Senate Bill 79 Summary

• Allows school districts and intermediate school districts to hire noncertificated, nonendorsed teachers for courses in computer science, foreign languages, mathematics, science, engineering, robotics, writing, journalism, health sciences, and critical shortage disciplines in grades 9-12.

• Requires noncertificated teachers to hold a bachelor's degree and either have a major/graduate degree in their subject area or meet specific occupational experience requirements (5 years for engineering/science/health; native speaker status for foreign languages; passed professional readiness and subject area examinations for Hebrew).

• Teachers hired under these provisions must pass professional readiness and subject area examinations if teaching longer than 1 year, and districts must first attempt to hire certified teachers before engaging noncertificated instructors.

• Creates an interim teaching certificate process allowing individuals in approved alternative teacher preparation programs to earn a Michigan teaching certificate, valid for up to 7 years, after demonstrating satisfactory teaching performance.

• Reduces the required successful teaching years from 3 to 2 years before teaching experience can be used to waive student teaching requirements for continued employment authorization and provisional certification.