6TH GRADE TEACHING CERTIFICATE S.B. 443: COMMITTEE SUMMARY






Senate Bill 443 (as introduced 4-28-05)
Sponsor: Senator Dennis Olshove
Committee: Education


Date Completed: 11-2-05

CONTENT The bill would amend the Revised School Code to authorize an individual who held an elementary level or a secondary level teaching certificate to teach in 6th grade.

Specifically, the bill provides that notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, if an individual held a valid Michigan teaching certificate, the individual would be certified to teach in 6th grade regardless of whether he or she held an elementary level teaching certificate or a secondary level teaching certificate.

(The Administrative Code defines a general elementary certificate endorsement as an authorization to teach all subjects in grades kindergarten to 5, and all subjects in grades 6 to 8 in a self-contained classroom where the majority of instruction is provided by one teacher. A secondary certificate endorsement is an authorization to teach in grades 9 to 12 in major and minor areas of preparation.)


Proposed MCL 380.1531g Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker

FISCAL IMPACT
State: The State could see minimally reduced restricted teacher testing revenue if this bill were enacted. Currently, a person holding an elementary certificate may teach 6th grade (if in a nonself-contained classroom) only if the person passed the subject area test(s) in which he or she wishes to teach. The legislation would allow someone with an elementary certificate to teach 6th grade without having taken the subject area test(s).

Local: Local districts could see some cost savings due to increased flexibility allowed by this legislation. For example, a district needing a 6th grade teacher and having excess teacher capacity in a different grade could use the extra teacher, regardless of his or her certificate grade designation, if the bill were enacted.

Fiscal Analyst: Kathryn Summers-Coty

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. sb443/0506