SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR'S CERTIFICATE S.B. 673 & 674: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bills 673 and 674 (as introduced 6-30-05)
Sponsor: Senator Ron Jelinek (S.B. 673)
Senator Michael Switalski (S.. 674)
Committee: Education
Date Completed: 9-13-05
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
The bill would require the State Board of Education 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 and secondary 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 implement the bill. The standards and procedures would have to address at least all of the following: application and issuance; the suspension and revocation of the certificates and endorsements; educational and professional experience requirements; and continuing education requirements for periodic recertification. The standards and procedures for suspension and revocation would have to be based on the standards and procedures for taking action against a person's teaching certificate in the Code.
The Department of Education would be required to consult with appropriate professional organizations, primarily those representing building-level administrators 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
The Code includes a school administrator's certificate application fee of $125 for in-State applicants and $175 for out-of-State applicants. The bill would retain that provision, 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. The renewal or reinstatement application fee for a school counselor license would be $125.
The Code currently requires application fees of $125 for a vocational temporary authorization and $125 for an occupational education certificate. The bill would retain those fees for in-State applicants and for both certificates 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
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
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.
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