Bill
SB 189
SB 189 allows the Superintendent to waive certain teacher certification exams under defined conditions, potentially speeding licensure and expanding hiring pools in shortages.
Status & procedural posture
- Introduced January 23, 2025; sponsor: Senator Joseph Bellino.
- Referred to the Senate Committee on Education. (Listed as referred to Committee on Education on March 19, 2025; ordered to second reading March 17, 2025.)
- Bill would amend section 1531 of the Revised School Code (1976 PA 451), MCL 380.1531.
Purpose / intent
- To modify Michigan’s teacher/administrator certification statute by creating an exception mechanism that permits the Superintendent of Public Instruction to waive certain required certification examinations in specified circumstances. The bill is intended to provide flexibility in the issuance of certificates and endorsements while preserving other statutory certification requirements.
Key provisions (summary of available text)
- Section amended: MCL 380.1531 (governs issuance of teacher certificates, endorsements, and superintendent authority over examinations).
- Current baseline in statute: the superintendent "shall only issue a teaching certificate or additional endorsement only to an individual who has passed appropriate available examinations." (Existing law also contains provisions on reading-credit coursework, reciprocity for out-of-state certificants who have three years of successful teaching, and procedures for exam development and reporting.)
- Change introduced by SB 189: the examination requirement in subsection (2) is made subject to a new exception—referenced in the bill text as “subject to subsection (14).” That indicates SB 189 adds a subsection (14) that would authorize the superintendent to waive the requirement to pass certain certification tests under conditions set in that new subsection. (The full text of subsection (14) and the specific waiver criteria are not included in the materials provided.)
Who would be affected
- Prospective and current teachers and administrators seeking Michigan certification or endorsement (including out‑of‑state certificants applying for Michigan certification).
- Teacher preparation programs and institutions that advise candidates on certification requirements.
- Local school districts and charter schools that hire educators: potential faster placement or expanded hiring pools where waivers apply.
- Michigan Department of Education (administration, rulemaking, and compliance oversight).
Potential impacts and implementation considerations
- Potential benefits: may ease certification bottlenecks and assist hiring in shortage areas by allowing experienced educators to be certified without retesting under defined conditions.
- Potential risks: reduced reliance on standardized examination results could raise concerns about consistent demonstration of subject-matter knowledge or pedagogical readiness unless the waiver criteria are tightly defined.
- Administrative implementation: would likely require the Department to adopt procedures or rules to administer the waiver (guidance, recordkeeping, and appeal processes). The bill preserves other statutory elements (reading-course requirements, reciprocity provisions) unless explicitly changed.
Note and recommendation
- The bill text provided shows the amendment point but does not include the full language of the new subsection (14). For precise eligibility criteria, limitations, deadlines, or conditions tied to the waiver authority, consult the full enrolled/introduced bill text available from the legislature or the Senate Committee on Education.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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