INTERIM TEACHING CERTIFICATE

Senate Bill 727 (proposed substitute H-2)

Sponsor:  Sen. Phil Pavlov

House Committee:  Education Reform

Senate Committee:  Education

Complete to 2-21-18

SUMMARY:

Senate Bill 727 would amend the Revised School Code to remove the requirement that teachers pass the basic skills examination (currently the SAT, as described in Background, below) before receiving an interim teaching certificate. Additionally, the law currently requires a candidate with a bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, or professional degree to have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent). The bill would revise that requirement so that the participants in the alternative teaching program in which the candidate participates must have a cohort grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Generally, a person earns a standard teaching certificate upon completion of an approved teacher preparation program, composed of course work and student teaching, and governed by Section 1531 of the Code.

The bill would amend the alternative teaching certificate process for earning an interim teaching certificate (ITC), under Section 1531i of the Code. (An ITC entitles the holder to teach full-time in a Michigan school as the teacher of record. It is a 5-year certificate, and in order to maintain certification, an individual must continue to be enrolled in the alternative route preparation program.)

Currently, in order to earn the interim certificate, a person must do all of the following:

·         Participate in an approved alternative teaching program that:

o   Provides intensive training that is equivalent to 12 college credit hours and includes specified training.

o   Has, or is modeled after a program with, a proven record of producing successful teachers in one or more states.

o   Only accepts participants with a bachelor’s degree or above with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

·         Hold a bachelor’s degree or above with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

·         Pass the basic skills examination (and appropriate available subject area examination for each subject area in which he or she applies to be certified).

The bill would remove the requirement that the program produce successful teachers in other states. It would also remove the requirement that the program only accept students with a 3.0, as well as the requirement that the applicant him- or herself have a 3.0, and replace those with a requirement that the program’s participants have a cohort GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. (If a participant has more than one qualifying degree, the one in which he or she has earned the highest GPA would count toward the cohort GPA.)

Cohort, as defined in the bill, would mean all of the individuals enrolled in an alternative teaching program approved by the superintendent of public instruction for the three years immediately preceding the granting of an interim teaching certificate under this section to an individual enrolled in the program.

Finally, the bill would remove the requirement that the applicant have passed the basic skills examination.

MCL 380.1531i

BACKGROUND:

Beginning October 1, 2017, according to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), candidates seeking initial teacher certification would only be able to take the SAT as the basic skills examination (tests taken before that date that qualified at the time they were taken may also be honored).  

The memo issued by MDE may be found here:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Testing_Guidance_601819_7.PDF

More information about the alternative route to Michigan certification or endorsement: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Alternative_Routes_to_Certification_and_Endorsement_597547_7.PDF

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact for the state or school districts, intermediate school districts (ISDs), or public school academies (PSAs).

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Jenny McInerney

                                                                                               Fiscal Analysts:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Samuel Christensen

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