TEACHER LICENSING EXAMINATION S.B. 354 (S-4):
SUMMARY AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
Senate Bill 354 (Substitute S-4 as passed by the Senate)
Sponsor: Senator Erika Geiss
Committee: Education
Date Completed: 12-26-24
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to allow the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (SPI) to issue a Michigan teaching certificate to an individual who held
or was eligible to hold a valid teaching certificate in another state or with a Federally
recognized Indian tribe if that individual passed either the reading subtest
developed by the SPI or a reading test that was based on the science of reading and
approved by the other state or Federally recognized Indian tribe and an existing
licensing examination.
The Code requires the SPI to determine the requirements for and issue all licenses and
certificates for teachers. Generally, the SPI may only issue a teaching certificate to an
individual if that individual has passed appropriate available examinations, including an
equivalent examination approved by the SPI for an individual holding a teaching certificate
from another state, country, or Federally recognized Indian tribe. 1
The bill would specify that, for an individual who held or was eligible for a valid teaching
certificate in another State or with a Federally recognized Indian tribe, an equivalent
examination would have to meet the following requirements:
-- Be approved by the state or the Federally recognized Indian tribe that issued the
individual's teaching certificate.
-- Already be in existence as of the bill's effective date.
An individual who held or was eligible to hold a valid teaching certificate in another country
would have to pass an equivalent examination approved by the SPI to receive a teaching
certificate.
Additionally, the bill would specify that an individual who held or was eligible for a valid
teaching certificate in another State or with a Federally recognized Indian tribe who sought a
pre-K-to-grade-3-level endorsement or grade-3-to-grade-6-level endorsement also would
have to pass the State’s required reading subtest or, if the other State of Federally recognized
Indian tribe had approved a reading subtest that was based on the science of reading, the
reading subtest approved by the other State or Federally recognized Indian tribe.
An individual who held or was eligible to hold a valid teaching certificate in another country
who sought a pre-K-to-grade-3-level endorsement or grade-3-to-grade-6-level endorsement
1
Public Act 110 of 2023 amended the law to require the SPI to issue a Michigan teaching certificate to,
as well as endorsements comparable to those previously held by, an individual with a teaching certificate
from another state, country, or Federally recognized Indian tribe if the individual has taught successfully
in that state, country, or for that tribe for at least three years and meets applicable elementary or
secondary reading credit requirements.
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also would have to pass the State’s required reading subtest or the reading subtest that the
SPI approved to replace the State’s current reading subtest.
The Code also requires the SPI, based on criteria recommended by a committee of teachers,
representatives of approved teacher education institutions, Michigan education organizations
and associations, and experts in measurement and assessment to develop and select one or
more subject area examinations. Under the bill, if an individual passed one of these subject
area examinations, that individual also would be considered to have passed the appropriate
available examinations and could be issued a Michigan teaching certificate.
Currently, "an individual holding a teaching certificate from another state, country, or
Federally recognized Indian tribe" means an individual with a valid teaching certificate or an
individual who is eligible for a teaching certificate in the state or country or with the Federally
recognized Indian tribe in which or with which the individual is certificated or eligible for
certification. Under the bill, the term would mean an individual with a valid teaching certificate
or an individual who is eligible for a teaching certificate in another state, in another country,
or with a Federally recognized Indian tribe.
MCL 380.1531
BRIEF RATIONALE
Reportedly, Michigan schools and communities are struggling due to a shortage of certified
teachers. According to a report by Michigan State University's Education Policy Innovation
Collaborative (EPIC), from the 2012-2013 school year to the 2016-2017 school year, more
Michigan teachers exited the profession than entered it. 2 Though in recent years the rates of
teachers entering and exiting the profession stabilized, the percentage of teachers who were
in their first year of teaching reached an all-time high, as did the percentage of teachers who
were new to their current district.3 Due to the shortage, school districts have had to
compensate by relying on teachers with temporary credentials, multi-site teachers, and third-
party virtual course providers.4 In 2023, Public Act 110 sought to address the shortage of
certified teachers by requiring the SPI to grant a Michigan teaching certificate to an individual
with a teaching certificate from another state, country, or Federally recognized Indian tribe if
that individual had successfully taught for three years. Some people believe the State could
attract even more teachers by expanding reciprocity to include certified teachers from other
states who had less than three years of experience.
Legislative Analyst: Abby Schneider
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Cory Savino, PhD
2
Kilbride, et al., "Michigan Teacher Shortage Study: Comprehensive Report", EPIC, p. 39, Jan. 2023.
3
Id. pp. 40-41.
4
Id. p. 76.
SAS\S2324\s354sc
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.
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Statutes affected:
Substitute (S-3): 380.1531
Substitute (S-3) AND AMENDMENT(S): 380.1531
Senate Introduced Bill: 380.1531
As Passed by the Senate: 380.1531