ELIMINATE BASIC SKILLS EXAMINATION

Senate Bill 889 as reported from House committee

Sponsor:  Sen. Marty Knollenberg

House Committee:  Education Reform

Senate Committee:  Education                                             (Enacted as Public Act 233 of 2018)

Complete to 6-11-18

SUMMARY:

Senate Bill 889 would amend the Revised School Code to remove the general requirement that teachers pass the basic skills examination (BSE) before being issued a teaching certificate. It would also remove the provision that, in addition to other requirements, a noncertificated, nonendorsed teacher must pass a BSE if the teacher desires to teach for more than one year.

Currently, the superintendent of public instruction may only issue a teaching certificate if a candidate has passed the BSE and the appropriate available subject area examinations (and the elementary certification examination, if available, for elementary level teachers). The same requirements apply for elementary and secondary level teachers with out-of-state certificates or teaching degrees, except that the applicant need not take the BSE or subject area examination if the applicant meets certain educational or experience benchmarks.

 The bill would remove the BSE requirement, as well as all references to the BSE in the Code. It would take effect 90 days after enactment.

            MCL 380.1233b and 380.1531         

BACKGROUND:

The House Education Reform committee has considered two other bills during the        2017-2018 session that addressed the BSE. Senate Bill 727, recently enacted as Public Act 106 of 2018,[1] removed the requirement that applicants pass the BSE before receiving an interim teaching certificate. House Bill 4084 would remove the requirement that applicants pass the BSE before being awarded a teaching certificate. HB 4084[2] passed the House and was reported by the Senate Education committee to the Committee of the Whole on         June 6, 2018.

Beginning October 1, 2017, according to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), candidates seeking initial teacher certification may only 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

FISCAL IMPACT:

Senate Bill 889 would have no fiscal impact on the state or local units of government. The bill would not reduce the administrative responsibilities of MDE.

POSITIONS:

            The following organizations indicated support for the bill (6-7-18):

·         Michigan Department of Education

·         Oakland Schools

·         Saginaw Valley State University

·         Eastern Michigan University

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Jenny McInerney

                                                                                               Fiscal Analysts:   Samuel Christensen

                                                                                                                           Jacqueline Mullen

■ 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.

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