The bill amends the State School Aid Act of 1979 by allocating funds for the MI Future Educator Student Teacher Stipend Program. Specifically, it designates $30 million from the state school aid fund and $20 million from the educator fellowship public provider fund for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The funds are intended to support eligible educator preparation programs that provide stipends to student teachers working in school districts or qualifying publicly funded preschool programs in Michigan. The bill outlines the eligibility criteria for student teachers, including requirements for admission to educator preparation programs, completion of necessary coursework, and application procedures.

Additionally, the bill introduces new definitions and stipulations regarding the distribution of funds. It specifies that eligible student teachers can receive up to $9,600 per academic semester, with provisions for prioritizing Pell grant recipients if funding is insufficient. The bill also clarifies the responsibilities of educator preparation programs in managing the funds and mandates that any unspent funds be redirected to the educator fellowship public provider fund. Overall, the amendments aim to enhance support for future educators and improve the quality of teacher preparation in Michigan.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 388.1627
As Passed by the Senate: 388.1627