NONCERTIFICATED TEACHERS; INTERIM CERT. S.B. 491 (S-3):
SUMMARY OF BILL
ON THIRD READING
Senate Bill 491 (Substitute S-3 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to do the following:
-- Allow the board of a school district or intermediate school district to engage a noncertificated, nonendorsed teacher to teach a course in writing, journalism, or health sciences, or a course in a discipline designated as a critical shortage discipline, in addition to the courses that such a teacher currently may be hired to teach.
-- Specify that an individual's service as a full-time instructor in a field of specialization at the college level would be considered occupational experience in that field (one of the conditions for teaching as a noncertificated teacher).
-- Allow a noncertificated teacher to teach in a field of specialization if he or she had, in the previous seven years, at least five years of occupational experience, rather than a major or a graduate degree, in that field, for certain subjects, or met other requirements to teach a foreign language.
-- Require an alternative teaching program, for an interim teaching certificate, to include training in classroom management.
-- Eliminate the grade point average requirement for those holding a master's or doctorate degree, for an interim teaching certificate.
-- Exempt certain career and technical education instructors from the requirement to have a bachelor's degree in order to receive an interim teaching certificate; and require the Department of Education to determine which career and technical education certification areas would not require a bachelor's degree.
-- Require a person with an interim teaching certificate to have a planned program leading to teacher certification on file with the employing school district, his or her teaching preparation institution, and the Department, in order to teach in a public school.
-- Allow an individual seeking an interim teaching certificate to have more than one subject matter endorsement if he or she had more than one graduate degree, or had a bachelor's degree with more than one major, and met other requirements.
-- Specify that an interim teaching certificate would be valid until the next June 30 occurring at least seven years from the date it was issued.
-- Require the Department, for a career and technical education instructor, to determine how noncertificated instructors placed on an annual occupational authorization could expedite the process to become fully certified to teach in a career and technical education program.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
MCL 380.1233b & 380.1531i Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have a minor fiscal impact on the State and no fiscal impact on local government. The proposed amendments would not make any major changes to the systems
and procedures for noncertificated, nonendorsed individuals to be able to teach at school districts. Costs related to career and technical education instructors would be minimal and within current appropriations to the Department of Education.
Date Completed: 11-4-15 Fiscal Analyst: Cory Savino
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.