Licensure Loopholes: Michigan

Analysis of Michigan's policies

Michigan allows full-year permits to be issued when a certified teacher is unavailable for a particular assignment. When a permit is requested for a core academic subject, the candidate must either have an academic major in the subject or pass a subject-area test. Permits are renewable for two years. Renewal requires six semester hours of additional credit toward certification if a certified teacher remains unavailable. Candidates with a major must also pass the subject-area test within three years.

In addition, out-of-state certified teachers can be issued Temporary Teacher Employment Authorizations, valid for one year and nonrenewable, allowing teachers one year to meet Michigan testing requirements. Michigan also issues permits in emergency situations, allowing candidates to teach if they hold at least a bachelor's or higher degree in the area to be taught if an otherwise qualified candidate is unavailable. The permit is valid "for a specific period of time under emergency circumstances." These permits are renewable, provided the emergency situation continues and the candidate is enrolled in a teacher preparation program, has completed at least six credit hours toward certification and is assigned a mentor. 

Citation

Facts About Teacher Certification http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Facts_About_Teacher_Certification_In_Michigan_230612_7.pdf Teacher Certification Rules R390.1142 and R390.1145 http://www.state.mi.us/orr/emi/admincode.asp?AdminCode=Single&Admin_Num=39001101&Dpt=ED&RngHigh=

Recommendations for Michigan

Ensure that all teachers pass required subject-matter licensing tests before they enter the classroom.
All students are entitled to teachers who know the subject matter they are teaching. Permitting individuals who have not yet passed state licensing tests to teach neglects the needs of students, instead extending personal consideration to adults who may not be able to meet minimal state standards. Even though Michigan requires at least some demonstration of subject-matter knowledge for its provisional permits, the state should ensure that all teachers pass all required licensure tests—an important minimum benchmark for entering the profession—before they enter the classroom.  

Limit exceptions to one year.
There might be limited and exceptional circumstances under which conditional or emergency licenses need to be granted. In these instances, it is reasonable for a state to give teachers up to one year to pass required licensing tests. Michigan's current policy puts students at risk by allowing teachers to teach on special permits for at least three years without passing required licensing tests.

State response to our analysis

Michigan recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.