BOSTON — Parents curious about the licensure status of individuals teaching their children can now look up that information online. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced the new lookup tool Wednesday.
Until now, parents interested in learning about the licensure status of their children's teachers could call the department, according to department spokeswoman Jacqueline Reis. She said that teachers in public school district schools are required to be licensed while charter school teachers need to have passed the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure, but do not need a full license unless they teach English as a second language.
Reis said many charter school teachers are licensed and they are listed under the lookup tool as well.
"Massachusetts residents can check their doctor's or lawyer's licensure status online, and I am pleased that people can now do the same for their children's public school teachers and school administrators," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester in a statement. "I am happy to make this information easier for the public to access."
According to the department, teachers' unions and professional associations were consulted in developing the tool and the department recommends that while the new tool can be used for basic inquiries, school "leaders and hiring officials should continue to access broader information through a separate, existing system and use that system to inform hiring decisions."