Mass. State Auditor Finds Problems With Teacher Licensing At Educational Collaborative

The state auditor concluded that a western Massachusetts educational collaborative failed to ensure some teachers who worked for it were properly licensed.

The Collaborative for Educational Services, which is based in Northampton, provides services like professional development and curriculum assistance to 36 school districts in Hampshire and Franklin counties.

It also provides teachers in the state's juvenile lock-up facilities.

According to State Auditor Suzanne Bump, between 2017 and 2019, 18 of them did not have the proper licenses or waivers for what they were teaching.

Todd Gazda, who heads the nonprofit, said for organizations that work with the state goverment, audits are a part of doing business.

"Audits are designed to go through our processes and procedures and identify areas where we can get better," he said. "And we've already begun to put in solutions so that we address the areas the auditor identified as needing some attention."

The audit also found the collaborative had not ensured that some educators had completed evaluation requirements.