REDUCE CREDITS REQUIRED

FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

House Bill 4069 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Jim Tedder

Committee:  Education Reform

Complete to 4-19-17

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4069 would lower the threshold for substitute teaching from 90 to 60 semester hours of college credit, or require an associate degree from a college, university, or community college.  The 60 semester hours need not be from the same institution.  [A bachelor's degree is a four-year degree, requiring 120 semester hours.  The 60-hour requirement in the bill, or the completion of an associate's degree, equate to two years of college courses.]

The bill does this by amending Section 1223 within Part 16 (Boards of Education; Powers and Duties Generally) of the Revised School Code.  In addition to describing the required qualifications of teachers and guidance counselors, generally, Section 1233 lists the required level of education for substitute teachers.  Specifically, at present, the board of a school district or intermediate school district (ISD) may employ a person as a substitute teacher, even if that person does not have a teaching degree, as long as the person has at least 90 semester hours of college credit from a college or university.

The bill would also would require the Michigan Department of Education to amend any applicable rules to comply with this change.

Finally, the bill would remove a requirement that districts or ISDs which employ a person without a valid teaching certificate to serve in a counseling role must comply with certain rules. 

MCL 380.1233

BACKGROUND:

House Bill 4069 along with House Bills 4421 and 4422 are the latest in a series of bills intended to address Michigan's ongoing teacher shortage.  Reportedly, fill rates—or the percentage of substitute teaching positions that are able to be filled—have dropped from 95% in 2012 to 85% in 2015.[1]  This means that for every 100 classrooms that are in need of substitutes, only 85 are able to be filled.  Bills such as these are intended to expand the pool of eligible substitutes to fill those vacancies.

           

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact for the State and for local 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.

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