INTERIM TEACHING CERTIFICATE                                                                    S.B. 727:

                                                                                  SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 727 (as introduced 12-13-17)

Sponsor:  Senator Phil Pavlov

Committee:  Education

Date Completed:  1-16-18

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Revised School Code to modify the criteria used to grant an interim teaching certificate by deleting the requirement that an individual pass the basic skills examination.

The Act requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (the State Superintendent) to establish a process for an individual to earn an interim teaching certificate that qualifies the individual to teach in the public schools and earn a Michigan teaching certificate. The process must provide that the State Superintendent will grant an interim teaching certificate to an individual who meets certain criteria. An individual must be a participant in an alternative teaching program that is approved by the State Superintendent. To be approved, a program provider must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the State Superintendent that it meets certain criteria, including having a proven record of producing successful teachers in one or more other states or being modeled after a program that has a proven record of producing successful teachers in one or more other states.

Under the bill, a program provider would have to have a proven record of producing successful teachers or be modeled after a program with a proven record or producing successful teachers.

The criteria also must require the individual to meet both of the following:

-- Hold a bachelor's, master's, doctorate, or professional degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent on another scale, as determined by the State Superintendent.

-- Pass both the basic skills examination and the 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 individual pass the basic skills examination. The bill also would require the individual's "cohort" grade point average to be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent on another scale, as determined by the State Superintendent.

("Basic skills examination" means an examination developed or selected by the State Superintendent or developed by an approved teacher education institution for the purpose of demonstrating the applicant's knowledge and understanding of basic language and mathematical skills and other skills necessary for the certificate taught.)

The bill would take effect 90 days after it is enacted.

MCL 380.1531i                                                         Legislative Analyst:  Nathan Leaman

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

                                                                                        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.