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By registering for the MTEL, you are agreeing to abide by the Rules of Test Participation and all rules, requirements, and policies specified or referenced on the current program website and communicated to you, orally or in writing, at each test session for which you have registered.

A nondisclosure agreement will be presented to you on the computer after you sign in at the test center. You will be asked to indicate your agreement to the conditions set forth on the current program website, including the Rules of Test Participation and the rules communicated to you orally or in writing at the test session. You will have five minutes to read and accept the terms of this nondisclosure agreement. If you do not respond within five minutes, or if you indicate that you do not accept the terms of the agreement, your test session will terminate, you will not be permitted to test, and you will receive no refund or credit of any kind.

  1. COMPLIANCE AND PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE: I understand that if I fail to comply with the Rules or if I take any prohibited actions, the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson, a business of NCS Pearson, Inc. (Evaluation Systems), or the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary 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 center; 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 educator licensure examinations in Massachusetts; criminal prosecution; and/or revocation of a candidate's educator 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. POLICIES: I have read and agree to the information and policies presented on the current program website, including, but not limited to, payment policy more information, withdrawal/refund policy more information, identification policy more information, and late arrival policy more information.
  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. TEST SECURITY:
    1. 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 session, 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 session 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 cooperate with testing personnel.
    2. PROPERTY: I understand that all 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.
    3. 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, electronic communication devices, visual or audio recording or listening devices or any device with an on/off option, extra paper, calculators, calculator watches, calculator manuals, or any other unauthorized aid (collectively referred to below as "Unauthorized Aids"). Throughout the test session, I will have nothing on my desk or at my workstation but authorized materials provided by the test administrator. I may use materials provided by the test administrator for any intermediate work. However, only responses that I record on computer (including scans of hand-drawn responses) will be scored.
    4. 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 session 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.
    5. 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, Evaluation Systems, 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 center. Moreover, I hereby waive any claim that I might otherwise have based upon any such reasonable search or contact.
  5. TEST IRREGULARITIES: Test irregularities occur when a candidate fails to abide by the terms, conditions, and policies set forth on the current program website, including these Rules, and those communicated at the test session. Test irregularities may include any form of cheating, misconduct, or breach of test security, or possession or use of unauthorized aids. Test irregularities can occur prior to, during, and after the test session. Evaluation Systems 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 Elementary and Secondary Education will review the reported test irregularities and supporting documentation and may authorize Evaluation Systems to hold test results for the candidate(s) in question while the test irregularities are investigated.
  6. 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 and MEPID will be reported to the Massachusetts educator preparation institution(s) identified, if any. With my consent, the last four digits of 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. I understand that Pearson will score all test results received, which may be incomplete due to technical issues during the test session. 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 produced even if I leave the testing room before I finish the test. Once I am admitted to the test center, I may not cancel my test results.
  7. 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, Evaluation Systems 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 and Evaluation Systems reserve the right to void my test results if, in their sole opinion, I fail to comply with the Rules or if there is adequate reason to question the validity or legitimacy of the test results due to circumstances within or beyond my control.
  8. 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 center 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, or a rescheduled test appointment at no additional fee. I understand that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Evaluation Systems 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 Evaluation Systems (including the employees, agents, contractors, or professional advisors of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Evaluation Systems).
  9. PROGRAM CHANGES: I understand that the testing program is subject to change at the sole discretion of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
  10. OBJECTION TO RULES: If, for any reason, I object to the procedures presented in these Rules, I must advise Evaluation Systems, 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 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.
  11. RULE VALIDITY: I understand that should any of these Rules or any other requirement or provision contained on the current program website 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 program website. I agree that any legal action arising in connection with my registration for or participation in a test session shall be brought in the state and federal courts governing St. Paul, Minnesota, and I consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.