The legislation mandated that, beginning in 1998, teachers be certified by obtaining a passing score on a standardized test.

When first administered in April of that year, only 41 percent of test-takers passed, igniting debate throughout the Commonwealth.

Advocates of the exams say the results prove their point--that many teachers in the classrooms were not qualified for their jobs.

Katherine Kelley, president of the Massachusetts Federation of Teachers (MFT), told The Crimson earlier this year that the tests have become a political weapon, wielded by legislators with axes to grind.

"[Teachers] are constantly castrated for not doing their jobs when they're spending hours upon hours doing extra work," she said. "They've gotten no credit and they've gotten constant bashing."

But since the tests are supported by a majority of the state's educational governing board and its commissioner, David P. Driscoll, they are still in use. And recently, there have been signs that teachers are warming to the idea of testing.

In early November, the MFT proposed a list of 20 changes to the process. Among them, the union said it supports repealing waivers that allow uncertified--but qualified--teachers to teach in certain areas.

Cellucci said he welcomed the MFT proposals.