DRIVER EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR PREP. S.B. 886:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 886 (as introduced 3-6-18)
Sponsor: Senator Tom Casperson
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act to do the following:
-- Allow certain driver education instructor preparation program courses to be offered online, asynchronously, or synchronously.
-- Exempt a teacher who held a valid teaching certificate from the requirement to take a course on developing classroom and program knowledge if he or she could test out of it.
-- Require a course to consist of at least 30 contact hours, instead of two semester hours, and to extend for at least one week, rather than three weeks.
-- Require a course instructor to have a bachelor's degree in education, or four years in classroom driver education teaching experience in Michigan, instead of a master's degree.
The bill would take effect 90 days after it was enacted.
Program Curriculum
Under the Act, a college or university or a person may apply to the Secretary of State (SOS) for approval to conduct a driver education instructor preparation (DEIP) program. The SOS must review and approve a DEIP program that meets the Act's requirements, and must prepare a DEIP program guide as a model for how to conduct a program.
A DEIP program must consist of at least four courses. The four courses must each concentrate on only one of the following concepts, and all of the following concepts must be covered in the minimum four courses required:
-- Driver task analysis.
-- Developing classroom and program knowledge.
-- Developing vehicle operation skills.
-- Practicum.
The bill would allow the courses in driver task analysis, developing classroom and program knowledge, and developing vehicle operation skills to be offered online asynchronously, and the practicum to be offered synchronously.
In addition, the bill specifies that the developing classroom and program knowledge course would not apply to a teacher who held a valid teaching certificate issued under the Revised School Code, if that teacher were able to test out of the course as approved by the SOS.
Program Course Length
The Act requires a DEIP course to consist of at least two semester hours per course or the equivalent as approved by the SOS. The bill instead would require a course to consist of at least 30 contact hours per course required by the SOS in the model curriculum. The bill also would allow a DEIP course to deliver content in either a classroom or an online format, or a combination of both, as approved by the SOS.
The Act requires a DEIP course to extend for not less than three weeks. The bill instead would require a DEIP course to extend for at least one week.
Instructor Requirements
Currently, an instructor who teaches a DEIP course must have a master's degree in education from an accredited college or university, and meet other specified requirements.
The bill would require an instructor to have a bachelor's degree in education, or four years in classroom driver education teaching experience in Michigan, as verified by the SOS, instead of a master's degree.
MCL 256.643 Legislative Analyst: Drew Krogulecki
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
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.