ALLOW ACCOUNTING AND WRITING COURSES

TO COUNT TOWARD TEACHER CERTIFICATION

House Bill 5241

Sponsor:  Rep. Bob Genetski

Committee:  Education

Complete to 2-28-12

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5241 AS INTRODUCED 1-11-12

House Bill 5241 would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1531j) to require that college coursework in accounting or writing be counted towards a teaching certificate. 

Specifically, House Bill 5241 would require that the State Board of Education, and the state Superintendent of Public Instruction, recognize accounting and writing as subject matter fields pertinent to teaching for the purposes of Rule 390.1151(6) of the Michigan Administrative Code, and for all other purposes related to the issuance of a teaching certificate and subject area endorsement.

(Note:  Michigan's Administrative Code contains the Michigan Department of Education Teacher Certification Code.  Part 5 of the Teacher Certification Code concerns "Teacher Preparation Institutions."  Rule 390.1151(6) falls within that section.  The rule reads as follows: 

R 390.1151 (6) All specialty programs offered by an approved teacher preparation institution shall be in subject matter fields pertinent to teaching at the level for which certification is to be recommended as approved by the state board.  The state board reserves the right to determine the criteria for accepting certification of candidates prepared in out-of-state teacher preparation institutions and in accordance with state law.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would increase administrative costs for the Department of Education, Office of Professional Preparation Services, in establishing standards for the preparation of teachers of accounting and writing.  The department would work with interested stakeholders, including teachers, administrators, and teacher preparation programs, consulting applicable teaching standards and guidelines to develop these program standards.  The standards would allow for a specific endorsement in the subject areas, authorizing the teacher to teach the subject at specific grade levels.  The standards would also be aligned with the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) subject area tests. 

In April 2004, the State Board of Education adopted new standards for the Business, Management, Marketing, and Technology endorsement.[1]  The teaching of accounting is already included within this broader endorsement, with the separate Accounting endorsement phased out.[2] 

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Mark Wolf

■ 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.

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