The bill amends the Revised School Code of Michigan to enhance the governance and operational standards of public education, particularly concerning public school academies and the employment of teachers and counselors. Key changes include the introduction of a new section, 1531l, which allows school districts and public school academies to issue local teaching certificates, establishing specific requirements for applicants. The definition of "certificated teacher" is updated to include both teaching certificates issued by the superintendent of public instruction and local teaching certificates. Additionally, the bill clarifies the roles of authorizing bodies and mandates that teacher contracts must be signed by an authorized representative of the school board, including agreed-upon wages.

The bill also modifies the handling of teaching certificates, particularly for individuals with criminal convictions, specifying the superintendent of public instruction's role in investigating these cases. It establishes criteria for determining the relevance of a conviction to an individual's fitness to teach and mandates notification to relevant parties regarding any convictions affecting teaching certificates. Furthermore, the bill introduces new professional development requirements for teachers and counselors, including the completion of a first aid and CPR course for those with local teaching certificates. It also clarifies penalties for misuse of teaching certificates, replacing "person" with "individual" in the penalties section and allowing school districts to refuse issuance or renewal of local teaching certificates to those convicted of violations.

Statutes affected:
Substitute (H-1): 380.501
House Introduced Bill: 380.501
As Passed by the House: 380.501