SCHOOL COUNSELORS - S.B. 441: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 441 (as introduced 3-16-99)
Sponsor: Senator Thaddeus G. McCotter
Committee: Education
Date Completed: 11-2-99
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to permit the board of a school district or an intermediate school district (ISD) to allow a person to serve as a counselor if the person held at least a bachelor's degree and had at least two years' experience as a counselor in the public or private sector.
The Code currently prohibits a school board or an ISD board from permitting a teacher who does not hold an endorsement from the State Board of Education to serve in a counseling role, as defined by the State Board.
MCL 380.1233 - Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State resources. Local school districts currently may hire only certified teachers with a State Board endorsement to serve as a counselor. The bill would allow local districts to employ nonendorsed, non-teacher-certified persons to serve as counselors so long as they met the criteria specified in the proposal. This could result in slight savings to the school districts as a result of being able to pay a lower salary to a counselor who did not have a teaching certificate. The exact fiscal implications would vary on a district-by-district basis.
- Fiscal Analyst: J. CarrascoS9900\s441sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.