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MTEL Rules of Test Participation

By registering via the Internet, the US mail or over the telephone, the candidate agrees to abide by the Rules of Test Participation specified in the current registration bulletin. In addition, before taking the test the candidate must sign the answer documents, which have a written copy of the Rules of Test Participation included. Failure to do so could prevent the candidate from taking the test and/or nullify test results and possibly prohibit taking additional tests.

Rules of Test Participation

A brief summary of the Rules of Test Participation follows.

Compliance and Penalties for Non-Compliance: failure to comply with any of the rules or taking any prohibited action may result in one or more of the following consequences:
1. Removal from the test.
2. Test results voided.
3. No refund or credit given.
4. Future testing prohibited or allowed only under controlled conditions.
5. Irregularity noted in licensure file.
6. Situation reported to hiring principal and/or district superintendent.
7. Limited suspension or denial of access to futures test.
8. Criminal prosecution and/or other appropriate legal action.
9. Revocation of a teaching license already granted.

Registration: the candidate must agree to the Test Fees and Payment Policies and pay all fees as required in a timely manner. He or she must sign the registration form and answer document and accurately complete the identity certification statement. If these procedures are not followed, the candidate may not be allowed to register for any test and results may not be produced and may be voided.

Purpose of Testing: The candidate understands the sole purpose of taking the MTEL^® test is to obtain a license to teach in the state of Massachusetts and may be taken for no other reason.

Late Arrival: If the candidate arrives after the test has begun, he or she may be refused admission and will not receive a refund or a credit. If admitted, the candidate must sign an acknowledgment stating that no extra time will be given. If the test has a recorded component, the candidate will be refused admittance once the recording has started.

Test Session: Each session if four hours long. Once admitted, the candidate may not leave the site until all test materials have been given to the administrator and the candidate has been officially dismissed. The candidate may not return to the test site unless registered for another test session the same day.

Test Security:
1. Proper Identification is required and includes a valid admission ticket and two pieces of identification one of which must be government issued with a picture and signature. A thumbprint and picture will be taken and copies of the above identification made at the test site. Other security measures may be taken as well. If the candidate is refused admission for any reason, he or she will be considered absent and no refund or credit issued.
2. Administration: Test administrators are charged with maintaining a secure site and ensuring that all candidates follow instructions and do not communicate with other candidates or unauthorized people during the test. Candidates are required to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner and to avoid any behavior that would disrupt or affect the performance of other candidates. The candidate agrees to sign the answer document, provide identification, and cooperate with testing personnel.
3. Property: All test booklets, answer documents, and other test materials are the sole property of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The candidate’s responses may be confidentially used for research, development, and implementation of programs and scorer training or study materials. The candidate agrees to keep all testing materials confidential, will not reproduce any testing materials in any format, and will not remove any handwritten, printed, or recorded notes from the test site.
4. Materials: The candidate is not allowed to bring or use any notes, cell phones, electronic communication devices, visual or audio recording or listening devices, or any other unauthorized device. The only items allowed on the desk are the test booklet, answer document, pencils, erasers, and the candidate’s photo identification. Calculators are provided by the administrator for certain tests.
5. Nondisclosure of Test Materials: The candidate agrees to keep confidential all test materials for ten years. This includes the form, subject matter, substance and wording of test questions, and answers. Violating this agreement could result in damages for redevelopment costs as well as civil and/or criminal legal action.
6. Relinquishment of Unauthorized Aids: The candidate understands that if the test administrators have a reasonable suspicion that he or she has any unauthorized materials, said materials must be turned over when requested. If the candidate refuses, the test administrator may search the candidate’s person and personal possessions for any unauthorized and/or prohibited material. If found, this material becomes the property of the test administrators and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education until such time as appropriate action is decided. The candidate must leave the test site if asked to do so and agree to waive any claim regarding the search.

Test Irregularities occur when a candidate fails to follow the terms, conditions, policies, and rules as explained in the current registration bulletin and/or communicated by the on-site test administrators. Test irregularities can occur before, during, or after the test and include, but are not limited to, cheating, misconduct, or a breach of test security. During a review of the written claim and supporting documentation, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may withhold test results until the matter is settled.

Calculators provided during certain tests have no expressed or implied warranty as to the performance, accuracy. or fitness of the device or its directions (if provided). The liability for any damages as a result of the use of these calculators will be limited to a score correction or test retake at no additional charge.

Withdrawal From Test Administration is permitted and a partial refund given if the written request is received by the late registration deadline for registered test date. If received after that date, no refund or credit will be given.

Test Results Reporting And Cancellation: Subarea information, pass/fail status and, if the candidate does not pass, total test score(s) will be given to the candidate and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Massachusetts educator preparation institution, and any other institutions noted on the Educational Background Questions even if the candidate leaves the test site before completing the test. Test related information may be released to any entity authorized to receive such data. The candidate has the option to cancel the test results by completing a Score Cancellation Form and sending it with a written request to Evaluation Systems within seven (7) days after the test date. If the candidate cancels the test results, they will not be reported to him or her, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or any Massachusetts institution. There will be no refund or credit given.

Voided Test Results: If there is sufficient reason to doubt the validity of the registration or test results due to circumstances within or beyond the candidate’s control, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has the right to void the test results.

Rights And Obligations Regarding Test Administration: The candidate agrees to waive liability for the accuracy and adequacy of the following test administration activities: test materials and equipment, test site facilities, information provided about the MTEL^® program, registration and administration processes, scoring, and score reports. Any remedial action by the candidate will be limited to a score correction or retaking the test at no charge. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is not liable for disclosure of information by any institution lawfully allowed to receive said information. The candidate waives his or her right to file negligence claims for acts or omissions against Evaluation Systems and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Program Changes may be made at any time by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Objection To Rules: if the candidate has any objections to these rules, he or she must advise Evaluation Systems in writing at least eight (8) weeks before the desired test date. The candidate cannot start the registration process until the objection has been processed and a decision made. If the registration process has been started, registration may be canceled, permission to take the test may be withdrawn and/or the test results may be voided. In order to withdraw an objection, a candidate must send a written notice to Evaluation Systems.

Rule Validity: Should any rule, requirement or provision be deemed illegal by a court of law, the other rules, requirements and provisions will remain in effect. The candidate agrees that any legal action in connection with the MTEL^® program, its registration process, test taking, scoring, and reporting procedures will be filed in the state and federal courts governing Boston, Mass.

Last Updated: 04/23/2012