Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
AMEND EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS RATING NEEDED
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
TO PROGRESS FROM PROBATIONARY PERIOD
Analysis available at
Senate Bill 744 (S-1) as reported from House committee http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Sponsor: Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet
House Committee: Education
Senate Committee: Education
Complete to 5-20-24
(Enacted as Public Act 134 of 2024)
SUMMARY:
Senate Bill 744 would amend the teacher tenure act, 1937 (Ex Sess) PA 4, which regulates the
granting of teacher tenure, including criteria for successfully completing a teacher’s
probationary period. The bill would change the performance evaluation ratings a probationary
teacher must receive to successfully complete their five-year probationary period.
Currently, a teacher is assigned a rating of “highly effective,” “effective,” “minimally
effective,” or “ineffective,” based on the outcome of their performance evaluation. Beginning
July 1, 2024, the date 2023 PA 225 takes effect, 1 those labels will change to “effective,”
“developing,” or “needing support.”
The act now provides that, beginning July 1, 2024, a teacher must have been rated as “highly
effective” (for ratings before July 1, 2024) or “effective” (for ratings after that date) on three
consecutive year-end performance evaluations, and meet certain employment requirements, to
successfully complete the probationary period.
The bill would allow a rating of “effective,” in addition to “highly effective,” for ratings issued
before July 1, 2024, to count toward successful completion of probation. In addition, while the
three required ratings would no longer have to be earned in consecutive years during the five-
year probation period, the rating earned by the teacher in the final year would have to meet the
applicable criteria.
MCL 38.83b
BRIEF DISCUSSION:
According to sponsor testimony, the intent of Senate Bill 744 is to correct an omission from
2023 PA 225, which revised the rating labels teachers receive during their year-end evaluation.
Under current law, probationary teachers must receive three consecutive ratings of “highly
effective” to successfully complete the probationary period. However, with “highly effective”
no longer existing, this meant teachers who are currently in their probationary period needed
to have an acceptable rating designated in statute to ensure that they could progress through
probation successfully. While the previously earned highly effective would still count toward
successful completion under the bill, it would not longer be possible to earn three of those
ratings consecutively before the end of the five-year period.
1
https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2023-2024/billanalysis/House/pdf/2023-HLA-0395-6D374AFF.pdf
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the state or on local school districts, intermediate
school districts (ISDs), or public school academies (PSAs).
POSITIONS:
The following entities indicated support for the bill (5-14-24):
• Michigan Education Association
• Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals
• Michigan Association of School Boards
The Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators indicated a neutral position
on the bill. (5-14-24)
Legislative Analyst: Josh Roesner
Fiscal Analysts: Jacqueline Mullen
Noel Benson
■ 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.
House Fiscal Agency SB 744 as reported from House committee Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
Substitute (S-1): 38.83
Senate Introduced Bill: 38.83
As Passed by the Senate: 38.83
As Passed by the House: 38.83
Public Act: 38.83
Senate Enrolled Bill: 38.83