Sec. 1531i.

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a process for an individual to earn an interim teaching certificate under this section that qualifies the individual to teach in the public schools and to earn a Michigan teaching certificate using the process under this section. The process shall meet all applicable requirements for an alternative teaching certification process under the no child left behind act of 2001, Public Law 107-110. The process shall not allow for an interim teaching certificate for special education.

(2) The process established under subsection (1) shall provide that the superintendent of public instruction will grant an interim teaching certificate to an individual who meets all of the following:

(a) Is a participant in an alternative teaching program that is approved by the superintendent of public instruction. To be approved, a program provider shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the superintendent of public instruction that it meets all of the following:

(i) Provides for its participants an intensive training program in teaching that is determined by the superintendent of public instruction to constitute the equivalent of at least 12 college credit hours and that includes training in at least all of the following subject areas:

(A) Child development or child psychology.

(B) Family and community relationships.

(C) Diverse learners.

(D) Instructional strategies.

(E) A form of field-based experience in a classroom setting.

(ii) Has a proven record of producing successful teachers or is modeled after a program that has a proven record of producing successful teachers.

(iii) Its participants have a cohort grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent on another scale, as determined by the superintendent of public instruction, upon earning the degree required under subdivision (b). If a cohort member has earned more than 1 degree required under subdivision (b), the highest grade point average earned by the cohort member must be used in calculating the cohort grade point average under this subparagraph.

(iv) Accepts for participation only individuals who meet the requirements of subdivision (b).

(b) Holds a bachelor's, master's, doctorate, or professional degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

(c) Passes the appropriate available subject area examination for each subject area in which he or she applies to be certified.

(3) An individual earning a Michigan teaching certificate using the process under this section will be subject to provisions of administrative rules governing teachers, as established by the superintendent of public instruction.

(4) An individual who possesses an interim teaching certificate under this section may be employed to teach in a public school in the same manner as an individual holding a Michigan teaching certificate issued under section 1531 if all of the following requirements are met:

(a) While the individual is teaching under an interim teaching certificate, the school district or public school academy in which the individual is teaching provides intensive observation and coaching in a manner and to the extent prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction.

(b) The individual is making satisfactory progress toward meeting the requirements for being awarded a Michigan teaching certificate under section 1531, as established by the superintendent of public instruction under subsection (5).

(5) The superintendent of public instruction shall develop standards for granting an individual a Michigan teaching certificate issued under section 1531 after the individual has demonstrated satisfactory teaching performance for 3 years under an interim teaching certificate and has met the requirements established by the superintendent of public instruction for a Michigan teaching certificate.

(6) The superintendent of public instruction shall promulgate rules that he or she considers necessary to implement this section.

(7) As used in this section:

(a) "Cohort" means all of the individuals enrolled in an alternative teaching program approved by the superintendent of public instruction for the 3 years immediately preceding the granting of an interim teaching certificate under this section to an individual enrolled in the alternative teaching program.

(b) "Elementary certification examination" and "subject area examination" mean those terms as defined in section 1531.

History: Add. 2009, Act 202, Imd. Eff. Jan. 4, 2010 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 106, Imd. Eff. Apr. 5, 2018 Popular Name: Act 451