PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BY NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

House Bill 5669

Sponsor:  Rep. Rob VerHeulen

Committee:  Education

Complete to 9-12-14

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5669 AS INTRODUCED 6-12-14

House Bill 5669 would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1527) to:

o                   Allow a state-approved nonpublic school to provide teacher professional development for nonpublic school teachers.

o                   Require the Department of Education to credit such professional development toward the issuance or renewal of a teaching certificate or endorsement to the same extent as professional development provided by a public school is credited for its teachers, if the department determines both of the following are met:

 

·                    the professional development contained substantially the same program content as the public school offering; and,

·                    the nonpublic school submitted to the same auditing and documentation requirements for professional development as a public school.

           

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact on local units of government, but could create additional, but indeterminate, costs for the state.  To the extent that it would require the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to evaluate professional development provided by nonpublic schools and provide credit toward a teacher's certification, the bill could create additional staffing and administrative costs.   The magnitude of the impact would depend on the number of nonpublic schools offering professional development. 

For background, the Office of Professional Preparation and Certification Services in the MDE has a FY 2014-15 appropriation of $5.9 million and an authorization for 34.0 FTEs.  The office is primarily funded with teacher certification fee revenue and federal revenues.  Teacher certification fee levels are established in Section 1538 of the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1538).

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analysts:   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.