SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATION

House Bill 5620

Sponsor:  Rep. Mary Valentine

Committee:  Education

Complete to 12-3-09

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5620 AS INTRODUCED 12-1-09

House Bill 5620 would amend the Revised School Code to make mandatory Michigan's now voluntary certification program for school administrators.

The bill would require that local and regional school districts and charter schools hire only superintendents, principals, assistant principals, or others having primary responsibility for administering instructional programs or serving as chief business officials if they have a valid Michigan school administrator's certificate.

However, a school district or charter school could hire an administrator who was enrolled in a program leading to certification not later than six months after the effective date of this legislation, or six months after beginning employment, whichever was later.  A person employed as a school administrator would have three years to meet the certification requirements.

The Michigan Department of Education and State Board of Education have developed standards and procedures, as well as appropriate certificate endorsements, for voluntary administrator certification by elementary school, secondary school, and central office levels. Under the bill, the state school superintendent would issue certification and appropriate endorsements to all who met those standards.  Under the bill, the department would continue to consult with professional organizations representing superintendents and building-level administrators, in developing any standards.

The bill specifies that a school administrator's certificate issued would be valid for five years, and would be renewed upon completion of 'renewal units' as determined by the state school superintendent.

Finally, the state school superintendent would have the authority to promulgate the rules necessary to implement these provisions. 

MCL 380.1246 and 380.1536

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill could create additional administrative costs for the Department of Education in having to implement a school administrator certification program, but requiring all school administrators to get a certificate would generate additional certification fee revenue which would help offset these costs.  Currently the certificate is voluntary for administrators at a cost of $160 ($210 for an out-of-state applicant) for five years.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Mary Ann Cleary

                                                                                                                           Bethany Wicksall

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.