Overview of the Catherine Leahy Brine Educational Consultants, Inc.
District-Based Professional Licensure Programs
The Regulations for Educator Licensure and Program Approval (603 CMR 7.00) require all candidates seeking initial or professional licensure as a teacher in Massachusetts to complete a Department-approved educator preparation program. Under the regulations, the Commissioner of Education has the statutory authority to approve an expanded variety of educator preparation programs, whether or not they are degree programs.
1. The following professional licensure programs have been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Education.
- Elementary Teacher (1-6)
- Early Childhood: Teacher of Students With and Without Disabilities (PreK-2)
- Secondary Teacher:
- ) Biology (5-8; 8-12)
- ) Chemistry (5-8; 8-12)
- ) Earth Science (5-8; 8-12)
- ) English (5-8; 8-12)
- ) General Science (5-8)
- ) Health/Family and Consumer Sciences (All Levels)
- ) History (5-8); 8-12)
- ) Mathematics (5-8; 8-12)
- ) Middle School: Mathematics/Science (5-8)
- ) Physical Education (PreK-8; 5-12)
- ) Physics (5-8; 8-12)
- Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities(Pre K-8;5-12)
- Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (All Levels)
- Teacher of English Language Learners (Pre K-6;5-12)
2. The professional licensure programs are all one-year long programs and are composed of 12 graduate credits.
a. Elementary Teacher (1-6) Program consists of:
1.) Seminar in Action Research, Parts I and II (6 credits total)
2.) Advanced Analysis of Reading Ability for the Elementary School Educator - 3 credits
3.) Algebra for the Elementary Teacher - Mathematics in a Standards-Based Environment - 3 credits
b. Early Childhood (PreK-2) Program consists of:
1.) Seminar in Action Research, Parts I and II (6 credits total)
2.) Advanced Seminar in the Instruction of Reading for Early Childhood Educators - 3 credits
3.) Advanced Investigations Into Standards-Based Mathematics for the Early Childhood Educator - 3 credits
c. Secondary Programs consist of:
1.) Seminar in Action Research, Parts I and II (6 credits total)
2.) Advanced Research in Secondary Education Content Areas - 3 credits
3.) A content course specific to the area of license - credits
d. Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (Pre K-8; 5-12)
1.) Seminar in Action Research, Parts I and II (6 credits total)
2.) Advanced Research in Education - 3 credits
3.) A content course specific to the area of the license - 3 credits
e. Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (All Levels)
1.) Seminar in Action Research, Parts I and II (6 credits total)
2.) Advanced Research in Education - 3 credits
3.) A content course specific to the area of the license - 3 credits
f. Teacher of English Language Learners (Pre K-6; 5-12)
1.) Seminar in Action Research, Parts I and II (6 credits total)
2.) Advanced Research in Education - 3 credits
3.) A content course specific to the area of the license - 3 credits
3. Fifty hours of mentoring beyond the induction year mentoring is a requirement for licensure by the Department of Education and is, therefore, a component of this program.
4. All standards for admission must be met by the candidate.
a. Candidate must hold an Initial License from the Massachusetts Department of Education. (This implies the passing of all required educator tests by the candidate.)
Upon applying for admission to the program, a copy of the Initial License must be submitted.
b. Candidate must submit documentation, on official school letterhead, of their years and role of employment.
CLICK HERE to download official DOE School Based Employment Verification form.
c. Candidate must submit documentation from his/her school system of the successful completion of a one-year induction program with a mentor.
d. Candidates must submit documentation from his/her school system of the completion of fifty hours of a mentored experience beyond the induction year
OR
documentation from his/her school system of a formalized plan to
complete the fifty hours during the same year as the candidate's
professional licensure program. The identification of the candidate's
mentor and his/her e-mail address and telephone number must be
included in this plan.
5. All standards for exit from the professional licensure program must be met by the candidate:
a. Candidates must receive a minimum of 3.0 in each course of their licensure program.
b. Each candidate will be assigned an advisor who will meet regularly with the candidate and who will maintain an accurate Advisement File.
c. Each candidate will, with the assistance of his/her advisor, maintain an updated and accurate Plan of Study. This is part of the candidate's Advisement File.
d. Candidate's Advisement File and Plan of Study will be examined by the Program Director in order for candidate to be cleared for program exit and to be endorsed for licensure.
6. All graduate credit is awarded through Fitchburg State College.
7. Endorsement of all candidates for Professional Licensure to the Massachusetts Department of Education will be made by Catherine Leahy Brine, Educational Consultants, Inc.
8. No transfer of credit is permitted. Tuition is paid in two billed installments and are payable to Catherine Leahy Brine, Inc.
9. The Professional Licensure Program may be taken in either of two ways:
a. as a stand-alone program composed of twelve credits, as described above; no transfer of credit is permitted OR
b. as a part of a 36 credit Master of Education in General Studies; if the professional licensure program is taken before entrance into the M.Ed. program, the 12 professional licensure credits may be used as transfer credits into that program.
10. The cost of the Professional License Stand-Alone Program is $300.00 per credit, for a total of $3,600.00.
Contact Information:
Catherine Leahy-Brine Educational Consultants, Inc.
P.O. Box 1060
Brockton, MA 02303
Tel. (781) 331-8826
Fax (781) 337-6152
Email: CFBrineINC@aol.com
Catherine Leahy-Brine Educational Consultants, Inc., is a long-standing Massachusetts Department of Education approved educator preparation program provider that offers District-Based Licensure Programs for Teachers and Administrators.
Higher Education Partner with Catherine Leahy-Brine Educational Consultants, Inc., is Fitchburg State College.
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