By registering on the Internet, registering by telephone, or submitting a registration form (even if your registration form is received without your signature) for the MTEL, you are agreeing to abide by the Rules of Test Participation and all rules and requirements specified or referenced in the current registration bulletin and communicated to you, orally or in writing, at each test administration for which you have registered. You will also be asked to sign your answer document(s), which will contain an agreement to the Rules of Test Participation, prior to testing at the site on the day of the test. Failure to sign your answer document(s) on the day of the test may result in the voiding of your test results or in your not being allowed to test.

Rules of Test Participation

1.	COMPLIANCE AND PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE: I understand that if I fail to comply with the Rules or if I take any prohibited actions, National Evaluation Systems (NES®) or the Massachusetts Department of Education may take certain actions or impose a penalty or combination of penalties, depending on the type and severity of the noncompliance, including, but not limited to: dismissal from the test site; test results voided; no refund or credit given; future testing not allowed; test irregularity noted in the license file; future testing required under controlled conditions and/or undertaking other special measures, at the candidate’s expense; findings reported to a hiring principal or superintendent; limited suspension or denial of access to future teacher licensure examinations in Massachusetts; criminal prosecution; and/or revocation of a candidate’s teacher license already granted. Additional penalties listed under individual sections below may also be incurred and legal proceedings and actions may be pursued as well as any other remedies that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may deem appropriate, including denying, revoking, or suspending an educator license.
2.	REGISTRATION: I have read and agree to the "Payment Policies" section of the current bulletin. I understand that if any or all fees that are applicable to me are not timely paid in full for all test dates and/or tests for which I have registered for the MTEL, if my answer document or registration form is not signed, or if the identity certification statement is not completed, I may not be permitted to register for current or future test sessions and/or my score report may not be produced and/or my test results may be voided.
3.	PURPOSE OF TESTING: I understand that the tests are administered for the purpose of licensure only and are to be taken only by individuals either enrolled in a state educator preparation program or seeking educator licensure. I certify that I am taking the test(s) for which I have registered for the purpose of educator licensure and for no other purpose.
4.	LATE ARRIVAL: I understand that if I arrive after a test administration has begun, I may be refused admission, in which case I will be considered absent and I will receive no refund or credit of any kind. If I am admitted after a test administration has begun, I will be required to sign an acknowledgment of late arrival, specifying that no additional time will be allotted. If I am taking a test with a recorded component, I will not be admitted once the recording has started.
5.	TEST SESSION: I understand that each test session is four hours long. After admission to the test site, I may not leave the test site for any reason until I have been officially dismissed and all of my Test Materials have been collected by a test administrator. Once I have completed the test, or at the end of the test session, my Test Materials will be collected and I will leave the test site. Once I leave, I will not be readmitted unless I am registered to take a test later that day.
6.	TEST SECURITY a. IDENTIFICATION: I understand that I may not be admitted to the testing room if I do not have the proper identification. Proper identification consists of a valid admission ticket and two pieces of positive identification, one of which is current, government-issued identification, in the name in which I registered, bearing my photograph and signature. I understand that I will be required to provide a thumbprint at the test site and that copies of my identification may be made, my photograph may be taken, and/or a video recording or other security measure may be employed at the administration, which may be used for identity verification. Additional screenings may be required at test site facilities. If I am refused admission to the test, for any reason, I will be considered absent from the test and will receive no refund or credit of any kind. b. ADMINISTRATION: I authorize the test administrators to serve as my agents in maintaining a secure test administration. I agree to follow all reasonable instructions given to me either orally or in writing at or during the test administration, including, but not limited to, instructions to relocate me during the test session. I agree not to communicate with other candidates or any unauthorized persons in any way during the test administration nor to engage in any other form of cheating or misconduct. I agree not to engage in behavior that would disrupt or unfairly affect the performance of myself or other candidates. I agree to sign the answer document and to write out the identity statement as part of the test; I agree to provide identification as specified above and to cooperate with testing personnel. c. PROPERTY: I understand that all test booklets, answer documents, and all other test materials and any portion thereof or information relating thereto (referred to below as the "Test Materials") are the sole property of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. I understand that my responses, without the identification of my name, may be used for research, development and implementation of testing programs, scorer training or study materials, or other purposes associated with the program. I understand and acknowledge that the Test Materials were developed at significant cost and are required to be kept confidential and secure from disclosure in order to fairly and effectively perform the test functions for which they were designed. I have not received any Test Materials prior to taking the test and no Test Materials will be available for me to review after the test. I am not permitted (i) to take (nor will I take) Test Materials or handwritten or printed notes reflecting or recording anything about the Test Materials from the testing room or (ii) to disassemble, copy, or reproduce the Test Materials in whole or in part, by hand or with the use of any electronic, or other type of, device of any nature. d. MATERIALS: I understand that I will not be permitted to bring or to use during the test: handwritten or printed notes (referred to below as "Notes"), cellular phones, any and all electronic devices of any nature, extra paper, or any other unauthorized aid (collectively referred to below as "Unauthorized Aids"). Throughout the test session, I will have nothing on my desk but the test booklet, answer document(s), pencils, erasers, and my photo identification. Calculators will be provided for selected tests. The possession or use of calculators for any other test or of calculator watches, calculator manuals, or any other Unauthorized Aid is prohibited. I may use the margins of the test booklet for any intermediate work I need to do to answer the specific questions. However, only answers and written responses that I record on my answer document(s) (or on tape for taped sections) will be scored. e. NONDISCLOSURE OF TEST MATERIALS: Because of the great cost expended to develop the Test Materials, because of the obvious necessity that they be kept confidential and secure from disclosure in order to fairly and effectively perform the test functions for which they were designed, and because any disclosure of part or all of the contents of the Test Materials to anyone might render them unusable for future test administrations, I promise and agree that I will not disclose the Test Materials or any part of them (including the form, subject matter, substance, and wording of any test question or any answer thereto) to anyone for a period of ten (10) years from the date of the test administration to which such Test Materials pertain. I understand and agree that if I should violate this agreement of nondisclosure I may be liable in damages for the costs (including redevelopment costs) incurred as a result of any breach of this agreement and I may also be subject to other legal and equitable remedies (including injunctive relief and/or criminal charges) for any such breach. f. RELINQUISHMENT OF UNAUTHORIZED AIDS, ETC.; WAIVER: I understand and agree that if, despite my foregoing promises and agreements, test administrators have a reasonable suspicion that I have or may have in my possession any Test Materials, Notes, and/or Unauthorized Aids, I will immediately turn over any such Test Materials, Notes, and/or Unauthorized Aids in my possession to the test administrators at any time upon their request. If I should fail or refuse to do so, or if the test administrators believe in good faith that I have not turned over all such Test Materials, Notes, and/or Unauthorized Aids in my possession, the test administrators may search my person and my personal possessions for such Test Materials, Notes, and/or Unauthorized Aids and may remove them. Any such Test Materials, Notes, and/or Unauthorized Aids that I may have may be retained for as long as may be required for the purpose of pursuing the remedies specified herein. Test administrators, NES, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education are not responsible for Unauthorized Aids or other prohibited materials confiscated by them or otherwise turned over by me. In the event of a possible breach of test security, I agree to cooperate with the testing personnel and I hereby consent to any such reasonable search and to any incidental contact with my person or my possessions that may occur as a result of such a search before my dismissal from the test site. Moreover, I hereby waive any claim that I might otherwise have based upon any such reasonable search or contact.
7.	TEST IRREGULARITIES: Test irregularities occur when a candidate fails to abide by the terms, conditions, and policies set forth in the current bulletin, including these Rules, and those communicated at the test administration. Test irregularities may include any form of cheating, misconduct, or breach of test security. Test irregularities can occur prior to, during, and after the test administration. NES will notify the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education of reported test irregularities and will provide the Department with related supporting documentation. The Department of Education will review the reported test irregularities and supporting documentation and may authorize NES to hold test results for the candidate(s) in question while the test irregularities are investigated.
8.	CALCULATORS: I understand that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and NES make no warranty, either expressed or implied, regarding the calculator directions (if provided) or the performance or accuracy of the calculator provided for certain tests, including, but not limited to, warranty of merchantability or warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. I further understand that the liability for special, collateral, incidental, or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the use of the calculator or directions (if provided) will be limited to score correction or test retake at no additional fee.
9.	WITHDRAWAL FROM TEST ADMINISTRATION: I may withdraw from a test administration and receive a partial refund if my request to withdraw is received by the late registration deadline for the test date for which I have registered. If my request is received after the late registration deadline or if I am absent from the test administration, I will receive no refund or credit of any kind.
10.	TEST RESULTS REPORTING AND CANCELLATION: I have read and understand the following: My subarea information, my pass/fail status, and, if I do not pass, my total test score(s) will be reported to me and to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. My test results will be reported to the Massachusetts educator preparation institution(s) identified, if any. With my specific consent, my social security number will also be reported to my Massachusetts educator preparation institution (see "Educational Background Questions"). My pass/fail status will also be reported to the additional institution(s) I indicate during registration to receive this information. Any or all information related to my test results may also be released to any other institution, entity, or person authorized by law to receive this information. Except as otherwise specified and in accordance with applicable law, any information I have provided as part of my registration may be used to report my test results and to contact me regarding test- or program-related issues. My score report will be sent even if I leave the testing room before I finish the test. If after the test administration I wish to cancel my test results, I understand that a request in writing must be received by NES within seven (7) days after the test date. A Score Cancellation Form will be available at the test site on the day of the test. If I cancel my test results, I will receive no refund or credit of any kind, and my test results will not be entered into any records or reported to me, to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or to any Massachusetts institution.
11.	VOIDED TEST RESULTS: I understand that if I fail to comply with the Rules, or if doubts are raised about the validity or legitimacy of my registration or my test results, NES will notify the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and other parties as deemed appropriate by the Department. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reserves the right to void my test results if, in its sole opinion, there is adequate reason to question the validity or legitimacy of the test results due to circumstances within or beyond my control.
12.	RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS REGARDING TEST ADMINISTRATION: I understand and agree that liability for test administration activities, including, but not limited to, the adequacy or accuracy of Test Materials and equipment, the adequacy or accuracy of the registration and administration processes or conditions, the adequacy of test site facilities, the adequacy or accuracy of information provided to me in connection with the MTEL program, the adequacy or accuracy of scoring, and the adequacy or accuracy of score reports, will be limited to score correction or test retake at no additional fee. I understand that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and NES are not responsible for disclosure of candidate information by any institution, entity, or person to whom this information has been lawfully released. I waive any and all rights to all other claims, specifically including, but not limited to, claims for negligence arising out of any acts or omissions of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and NES (including the employees, agents, contractors, or professional advisors of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and NES).
13.	PROGRAM CHANGES: I understand that the testing program is subject to change at the sole discretion of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
14.	OBJECTION TO RULES: If, for any reason, I object to the procedures presented in these Rules, I must advise NES, in writing, of the basis of my objection at least eight (8) weeks before the test date for which I wish to register for my objection to be taken under consideration. Under no circumstances may I register using the reregistration, late, or emergency registration procedures if I have such an objection. If I nevertheless object, my registration may be canceled, I may not be permitted to take the test(s), or my test results may be voided, unless I withdraw my objection in writing.
15.	RULE VALIDITY: I understand that should any of these Rules or any other requirement or provision contained in the current bulletin be declared or determined by any court to be illegal or invalid, the remaining Rules, requirements, and provisions will not be affected and the illegal or invalid Rule, requirement, or provision shall not be deemed a part of the current bulletin. I agree that any legal action arising in connection with my registration for or participation in a test administration shall be brought in the state and federal courts governing Boston, Massachusetts, and I consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

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