: How much do teachers get paid in Massachusetts? The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will be opening regional centers focused on transitional licensing. Westfield State University (WSU), Bridgewater State University, Class Measures, Salem State University, Stonehill College, and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), will operate the regional centers.
WSU will serve educators in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, where a total of 856 emergency licenses have been issued. MCLA will primarily serve teachers in Berkshire County. The idea is to provide the assistance needed to obtain standard teaching licenses and remain in the profession.
The regional centers will offer free support and guidance to emergency license holders, including mentoring, coaching, and access to resources such as classwork, field experience opportunities, and preparation classes for the MTELs.
“We have a longstanding reputation in the area for teacher preparation and support,” remarked Dr. Megan Kennedy, Director of Educator Preparation, Accreditation, and Outreach at Westfield State. “We felt it was really important to support emergency licenses in particular. The population of those who hold emergency licenses is much more diverse than the population being currently drawn into traditional programs, so it’s an opportunity for Westfield State to be a leader in this area. This is about community support.”
More information on the Western Mass Regional Center can be found on the WSU website.
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