SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR'S CERTIFICATE S.B. 673 (S-1) & 674 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS






Senate Bill 673 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Senate Bill 674 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Ron Jelinek (S.B. 673) Senator Michael Switalski (S.B. 674)
Committee: Education

CONTENT
The bills would amend the Revised School Code to require the State Board of Education to develop a voluntary school administrator's certificate, and standards and procedures for implementation. The bills also would permit the Board to develop certificate endorsements, and would establish fees for the certificates, as well as other fees.


The bills are tie-barred to each other.


Senate Bill 673 (S-1) would require the State Board to develop a school administrator's certificate for school district and intermediate school district superintendents, school principals, assistant principals, and other administrators of instructional programs. The bill would permit the Board to develop appropriate certificate endorsements for school administrators, by elementary, secondary, and central office level. No person would be required to have a school administrator's certificate or endorsement to be employed as an administrator by a school district, public school academy, intermediate school district, or nonpublic school.
The State Board of Education would have to develop standards and procedures to address at least all of the following: application for and issuance of certificates; the suspension and revocation of the certificates and endorsements; educational and professional experience requirements; and continuing education requirements for periodic recertification.


The Department of Education would be required to consult with appropriate professional organizations, in developing these standards. The Department also could recognize performance-based professional learning programs offered by State professional associations for the purposes of adding specialty area endorsements for a school administrator's certificate. The programs would have to be approved by the Department based on alignment with standards approved by the Board of Education.


Senate Bill 674 would retain a school administrator's certificate application fee of $125 for in-State applicants and $175 for out-of-State applicants, and would delete a school administrator's permit fee of $125. The bill also would add a school counselor license application fee of $125 for in-State applicants and $175 for out-of-State applicants, and set a $125 renewal or reinstatement application fee. The bill specifies that anyone holding a valid teaching certificate with a school counseling endorsement would not be required to hold a school counselor license to serve in a counseling role.


In addition, the bill would retain current application fees of $125 for a vocational temporary authorization and $125 for an occupational education certificate, and would raise the fees for out-of-State applicants to $175.
Proposed MCL 380.1536 (S.B. 673) Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker
MCL 380.1538 (S.B. 674)
FISCAL IMPACT
Senate Bill 673 (S-1): The Department of Education would see increased administrative costs associated with the development of a school administrator's certificate, and the development of accompanying requirements for original and renewal licensure.


Senate Bill 674 (S-1): The State would see increased restricted revenue due to new fees collected for the licensure of school counselors, and out-of-State applicant fees for vocational temporary authorization and occupational education certificate. Approximately 200-300 school counselors are expected to seek licenses annually, generating at least $25,000 in State restricted dollars. Also, if Senate Bill 673 were enacted, it is likely that the State would see increased restricted revenue from administrators' seeking licensure. However, an estimate is impracticable since administrator licensure would be optional under Senate Bill 673.


Date Completed: 9-19-05 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. sb673&674/0506