TEACHER CERTIFICATION FEES, ETC.

House Bill 4591

Sponsor:  Rep. Hoon-Yung Hopgood

Committee:  Education

Complete to 4-9-07

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4591 AS INTRODUCED 4-5-07

House Bill 4591 would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1538) to increase the certification fees for teachers, school psychologists, school counselors, and administrators (generally an increase of about $35 for certificates and $15 for permits), and also set a fee schedule for Michigan's teacher preparation programs of either $2,000 or $3,500 depending on the enrollment of the university where the program is located.

Currently, the state's teacher preparation programs located at 32 universities and colleges are periodically reviewed by the Michigan Department of Education, as required by administrative rule, with no charge to the universities.  In addition, the department annually reviews more than 100 specialty (or subject area) programs at no charge.  Under House Bill 4591, a fee would be charged for the periodic program reviews, depending upon the university's enrollment:

           

§                     With fewer than 2,000 students, a fee of $2,000.

§                     With 2,000 or more students, a fee of $3,500.

In addition, the university would be charged a $300 fee for each subject area review.

 

Currently, the law specifies fees for 19 in-state certificates or permits that have been in effect since 1988.  House Bill 4591 would eliminate four of these (continuing teacher certificate; parent cooperative preschool certificate; school administrator certification for those eligible on July 1, 1988; and school administrator permit).  Further, the bill would re-title two certificates (vocational temporary authorization would be modified to say "or interim occupational certificate," and annual vocational authorization would become "occupational authorization"), and add one new in-state certificate called the "school counselor license."  The bill would increase fees for the certificates, as noted below.

In addition, the current law specifies fees for three out-of-state certificates or permits:  provisional teaching, school psychologist, and school administrator.  House Bill 4591 would retain these and increase each $35.  The bill also specifies a $210 out-of-state fee for four additional certificates:  professional teaching; vocational temporary authorization or interim occupational certificate; occupational education certificate; and school counselor.

Finally, House Bill 4591 would increase renewal and reinstatement fees for seven certificates, and also set a fee for renewing the school counselor license.

The types of certificates and the fees—both current and proposed—that are specified in statute and in the bill, are as follows:

Type of Certificate	In-State Fee Increase	Out-of-State Fee Increase
First-time Fee Provisional teaching Professional teaching Vocational temporary Interim occupational Occupational education Substitute teacher permit Full-year teacher permit Emergency permit Annual occupational authorization Duplicate School psychologist School administrator School counselor	$125 to $160 $125 to $160 $125 to $160 $125 to $160 $125 to $160   $25 to   $40   $25 to   $40   $25 to   $40   $25 to   $40   $10 to   $25 $125 to $160 $125 to $160 $160	$175 to $210 $210 $210 $210 $210   $175 to $210 $175 to $210 $210
Renewal/Reinstatement Fee Provisional teaching Professional teaching Vocational temporary Interim occupational Occupational education School psychologist School administrator School counselor	$75 to $100 $125 to $160   $75 to $100   $75 to $100 $125 to $160 $125 to $160 $125 to $160 $160

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would create additional revenue to support the Department of Education.  The proposed changes in certification fees would generate approximately $1.5 million to support the upgrade of the school employee licensing database and to support professional preparations operations.  The newly proposed teacher college review fees would raise approximately $54,000 to reimburse the department for reviewing teacher preparation programs at universities and colleges.  The FY 2007-08 Executive budget recommendation for the Department of Education assumes this additional fee revenue.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Mary Ann Cleary

                                                                                                                           Bethany Wicksall

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.