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SB 995

School aid: other; future educator student teacher stipend program; modify. Amends sec. 27c of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1627c).

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Stephanie Chang

Expands stipend eligibility to student teachers completing placements in qualifying publicly funded preschool programs, not just K–12 districts.

referred to Committee on Government Operations
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Bill Summary · SB 995

SB 995 — MI Future Educator Student Teacher Stipend Program (Amend MCL 388.1627c)

Main purpose

Amend the State School Aid Act to expand eligibility for the MI Future Educator Student Teacher Stipend Program so that student teachers who complete required student‑teaching placements in qualifying publicly funded preschool programs (in addition to K–12 school districts) may receive the stipend.

Key provisions

  • Expands program scope: stipend eligibility extends to student teachers placed in a “qualifying publicly funded preschool program” as determined by the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). Examples explicitly noted in analyses include Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) preschool sites, Head Start, and campus early childhood centers.
  • Stipend amount: MiLEAP shall pay eligible educator preparation programs (EPPs) up to $9,600 per academic semester for each eligible student teacher (same amount currently available for district placements).
  • FY 2024–25 funding: bill text and committee analyses reference an appropriation of $30,000,000 from the State School Aid Fund and $20,000,000 from the Educator Fellowship Public Provider Fund for the program (total $50M) for FY24–25.
  • Payment routing:
    • If an EPP is provided by a public institution of higher education, MiLEAP pays the EPP directly.
    • If the EPP is not a public IHE, MiLEAP may pay the district, qualifying preschool program, or an intermediate district/consortium; that recipient must forward the funds to the EPP, and the EPP must pay the student teacher in full.
  • Eligibility requirements (unchanged aside from placement expansion):
    • Admission to an eligible EPP and working toward teacher certification.
    • Participating in required student‑teaching coursework that includes regular placement and supervised, classroom‑based experience under a certified teacher.
    • Maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
    • Completion of MiLEAP application with certification by placement site and EPP. Individuals employed as the teacher of record are ineligible.
    • City Year corps members enrolled in eligible EPPs are explicitly eligible.
  • Funding priority and distribution timing:
    • If funds are insufficient, MiLEAP shall first award funds to Pell Grant recipients, then distribute in application receipt order.
    • Payments are intended to be made in one lump sum at the beginning of the semester.
  • Unspent State School Aid Fund money allocated under the section at fiscal year end must be deposited into the Educator Fellowship Public Provider Fund.

Who is affected

  • Primary: student teachers in Michigan educator preparation programs who are performing their student‑teaching requirement in qualifying publicly funded preschool programs (previously eligible only when placed in school districts).
  • Secondary: educator preparation programs (public and private), school districts, qualifying preschool programs (GSRP, Head Start, campus centers), and intermediate districts/consortia that may receive and forward payments.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Nonpartisan Senate analyses state the bill would have no net fiscal impact on State or local governments because stipend amounts remain unchanged and appropriations for FY24–25 have been identified.
  • Bill text sets an effective date of October 1, 2024.
  • Committee and floor documents (Education Committee, Committee of the Whole; substitute S‑3) describe the expansion; legislative history in provided materials shows committee reports and floor actions in late 2024. (Check the official legislative status page for current procedural posture and enactment status.)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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