Instructional Consultant Materials

Thank you for being part of the Performance Review Program for Initial Licensure (PRPIL). In 2003, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) contracted with Class Measures to provide an initial licensure program. This alternative route to licensure is Route Four in the DESE regulations.

PRPIL has grown from a cohort of 25 teachers in its first year, 2004, to over 300 teachers in the 2008-2009 school year. As PRPIL continues to grow, the Class Measures staff strives to provide you with the most complete and helpful information available. This webpage is a work in progress and we encourage you to comment and suggest additions to the information available here. Comments and suggestions can be directed to emilyclassmeasures@comcast.net.

Instructional Consultant Responsibilities

The Performance Review Program for Initial Licensure is delivered through two key players: the Instructional Consultant (called Program Supervisor on the PPA forms) assigned by Class Measures and a Mentor (called Supervising Practitioner on the PPA forms) chosen by the teacher candidate. Mentors must hold an Initial or Professional license in the teacher's subject area. Please communicate with the Mentor throughout the process and involve the Mentor in the three post-observation meetings. If possible, introduce yourself to the Principal.

As an Instructional Consultant, your overarching responsibility is to evaluate the candidate's ability to meet the Massachusetts Professional Standards for Teachers and to incorporate the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks into practice. This is done primarily through two means:

Review of the Portfolio - Instructional Consultants review a candidate's portfolio a minimum of two times, at the beginning and end of the program. In addition, during the program candidates may call on their Consultant to offer advice and suggestions regarding acceptable portfolio evidence. More detailed information about portfolio requirements can be found below under Portfolio Guidelines.
Classroom Observations - Consultants are required to conduct three classroom observations. Each observation should include a pre- and post-observation meeting and written feedback via a Classroom Observation Report. Additional coursework, readings or other professional development work may be recommended if all standards are not fully met. Initials need to be put on the PPA form after each observation. Classroom Observation Reports should be at least one page, typed, and include the teacher's name, grade level of students, subject area, number of students present, name of Instructional Consultant, and date/time of observation. Note: Mentors are also required to observe the candidate three times. However, Classroom Observation Reports are optional for Mentors.

After all classroom observations have been completed, the Instructional Consultant and Mentor must do a final review of the candidate's portfolio. The Instructional Consultant must rate the evidence for each standard, indicator, and sub-indicator, and write summary comments as needed according to the Preservice Performance Assessment (PPA) form. All parties must sign each page of the PPA form as indicated. If the Consultant and Mentor cannot agree to recommend initial licensure, the PRPIL Program Director will assign a mediator to review the evidence collected.

The teacher candidate submits the completed portfolio to Class Measures. The Instructional Consultant submits the following materials to Class Measures:

completed PPA forms, including ratings and summary comments, with original signatures;
three (3) Classroom Observation Reports; and
an invoice containing the following information - name, address, phone number, email address, social security number, date, name of program (PRPIL), and name of teacher candidate. Please use this template: Click here to download . Note: Class Measures pays in net 30 days from the time the portfolio and invoice are received.

Portfolios are evaluated by members of the Class Measures Review Panel within 3-6 weeks of submission. In some cases additional evidence may be requested. Once a portfolio has passed the Panel Review, Class Measures submits endorsement paperwork on behalf of the teacher candidate, who must apply for the license through the DESE website. The DESE Licensure Office typically takes about 2-4 weeks to process the endorsement paperwork and mail the Initial License directly to the teacher.

Current Instructional Consultants are required to attend a refresher training session every 2-3 years. You will be notified of training dates as they are scheduled.

Instructional Consultants receive an honorarium and 15 Professional Development Points per teacher candidate upon completion of the program.

Sample PRPIL Timeline

The PRPIL program takes a minimum of four months to complete from the date of acceptance. Below is a summary of the timeline experienced by most teachers and Instructional Consultants.

Teacher applies to PRPIL
Teacher is accepted into PRPIL program and pays tuition
Teacher begins preparation of portfolio first draft
Class Measures assigns an Instructional Consultant within 2 weeks (Note: Teachers who apply during the summer months will be assigned an IC in August)
Instructional Consultant contacts the teacher within 1 week of accepting the assignment. Information in the IC's initial email should include:
- A short introduction
- Request for teacher's resume
- Schedule of days/times for teacher to contact IC
- Email address and phone number of IC
- Reminder that draft portfolio should be submitted before the first observation
- Request to schedule 3 observation dates, approximately 4 weeks apart, minimum one class period in length. (We suggest scheduling an alternate date for each observation as well in case of snow days, illness, etc.)
Teacher submits first draft of portfolio to Instructional Consultant. Instructional Consultant provides teacher with feedback following the initial review of the portfolio.
Classroom observations occur over a minimum of 3 months. Instructional Consultant provides written feedback to the teacher after each observation. Meanwhile, the teacher continues to revise and add to the portfolio.
After classroom observations are completed, the Instructional Consultant and mentor both review the completed portfolio. Additional recommendations can be made at this time if needed. PPA form is completed and signed.
Completed portfolio is submitted to Class Measures by the teacher.
Completed PPA forms, Classroom Observation Reports, and Invoice are submitted to Class Measures by the Instructional Consultant.
Class Measures reviews the portfolio within 3-6 weeks of submission. If needed, additional evidence is requested from the teacher. Portfolio is returned to teacher.
Teacher applies for the Initial License on the DESE website.
Class Measures submits endorsement paperwork to the DESE Licensure Office. The Licensure Office typically takes 2-4 weeks to process the endorsement paperwork. The license is mailed directly to the teacher by the DESE.

Portfolio Guidelines

Class Measures expects the PRPIL portfolio to be organized according to the DESE PreService Performance Assessment form (PPA).

PDF version of the PPA form: http://www.doe.mass.edu/edprep/ppa_form.pdf
Word version of the PPA form: http://www.doe.mass.edu/edprep/ppa_form.doc

There are five Professional Standards for Teachers. Each standard has several indicators. In addition, Standard B contains sub-indicators. At least one "hard" piece of evidence is required for each indicator and sub-indicator as proof that it is being addressed by the teachers in their classroom setting. Class Measures recommends submitting 2-3 pieces of evidence per indicator wherever possible. When the portfolio is completed, the Instructional Consultant must rate the evidence provided for each indicator and sub-indicator. The rating scale is described at the bottom of the PPA form.

The DESE provides a Guidelines to the Preservice Performance Assessment document. The PPA Guidelines document provides a list of questions to be used as a guide for teachers and Instructional Consultants in determining whether or not evidence is appropriately relevant to the content of the indicator. Use these questions to the extent that they are helpful. However, recognize that many questions are relevant only to specific grade levels and/or subject areas. Most importantly, License Specific Evaluation Questions are located on pages 13-44 and need to be included in the portfolio under Standard B Indicator 2(c). The Mentor, as the expert in the teacher's subject area, should provide written verification that the teacher candidate is competent in each question area. The Mentor is expected to answer each question with at least one sentence, sign and date the page, and provide it to the teacher candidate for inclusion in the portfolio.

In addition to the evidence described above, teacher candidates are required to write a personal reflection piece for each of the five standards. A reflection is not necessary for each indicator or sub-indicator. The reflection pieces should touch upon the teacher's thoughts as he/she started teaching and the changes and growth within the standard area that has occurred over the teacher's time in the classroom. Finally, teachers should address how they want to grow in this standard area in the future. Length of reflections should be about one page and be included at the beginning of each standard in the portfolio. Here is a printable one-page document that you may wish to give to your candidates. It was created by one of our Instructional Consultants to aid teachers in understanding the expectations for the five reflections they are required to write. Click here to download

Suggested Forms of Evidence for Portfolios

The following list includes examples of the types of evidence that are typically used in portfolios. Additional types of evidence may be used, as long as they are objective measures of the teacher's pedagogical skills. If you are unsure as to a piece of evidence's admissibility, please contact a member of the PRPIL staff. Please have teachers HIGHLIGHT the section(s) of all documents that are relevant to the indicator or sub-indicator for which it is being submitted.

Please advise teachers to include the largest variety of evidence possible. If a single document must be used more than once within the portfolio, a different section should be used (highlighted) each time.

Lesson plans/units
Student work
Observation reports from Instructional Consultant, Mentor, Principal, etc.
Letters of recommendation
Assessments
Copies from plan books
Individual Education Plans (identifying information removed)
Teacher handbooks
Newsletters
Newspaper clippings
Letters or emails from parents, colleagues, or students
Pictures - must be supported by a written description of the photograph's relevance to the indicator or sub-indicator
Transcripts
Certification of completion of workshops, seminars, professional development, etc.
Homework assignments
Copies of programs or flyers from student events/performances

IC Application Materials

At this time, Class Measures is currently accepting Instructional Consultant applications for the following subject areas: Art, Chemistry, Italian, Music, Physics, and Physical Education. If you would like to submit your application for other subject areas, we will keep it on file until a need arises in your subject area.

Potential Instructional Consultants must hold a Professional License with a Masters Degree or National Board Certification and have at least 3 years teaching experience.

Interested parties should submit:

Completed Application for Instructional Consultant: Click here to download
Resume
Copy of certification
Letter of reference from a current Principal/Supervisor (not required if retired)

Newly accepted Instructional Consultants must attend a training session before being assigned a teacher candidate. Training sessions include an overview of the PRPIL program (including IC expectations and responsibilities) and practice rating portfolio evidence. Once you have applied to be an IC, you will be notified of upcoming training dates.

PRPIL Staff Members

Lucille Capone, Assistant to the PRPIL Program Director lucilleclassmeasures@verizon.net

Andrea DeMeo, Program Director andreaclassmeasures@verizon.net

Emily Finkel, Educational Specialist emilyclassmeasures@comcast.net

Class Measures