office of professional preparation services 2008 teacher certification update

Office of Professional Preparation Services2008

www.michigan.gov/teachercert

Teacher Certification Update

Office of Professional Preparation Services

• Information Available on Website:

– Teacher certification reference manual

– Teacher certification verification site

– Applications for certification

– School Safety legislation information

– Highly Qualified information

– Other important certification information

Michigan Teacher Certification

• Michigan certificates expire on June 30th of any given year

• Renewals can be applied for anytime after January 1 of the year in which it expires without any loss of validity


• Types of Certificates:– Provisional (Initial) teaching certificate:

• Valid for up to 6 years• May be renewed twice (each renewal valid

for approx. 3 years) – FIRST renewal requires 9 semester credit hours,

since the issuance of the initial certificate, in a planned program or a master’s degree or higher earned at any time

– SECOND renewal requires 18 semester credit hours


Advancement to the Professional Certificate• 18 semester credits in a planned program since the issuance

of the initial certificate, or a master’s degree (or higher) earned at any time

• 3 years of satisfactory experience within the validity of the teaching certificate

• 3-6 credits of reading or reading methods (may be a part of original teacher prep program)

• NEW 3 semester credit reading diagnostics requirement (effective July 1, 2009)

Michigan Teaching Certificates

• Certificate types:

– Professional Education (Advanced) Certificate:

• Valid for up to 5 ½ years

• Renewed for an additional 5 years based on meeting the continuing education requirement (no extensions are given)

– Completion of 6 semester hours of credit at any 4-year or community college listed in the Directory of Michigan Institutions of Higher Education OR at an approved out-of-state university

– Earned 18 State Board-Continuing Education Units

– Or a combination of semester credits and SB-CEUs

– Meets Michigan's definition of a Highly Qualified teacher under NCLB

– Strengthens teaching practice – Improves student learning according to a vast

majority of research – Increases financial opportunities in some Michigan

school districts – Contributes to SB-CEU/certification renewal

requirements – Michigan certificates match the validity of the

NBPTS certificate (approx. 10 years)


National Board for Professional Teaching Standards


• Two Levels of Certificates:

– Elementary certificates are valid for any K-5 teaching assignment. May teach all subjects K-5 and in a self-contained classroom grades 6-8 all subjects. May teach a specific subject grades 6-8 ONLY when issued the appropriate endorsement

• Certain elementary certificates (Permanent and Continuing), no longer issued but remain valid, may teach all subjects grades K-8

• An endorsement for grade 9 is also valid for grades K-8


• Levels Continued:– Secondary Teaching Certificate:

• Valid for a 6-12 assignment in a subject for which the appropriate endorsement has been earned

• May only be used to teach subjects for which an endorsement is earned

NOTE: An out-of-field assignment (no endorsement earned) is considered out of compliance with Section 380.1531 of School Code and is subject to a State Aid penalty as prescribed in Section 388.1763 of the State Aid Act

Michigan Vocational Teaching Certificates

• Interim Occupation Authorization:

– The initial vocational certificate:

• Valid for up to 6 years

• Valid only for the vocational teaching assignment designated on the certificate- may not be used to teach in a general education assignment unless the teacher ALSO holds a valid provisional or professional education certificate

• Must complete the academic requirements and the appropriate vocational teaching experience to advance in certification


• Occupational Education Certificate

– The advanced level vocational certificate:

• Valid for 5 years from the year of issue

• Valid for the vocational area designated on the certificate. May not be used to teach a comparable general education class without a valid provisional/professional education certificate

• Must meet the continuing education requirement for advanced certificate renewal


• Annual Occupational Authorization:1. A one year employment permit for persons

who will be teaching state-approved career & tech ed programs in grades 9-12

2. Must be able to demonstrate recent and relevant work experience in the vocational area (requires 4000 hours of experience)

3. Valid to teach only in the area designated4. May be renewed yearly by posting and

advertising

• Annual Authorizations Credit TrackThe requirement for posting and advertising may be waived if a person is on a “credit track” working towards vocational certification. The candidate can be on the credit track for a maximum of eight consecutive years provided the teacher continuously completes at least once credit each year towards vocational certification at an approved teacher education institution.



• Other valid types of certificates:

– Life

– Permanent

– Continuing Education (both 18 HR & 30 HR)

– Temporary Vocational Authorization

– Full Vocational

• Also issue a School Counselor License

Michigan School Counselor

• School Counselor Endorsement:– The endorsement (NT) is displayed on a valid

provisional or professional teacher education certificate– Teaching certificate must be renewed by meeting the

continuing education requirements – The counselor with an endorsement may attain tenure

as a counselor by successfully completing a probationary period (4 years) beginning with the 2005-2006 school year OR if they were eligible for the tenure prior to P.A. 288 (July 10, 2000)

– Tenure is not portable between districts, but the probationary period is reduced to two years


• School Counselor License:

– May or may not possess a teaching certificate

• Completed the school counselor preparation program at an approved institution

• Completed an approved program outside of the state of Michigan

• May be renewed every 5 years by completing the continuing education requirement of six semester hours at an approved institution or 18 SB-CEU’s

• May not attain tenure in the district


• Preliminary Employment Authorization:

– Issued to a candidate for an endorsement or licensure• Valid for 3 years from the date of issuance and is

nonrenewable

• Must be presently enrolled and making progress toward completion of program

• Completed at least 30 semester hours in the program

• Recommended by the sponsoring in-state institution only

• Out of state applicants may apply to the department & may be eligible for a temporary school counselor authorization

School Counselor Preparation Programs

• There are 12 Michigan institutions of higher education that have been approved to offer a school counselor preparation program:

– Andrews University Central Michigan

– Eastern Michigan Grand Valley State

– Michigan State Northern Michigan

– Oakland University Siena Heights

– Spring Arbor U of Detroit-Mercy

– Wayne State Western Michigan

Michigan School Psychologists

• Preliminary School Psychologist Certificate:– Valid for 3 years during which time the school

psychologist must complete a specialist degree from an approved school psychologist program or an additional 15 semester hours beyond the master’s and a supervised internship under the direction of a Michigan School Psychologist.

– The certificate may be renewed once for an additional 3 years upon the completion of 6 semester credits of appropriate coursework.

Michigan School Psychologist

• School Psychologist Certificate:

– Valid for 5 years and may be renewed upon completion of the continuing education requirement (6 semester credits or 18 SB-CEUs in an area appropriate for role as a school psychologist)

– May not attain tenure as a school psychologist

Michigan School Psychologist

• Out-of-state applicants may apply for a Michigan School Psychologist certificate if the candidate has successfully completed the national certification program, and has at least one year of experience as a school psychologist, otherwise the candidate is only eligible for the Preliminary School Psychologist certificate

• Michigan Institutions with a School Psychologist preparation program:

– Andrews University

– Central Michigan

– Michigan State

– University of Detroit-Mercy

– Wayne State University

Teaching Permits

• Full Year Permit:– may ONLY be issued after the teaching position has been posted

and advertised and no appropriately certified candidate is available for the position

– candidate must have a bachelor’s or higher degree from an approved teacher preparation institution

– If the assignment is a core academic subject area (as defined by NCLB), the candidate must have a major in the subject area to be taught OR must have passed the appropriate state approved subject area test. (NCLB requirements also apply for Full Year Permits in special education.)

– renewable for up to 2 years without reposting the position if the teacher completes at least 6 additional semester hours of credit each school year toward appropriate certification and has been assigned a mentor teacher

Teaching Permits

• Emergency Permits:– When a district cannot find an appropriately certified

candidate or an individual who meets Full Year Permit requirements to fill a vacancy and the students education is in jeopardy, an emergency permit may be issued.

– Emergency permits are valid only for the school year for which they are approved.

– Emergency permits are NOT approved for core subject areas.

– They may be renewed only if there is sufficient evidence that the emergency situation continues to exist.

Teaching Permits

• 1233b Permit:– Issued to a district to employ an individual in grades

9-12 in one of the following disciplines: mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, robotics, computer science or a foreign language

– Requirements:• Bachelor’s degree• Major or degree in the subject• Two or more years of occupational experience within the

last 5 years (exception – foreign language)• Posting and advertising

*above requirements may be waived under certain conditions.• May be renewed if the individual is continually enrolled and

completing credit towards appropriate certification AND has passed both the Basic Skills MTTC and subject area MTTC

Teaching Permits

• Day-to-Day Substitute Permit:– Issued to the district to employ an individual in a

short-term assignment (defined as 90 calendar days or less in the same classroom for the entire school year) to replace the teacher of record

– Individual must have earned at least 90 semester credits consolidated at a four-year regionally accredited institution of higher education

– The individual DOES NOT need to meet the definition of a Highly Qualified teacher when assigned to a core academic subject

NOTE: After four consecutive weeks in the placement the 4-Week Notification letter must be sent to parents if the teacher is not Highly Qualified.

Administrator Certification

• Legislation signed by the governor provides for a voluntary school administrator certificate to be issued by the MDE.

• The certificate may display endorsements for:– Elementary

– Secondary

– Central Office

• The certificate may also display specialty endorsements or enhancements.


• Individuals previously certified as a school administrator in Michigan will be eligible to apply for a voluntary reactivation of the certificate. The previous certificate will be matched as closely as possible with current endorsements. Applications will be accepted and evaluated until January 31, 2008.

• Individuals who were previously certified as an administrator in another state or completed an approved out-of-state administrator preparation program will be eligible for a Michigan school administrator certificate when presenting evidence an out-of-state certification based on the completion of an approved preparation program.


• Individuals who have completed an administrator preparation program at a Michigan institution during the time period 1996 through August 2006 must work through the university to be recommended for certification. Those recommendations will be accepted until January 31, 2008.

• Individuals who are currently completing an approved administrator preparation program may be recommended for certification by the university.


• Individuals who have not completed an administrator preparation program or not previously certified as an administrator in Michigan or another state may not obtain a Michigan school administrator certificate.

• The school administrator certificate is voluntary and not required by the Michigan Department of Education for employment as a school administrator in Michigan.

• The school administrator certificate is voluntary and not required by the Michigan Department of Education. It can be a condition of employment by a hiring school district.

Administrator Eligibility for Employment

• Administrators are required to meet the following continuing education requirement to be eligible to maintain employment by a school district:– During the 5 years following the initial date of hire, or 5 years

from the expiration of a Michigan School Administrator certificate, have completed 6 semester credits relevant to the assignment at a post-secondary institution of higher education

– Completed 18 State Board Continuing Education Units (SB-CEUs) or a combination of semester credits and SB-CEUs

– Administrators holding a valid school administrator certificate are considered to have met this requirement.

– The statute does not authorize exceptions to the requirement.

Nullification

• Certificate or Endorsement Nullifications:

– The law regarding the nullification of a certificate/endorsement was amended on January 3, 2007.

– Upon receipt by the MDE of a request from a teacher, a teaching certificate/endorsement may be nullified only if the teacher is able to demonstrate that the teacher has not been assigned to teach the subject during the past 12 years.

– Once nullified, the teacher is no longer able to have the certificate/endorsement reinstated.

No Child Left Behind Act

• Highly Qualified Teachers:– NCLB requires school districts to only assign a Highly

Qualified teacher to teach a core academic subject beginning with fall classes in 2006-2007.

– The core academic subjects are:

• Any teacher who provides direct instruction in a core academic class must be Highly Qualified for the assignment.

•English/Reading/Language Arts•Mathematics•Science•Foreign Languages•Government/Civics

•History•Geography•Economics•The Arts (Music, Visual Art, Dance & Theatre)


• Highly Qualified Teacher:– Demonstrating Competence:

• At least an earned bachelor’s degree• Full state certification, including appropriate

endorsements or authorizations• ONE of the following:

– An academic major or its equivalent (30 cr.)– Successful testing in the subject– An advanced degree in the subject or related

to the teaching of the subject– National Board Certification– Any of the HOUSSE options

HOUSSE Options

• High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation– Standards are verified by the employing

district– More information regarding HOUSSE

Options may be found at:• www.michigan.gov/teachercert• Click on “NCLB & Highly Qualified

Information”• Select The Michigan Definition for

Identifying Highly Qualified Teachers

HOUSSE Option #1• Completed, since the issuance of the Provisional teaching certificate,

a minimum of 18 semester credit hours in a program of study or a master’s or higher degree in an area appropriate for classroom education

Master’s degrees that MAY be used:– Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)– Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction– Master of Arts in Elementary Education– Master of Arts in Secondary Education– Master of Arts in Educational Technology– Master’s degrees in the specific content areas are appropriate for

demonstrating that the teacher is Highly Qualified to teach that subject (for which he/she is endorsed or authorized).

• Other master’s degrees:– Must demonstrate that 18 semester credit hours within that program are

instructional in nature and content related, whereby the teacher increased their level of understanding/knowledge in teaching the core content to their students

HOUSSE Option #2

• Complete an individual professional development plan approved by the local school improvement team, including completion of professional development activities that are aligned with the state professional development standards.

• Complete at least 90 contact hours or 6 semester hours of coursework in the specific subject area within the last 5 years.

HOUSSE Option #3

• Demonstrate competence of subject matter knowledge and teaching skills using a standards-based performance assessment .

• The performance assessment must be conducted by a local professional development review team/school improvement team and may include classroom observation, and/or videotaped lessons, and/or an individual portfolio using the Michigan content area portfolio guidelines.

• The performance assessment plan, standards, and evaluation instrument (Portfolio Plan) must be submitted to the Michigan Department of Education for approval prior to implementation by the teachers.


• Highly Qualified Teachers:– ELEMENTARY SPECIAL EDUCATION teachers who provide

direct instruction (the sole provider of instruction) in a core academic subject must be Highly Qualified to teach the subject.

The options to demonstrate competence are:

– Take and pass the MTTC general elementary test

– Identify they have completed the 18 semester credit hours towards the advancement of their certificate (HOUSSE option #1)

– Complete a specific portfolio available to special education teachers to cover all content the teacher may be asked to teach to special education students (HOUSSE option #3)

– National Board Certification

No Child Left Behind

• Highly Qualified Teachers– SECONDARY SPECIAL EDUCATION teachers assigned to a class

where they provide direct instruction in a core academic subject must be Highly Qualified for the subject.

Options to demonstrate competence are:• An academic major or the equivalent of an academic major (30

semester credits) • Pass the specific subject area MTTC• Appropriate National Board Certification • Completion of 18 semester credit hours in a planned program,

or a master’s degree, that enhanced and strengthened their ability to teach the core subject area(s). (HOUSSE option #1)

• Completion of 6 semester credit hours (or 90 pd hours) in the SPECIFIC core subject area within the past 5 years (HOUSSE option #2)

• Completion of a single or multiple subject portfolio (HOUSSE option #3)

Alternative Education Teachers

• Teachers in an Alternative Education Teaching Assignment:

– Must demonstrate competence as a Highly Qualified teacher for any core academic subject

• A teacher must hold a valid secondary teaching certificate (an elementary teacher employed in the position prior to October 25, 2005 may continue in the position)

• In a self-contained setting the teacher must be certified and HQ in at least one core academic subject and may then use testing or any HOUSSE option to demonstrate competence in the remaining subjects

• In a departmentalized setting the teacher must hold the appropriate subject area endorsement and be HQ

NCLB and Other Teaching Assignments

• NCLB does not address teachers who are assigned to teach non-core academic classes– Examples:

• Health• Physical Education• Computers (programming)• Computer Applications• Library Media• Family & Consumer Science• Sociology• Psychology• Vocational/Occupational

Teachers NOT providing direct instruction, but providing support to a student in a general education setting OR facilitating instruction (i.e. NovaNet) do not need to meet the HQ requirements.

NCLB and School Code and Teaching Assignments

• The NCLB Act requires districts to only assign a Highly Qualified teacher to teach a core academic subject.

• A district may not assign a teacher who does not have the proper state authorization to teach a subject and be considered Highly Qualified. Such an assignment would be out-of-compliance with School Code (Section 380.1531) in addition to NCLB.

Certificate Endorsements

• To obtain an endorsement to a Michigan teaching certificate, the teacher must complete BOTH the approved academic program and take and pass the appropriate MTTC tests. The teacher may not obtain the endorsement unless both conditions are met.

• Taking the MTTC test for the purpose of demonstrating competence as a Highly Qualified teacher will not lead to the awarding of an endorsement.

Note: MTTC test score reports will no longer identify the actual point score, but will only indicate if the test was passed or failed.

The Full Range of Law and Standards Governing Teacher Preparation

● Michigan Compiled Law● Administrative Rules Governing

the Certification of Michigan Teachers (2006)

● Professional Standards for Michigan Teachers and Profile of Teacher Knowledge and Skills (2008)

● Elementary Certificate Program Standards (2008)

● Reading Standards for All Elementary Teachers● Specialty Area Endorsement Standards

(for authorization to teach specific content/specialty area in a departmentalized setting or as a specialist)– Early Childhood Education (ZA) Standards (2008)

Focus in All Standards

• National Standards• SBE Policies and Documents• Alignment with Michigan’s K-12 content

expectations • Teaching all students in an inclusive

classroom • Technology for teaching, learning and

management• Collaboration and Professional

Development

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR MICHIGAN TEACHERS (PSMT)

DEVELOPMENTAL CATEGORY

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

DEVELOPING 0% Builds foundational knowledge and skills

EMERGING 18% Implements knowledge and skills with supervising teacher/mentor support

APPLYING 68% Independently applies knowledge and skills with mentor support

INTEGRATING 10% Consistently focuses on effective design, implementation, and assessment for all learners

INNOVATING 4% Creatively focuses on implementing research-based practices and assessment

Expectations of Teachers upon Entry into the Profession

e. Differentiate instruction in an environment that facilitates each student’s learning and access to an equitable education;

Developing Needs significant instructional support to differentiate instruction.

Emerging Differentiates instruction and evaluates the learning environment with supervising teacher or mentor support.

Applying Independently differentiates instruction and adjusts learning environment.

Integrating Consistently differentiates instruction that facilitates each student’s learning and access to an equitable education.

Innovating Creatively differentiates instruction that facilitates each student’s learning and access to an equitable education across content areas.

Standard 2. INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND ASSESSMENT

Facilitation of learning and achievement of all students (in accordance with the SBE Universal Education Vision and Principles), including the ability to:

76-86 credits minimum

Professional sequence (20 credits minimum): these courses are guided by the Professional Standards for Michigan Teachers (PSMT) which address pedagogy and field experiences. Plus the 6 credits of Reading Courses.

Elementary Certificate Standards

● Major (30 credits minimum) or 2 minors (40 credits minimum) of the following:● Integrated Science,● Elementary Mathematics, ● Social Studies,● English Language Arts, or ● Reading

OPTION 1 Core Subject: The teacher preparation institution must provide student advising that assures candidates successfully accomplish all elements within the option before recommendation for certification.

Must take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC)Elementary Education

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Self-Contained Grades K-8 Classroom

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A planned program (20 credits minimum) that incorporates the other core content areas not in the major or 2 minors AND Health, Physical Education, Music, World Language and the Arts.

May take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC)Specialty Area Endorsement

Departmentalized instruction in grades K-8

AND

PLUS

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Professional sequence (20 credits minimum): these courses are guided by the Professional Standards for Michigan Teachers (PSMT) which address pedagogy and field experiences. Plus the 6 credits of Reading Courses.

Elementary Certificate Standards

Comprehensive Major ( 45 credits minimum) Must include courses in the all of the following:

Integrated Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Language Arts, Health, Physical Education, World Languages, and The Arts

OPTION 2 Comprehensive Major: The teacher preparation institution must provide student advising that assures candidates successfully accomplish all elements within the option before recommendation for certification.

Must take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC)Elementary Education

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Self-Contained Classroom Grades K-8

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TeachA minimum of a minor (20 credits minimum)

in one of the following: A World Language, or A student-centered specialty area:

English as a Second Language, Bilingual Education, Special Education (K-12), Early Childhood (Birth- age 8), or Middle Level (Grades 6-8).

May take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC)Specialty Area Endorsement

Departmentalized instruction in grades K-8, or with specialty knowledge K-12, or birth to age 8, orGrades 6-8.

AND

PLUS

91 -101 credits minimum

Early Childhood Education (ZA)

• The Early Childhood Education major or minor may be utilized to complete an elementary certification program through option 2 of the elementary certificate standards.

• Completion of an Early Childhood Education major must include a minimum of 30 semester credit hours.

• Completion of an Early Childhood Education minor must be at least 20 semester credit hours.

• In order to keep a focus on highly qualified elementary teachers, the following core content specialty areas must be evident in the program (Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Integrated Science, World Languages, Social Studies, and Fine Arts).

• The Early Childhood Education endorsement may be added to a secondary certificate only in combination with a special education endorsement to allow for employment in an early childhood developmentally delayed placement.

• To add an Early Childhood Education endorsement to an existing elementary certificate, the program must be at least 26 semester credit hours with 14 of those semester credit hours addressing learning related to birth through age 8 children.

Qualified Paraprofessionals

• The NCLB Act requires paraprofessionals employed for instructional support in a Title I funded position or in a building with a Title I school-wide designation to have demonstrated knowledge of and the ability to assist in the instruction of:– reading,

– writing, and

– mathematics

by June 30, 2006 or prior to placement.

Paraprofessionals

• A paraprofessional new hire, defined as someone not previously employed in any capacity by the district, must be qualified at the time of employment.

• All current district employees were expected to be qualified by the end of the 2005-2006 school year.

Paraprofessionals

• Paraprofessionals may qualify by one of the following methods:

– Possess an associates degree or higher

– Have completed the equivalent of 2 years of college (60 semester credits)

– Take and pass one of these approved tests:

• MTTC Basic Skills

• WorkKeys Tests

• The ETS ParaPro Assessment

Paraprofessionals

• Paraprofessionals have also been provided an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge of and ability to assist in instruction through the use of a portfolio process.

• Portfolios were to be completed and accepted by the district by the end of the 2005-2006 school year.

• The portfolio is no longer an option available to paraprofessionals.

Michigan Technical Assistance Program

• The Michigan Technical Assistance Program (MiTAP) is an initiative by the Michigan Department of Education, and approved by the United States Department of Education, to provide assistance to the local school districts and public school academies in ensuring that all core academic teachers are Highly Qualified for their assignment.

Michigan Technical Assistance Program

MiTAP visits are designed to address:

• the staffing of core academic classes by Highly Qualified teachers

• the distribution of Highly Qualified and experienced teachers in the district (equitable distribution)

• a review of teacher certification/endorsement and current assignment

Michigan Administrative Rules Governing Certification

• The Michigan Department of Education has recently revised the rules governing the certification of teachers, the certification and licensure of school counselors, and the certification of school psychologists. These three sets of rules have been certified by the Secretary of State and now are in effect.

• The revised rules are available at the following web site: www.michigan.gov/teachercert

Administrative Rules Governing the Certification of Michigan Teachers

• A few significant changes:

– The validity period of a certificate will be determined from January 1 of the year of application

– Provisional certificates may be renewed for the first time by completing 9 semester credits of a planned program

– Credits taken to renew or advance in certification must be in an area related to the certificate or other educational function

Recent Legislative Changes

• Reading Requirement:

– Beginning July 1, 2009 a teacher advancing to the Professional Education teaching certificate must present evidence that during the first 6 years of classroom experience has completed a 3 semester credit course in the diagnosis and remediation of reading disorders, including an appropriate field experience.

Recent Legislative Changes

• Sixth Grade

– Effective August 15, 2006 a teacher holding a secondary teaching certificate may now be assigned to teach sixth grade in an endorsed area.

– Administrative rules also permit the assignment of a secondary certified teacher to a sixth grade assignment in any subject for which the teacher holds a valid endorsement.

School Safety Legislation

• Section 380.1230 of the Michigan School Code has been recently amended to protect students in all Michigan schools; public, nonpublic and private, by requiring that all school employees, both new and veteran, undergo a criminal history check.

• School employees must have submitted to a digital fingerprint scan by July 1, 2008.


• All school employees who are under are regularly and continuously employed must be fingerprinted along with all contracted employees who work in food services, custodial or transportation position.

• Individuals who work sporadically or intermittently need not be fingerprinted.

• The districts are advised to seek legal counsel should a question of who must be fingerprinted arises.


• The legislation does permit the sharing of criminal background check results if the individual is making application to multiple districts during the same time period, or when an employee has moved from one district to a new district with no interruption of service .

• Once the individual has been identified as a school employee any subsequent arrests, arraignments, or convictions will be reported to the MDE by the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center.


• Any questions or concerns regarding the criminal history background checks should be directed to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center by telephoning the following number: 517-322-5531.

• A record challenge should be directed to the same agency.


• The legislation requires the MDE to collaborate with the State Police to compare the data submitted to the Registry of Educational Personnel to the Criminal History Records. Where matches occurred the information is disseminated to the school employers by the MDE.

• This process occurred twice each year through Summer 2008. (We are done!)


• If a school employee has been convicted of a “listed” offense (a conviction requiring the name of the individual to be listed on the Sex Offenders Registry), the employee must immediately be dismissed and may not work for a school setting in any capacity.


• If a school employee has been convicted of a felony, then the superintendent and the school board must agree in writing to continue the employment of the individual.

• If the school employee has been convicted of a misdemeanor, then the school will be notified by MDE but no action is required.

• However, the school may chose to institute a policy regarding misdemeanor convictions by employees.


• Schools are now required to report to the MDE the status of school employees who have been identified as having a felony conviction.

• Schools are asked to use the rosters provided by the MDE to report status back to the department.


• All school employees are now required to report all felony and/or misdemeanor arraignments and convictions to both the employer and the MDE within three (3) business days or be guilty of an additional felony or misdemeanor.

• The employing school continues to be required to report all convictions to the MDE as the employer is made aware.


• The legislation defines which convictions may be obtained by the public under a Freedom of Information request.

• Certain convictions require the release of personal identifying information along with the specific crime, these are: any felony conviction and misdemeanor convictions involving physical abuse or sexual abuse.

• Other misdemeanor conviction lists may be released without personal identifying information included.

• Schools are advised to seek legal counsel to address specific concerns regarding the FOIA.

Revocation and Suspension of Teaching Certificates

• The Michigan School Code, Section 380.1535(a) gives authority to the Superintendent of Public Instruction to suspend or revoke a teaching certificate when a conviction for a felony or certain enumerated misdemeanors can be shown to have an adverse effect on the person’s present fitness to teach in an elementary or secondary school.


• Certain offenses are deemed serious enough to warrant the summary suspension of a certificate. In the case of a summary suspension, the school employer will be notified by the MDE that the teacher is no longer eligible to be assigned to a classroom pending the resolution of the hearing.

• A teacher may request an informal hearing to discuss the nature of the conviction and may also request a formal hearing regarding the certificate revocation or suspension.


• The revocation or suspension hearing is an action by the MDE against an individual’s teaching certificate (a property right).

• The action by the superintendent and the school board to continue employment is an employer decision.

• Action by the Tenure Commission involves both the employee and the employer and is independent of the two processes described above.

Unprofessional Conduct Disclosure

• Schools are required to obtain a disclosure of unprofessional conduct statement for all new employees.

• All new employees must sign a statement releasing the previous employer from liability for disclosing past unprofessional conduct.

State Board Continuing Education Units (SB-CEUs)

• Holders of the following certificates are eligible to use SB-CEUs for certificate renewal:– The Professional Education Certificate– The Occupational Education Certificate– The School Guidance Counselor License– The School Psychologist Certificate– Administrators for continued employment– Voluntary School Administrator

Certificate

SB-CEUs

• What are SB-CEUs?– State Board recognized, pre-approved inservice,

workshop, training or conference to award units.– Generic CEUs may not be used for certificate

renewal.– The MDE recognizes certificates of completion

issued by the US DOE sanctioned Teacher-to-Teacher online training programs for equivalent SB-CEUs.

– The MDE recognizes certificates of completion from authorized International Association for Continued Education and Training (IACET) providers for equivalent SB-CEUs.

SB-CEU’s

• These certificates/licenses are renewable every 5 years.

• SB-CEUs may not be used as a substitute for semester credits when the teacher is advancing from an initial (provisional) certificate. Only earned semester credits will meet that requirement.

• A complete listing of approved SB-CEU programs can be found at: www.solutionwhere.com/mi_sbceu. The listings are updated daily. Contact the sponsor for registration information.

SB-CEUs

• Professional Activities Eligible for SB-CEUs:– Mentor Teacher (3 SB-CEUs per semester)*– Supervising Teacher (3 SB-CEUs per semester)*– Supervising School Psychologist/Counselor (3 SB-CEUs per semester)*– School Improvement Team (3 SB-CEUs per year)*– School Committees (3 SB-CEUs per year)*– New Administrator Mentor (3 SB-CEUs per year)*– Completion NBPTS portfolio (9 SB-CEUs)– Completion NBPTS assessment center (9 SB-CEUs)– Acting as an NBPTS assessor (9 SB-CEUs)– Gaining NBPTS certification (18 SB-CEUs)– Completion of the renewal process for NBPTS certification (18 SB-CEUs)– Out-of-state training as arranged for PRIOR to experience

*Maximum of 9.0 SB-CEUs earned in each activity in a five year renewal period can be used toward certificate renewal

Registry of Educational Personnel

• The REP is collected twice each year-the deadlines for the 2008-2009 school year are December 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009.

• Get connected! By joining the REP Listserv. CEPI sends important updates and Listserv members provide support and practical strategies. Information regarding the Listserv is available on the CEPI web site: www.michigan.gov/cepi

REP

• The School Safety Legislation of 2005 requires that all school personnel who are employed on a regular and continuous basis must be reported in the REP.

• All contracted employees who work on a regular and continuous basis must be reported in the REP. These employees would include food service, custodial service, transportation workers.

Which Employees Are Reported?

• Contracted employees who work on an intermittent or sporadic basis are not required to be reported in the REP.

• These employees might include a heating systems repair person, a guest speaker, a disc jockey, etc.

Need Help

• For technical assistance:

– Call: CEPI Customer Service at 517-335-0505

– E-mail: [email protected]

– Get Connected-Join the Listserv

– Updates found on www.michigan.gov/cepi

– Go to the MEIS Data Services section

• Click on Registry of Educational Personnel

• Look under the heading “REP Help & Resources”

The End

• Thank you for your time and attendance.

• ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?

• Contacts – – Krista D. Ried 517-373-0699 [email protected]

– Bonnie Rockafellow 517-373-7861 [email protected]

– Stephanie Whiteside 517-335-1167 [email protected]