• Governor Signs Return to Work Rule Changes for Retirees into Law
• Senate Begins Hearings on Changes to Teacher and Administrator Evaluations
• Filter First Bill Headed to Governor’s Desk
• House Passes Changes to New Hire Retirement System Default  
• Senate Committee Approves Special Education Interim Certifications
• Report Released on State of the Educator Workforce

Governor Signs Return to Work Rule Changes for Retirees into Law

On Tuesday, the Governor signed House Bill 4752 into law as Public Act 147 of 2023. The bill applies to all current and future retirees, even those who recently retired and have so far been unable to return to work in a school due to the nine-month sit out previously in law. Retired educators can now return to work with some limitations. The new law will sunset in 2028.

Retirees returning to work in a school district may not earn more than $15,100 per calendar year in the first six months following their retirement. However, a retired superintendent may not work as a superintendent for the first six months following their retirement. After those six months, all retirees may return to work in any position with no earnings limits.

The new law went into effect on Tuesday.

Senate Begins Hearings on Changes to Teacher and Administrator Evaluations

On Tuesday, the Senate Education committee began hearings on Senate Bill 395 which would make changes to the teacher and administrator evaluation law. The bill would remove the 40% growth based on the M-STEP but does not replace it with any growth requirement. It changes the ratings from four levels to three: effective, developing and needing support, and states if a person receives three effective ratings in a row, they would not have to be evaluated every year. Finally, it adds due process procedures for reviews of teachers and administrators rated as needing support.

The bill has been a work in progress leading up to this week’s hearing. MASB is working closely with the bill sponsor and stakeholders to make sure that the language affecting superintendent evaluations is clarified and appropriately reflects the changes being made for teachers and other administrators. While changes have been made, we expect further amendments as the bill continues to move through the system, especially for the language around growth and due process.

Further negotiations and hearings are expected on the bill, with the sponsor’s goal to get it through the Senate before the end of the month.

Filter First Bill Headed to Governor’s Desk

On Wednesday, the Senate corrected and passed House Bill 4341 to create the Clean Drinking Water Access Act. The act would require each school to develop a drinking water safety plan and make the plan available to the state government. All out-of-date drinking fountains will need to be turned off and hydration stations and other water filters will need to be placed in schools by the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

The bill also creates the clean drinking water fund in the Department of Treasury, and previous budgets have appropriated money for this purpose. However, it also states that schools will not be held to this new law unless the Legislature makes an appropriation.  

The House concurred with the Senate changes and sent it to the Governor for her consideration. 

House Passes Changes to New Hire Retirement System Default  

On Thursday, the House passed House Bill 5021 by a vote of 56-54. This bill would amend the Public School Employees Retirement Act to set the default retirement plan to Tier 1, the pension hybrid plan. A new hire to a school district is required to choose a retirement plan within 75 days of their hire date. If the teacher has not selected a plan within that window, currently they default to a 401k, or the Tier 2 elective. 

This bill switches it so that if a new staff person does not choose a retirement plan in the time allotted, they will default to the pension system or the Tier 1 elective. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Senate Committee Approves Special Education Interim Certifications

Also on Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee approved Senate Bill 518 which would extend the sunset on interim teaching certificates for special education teachers.

Under current law, the State Superintendent can establish a process for a person to earn an interim teaching certificate to teach in public schools and earn a Michigan teaching certificate.  It also allows for interim teaching certificates for special education, but only until July 21, 2024.  This bill will extend that provision until July 21, 2027.

It is now before the full Senate for its consideration.

Report Released on State of the Educator Workforce

This week, the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity released the "State of the Educator Workforce in Michigan" report, conducted through a grant from the state of Michigan. The report offers a comprehensive analysis of K-12 staffing challenges in the state's education system. 

The report confirms what districts are already feeling: a growing shortage of staff across various sectors, particularly impacting special education and STEM teachers, substitute teachers, paraprofessionals and bus drivers. It also highlights the impact of these shortages on student learning, school operations and teacher well-being, and also recommends long-term strategies, including stabilizing resources, strengthening the teacher pipeline, improving working conditions, and enhancing data systems to address Michigan's K-12 staffing shortages effectively.