MI SB0122

Allows districts to count up to 38 hours of qualifying professional development for teachers as hours of pupil instruction, with online professional development encouraged if district-approved.

Qualifying professional development must be directly incorporated into teacher job performance with empirical evidence of improved student achievement, and must focus on adequate yearly progress, school accreditation, highly qualified teacher status, technology integration, or teacher certification.

Requires the superintendent to review waiver standards in pupil accounting and auditing manuals at least every 2 years beginning in 2013 to ensure standards remain appropriate and responsive to online learning trends.

Exempts cyber schools (schools of excellence) and eligible pupils in dropout recovery programs from minimum pupil instruction hour and day requirements under section 101(3) and 101(8).

Maintains existing provisions requiring districts to provide minimum 1,098 hours and 170 days of pupil instruction annually beginning in 2012-2013, with allowances for alternative education programs and waivers for innovative programs like 4-day school weeks.