However, without the changes Massachusetts made to its entire system of teacher licensing (e.g., subject area licensing tests for all prospective teachers, criteria for achieving full licensure after beginning teaching, and criteria for license renewal for veteran teachers), it is unlikely there would have been enduring gains in achievement for students in all demographic groups and in all its
regional vocational /
technical high
schools — gains confirmed by tests independent of control or manipulation by Massachusetts or federal policy makers.
But these standards do not by themselves necessarily account for the gains in achievement by all demographic groups and by our
regional vocational /
technical high
schools (which enroll a disproportionate number of special education students and below - grade level readers).