Repeating History: Teacher Licensure Testing in Massachusetts

This paper reviews the history of initial teacher licensure testing in the United States from the 1980s and summarizes the issues and problems that have ensued. The author shows how Massachusetts, a state that has only fairly recently started this testing, is experiencing many of the same difficulties. Included are extensive tables, based on the authors research, providing information concerning the specific tests that were used in the past and an update showing what most states participating in this testing are currently using for their teacher licensure purposes.