BOSTON (AP) – Her failing grade on the licensing test everyone must pass to teach in Massachusetts was a big problem for the aspiring Haverhill teacher. But Department of Education clerk Terrance Yancey Jr. was allegedly ready with a solution.

“He indicated to her that, for a price, this could be fixed,” said Bob Bickerton, a state associate commissioner of education.

Instead of taking the offer, the Haverhill teacher’s aide reported it to her principal, who told department officials in November. On Tuesday, Yancey, a clerk in the DOE’s licensure department, was arrested after an undercover investigation by state police from Attorney General Thomas Reilly’s office.

Yancey, 36, is accused of taking bribes between $1,500 and $1,700 to provide fraudulent licenses to three other would-be teachers. He was captured after a brief foot chase near his house, authorities said.

Yancey pleaded innocent at his arraignment Wednesday in Malden District Court and was ordered held on $5,000 bail.

The three teachers accused of paying the bribes in exchange for licenses also pleaded innocent Wednesday to one charge each of bribing a public official.

Melvin Henry, 37, of Chelsea, a computer science teacher in his second year at Revere High, was released on $300 bail.

Olga Hernandez, 46, a first-year math and science teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in New Bedford, was released on $100 bail.

Ekrem Hamzic, 52, who teaches music as part of a community program in Chelsea, but is not a school department employee, was released on personal recognizance.

Henry, who had a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, failed the test three times and Hernandez failed it 11 times, education officials said. Hamzic had not taken the test.

“This is obviously a very sad day at the Department of Education,” said state Education Commissioner David Driscoll. “It’s particularly difficult for us to face this situation. I recognize how much it reflects on the Department of Education.”

Yancey was arrested after two undercover state troopers posed this month as would-be teachers who had failed the test, including one trooper who approached him this week. Yancey allegedly provided educator’s licenses to both for $1,700, Reilly said.

Yancey had worked at the department for a decade, but was able to change licensing data for just 18 months, Driscoll said. An investigation of the approximately 1,500 cases Yancey handled indicates the fraud may be limited to the three cases, he said.

“We still have more work to do,” Driscoll said.

A call to a number listed at Yancey’s address wasn’t immediately returned.

Hamzic, who speaks little English, declined, through a translator, to comment.

Henry did not immediately return calls for comment.

Hernandez, speaking in halting English, denied the charge when reached at her home Wednesday, but declined further comment. She was assisted by a translator in court.

Driscoll said all teachers must be fluent in English. He said he had no indications from their districts that any of the teachers had problems communicating.

The tests include a writing exam, reading comprehension and specific tests in whatever subject or subjects a person hopes to teach at various grade levels.

New Bedford Superintendent of Schools Michael Longo did not immediately return a call Wednesday to comment on Hernandez’s qualifications. Reached earlier, he said Hernandez had been placed on leave, though he hadn’t decided whether the leave was paid or unpaid.

Paul Dakin, superintendent of schools in Revere, said he was shocked about the allegations against Henry.

“At the same time, I was glad that the system at the DOE works and they can find out when things go astray, if in fact, these charges prove true,” he said.

Dakin said Henry has been placed on unpaid leave and will be sent a notice of intent to terminate.

About 40,000 people apply annually for a license. The failure rate on the licensing exam is about 35 percent, Bickerton said.